Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Publications

Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).

Filter Total Items: 3785

A field technique for estimating aquifer parameters using flow log data A field technique for estimating aquifer parameters using flow log data

A numerical model is used to predict flow along intervals between producing zones in open boreholes for comparison with measurements of borehole flow. The model gives flow under quasi-steady conditions as a function of the transmissivity and hydraulic head in an arbitrary number of zones communicating with each other along open boreholes. The theory shows that the amount of inflow to or...
Authors
Frederick L. Paillet

Effects of heterogeneity in aquifer permeability and biomass on biodegradation rate calculations: Results from numerical simulations Effects of heterogeneity in aquifer permeability and biomass on biodegradation rate calculations: Results from numerical simulations

Numerical simulations were used to examine the effects of heterogeneity in hydraulic conductivity (K) and intrinsic biodegradation rate on the accuracy of contaminant plume‐scale biodegradation rates obtained from field data. The simulations were based on a steady‐state BTEX contaminant plume undergoing biodegradation under sulfate‐reducing conditions, with the electron acceptor in...
Authors
Martha A. Scholl

Nitrite fixation by humic substances: Nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance evidence for potential intermediates in chemodenitrification Nitrite fixation by humic substances: Nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance evidence for potential intermediates in chemodenitrification

Studies have suggested that NO− 2, produced during nitrification and denitrification, can become incorporated into soil organic matter and, in one of the processes associated with chemodenitrification, react with organic matter to form trace N gases, including N2O. To gain an understanding of the nitrosation chemistry on a molecular level, soil and aquatic humic substances were reacted...
Authors
K. A. Thorn, M.A. Mikita

Fractionation of selenium isotopes during bacterial respiratory reduction of selenium oxyanions Fractionation of selenium isotopes during bacterial respiratory reduction of selenium oxyanions

Reduction of selenium oxyanions by microorganisms is an important process in the biogeochemical cycling of selenium. Numerous bacteria can reduce Se oxyanions, which are used as electron acceptors during the oxidation of organic matter in anoxic environments. In this study, we used a double spike (82Se and 74Se) thermal ionization mass spectrometry technique to quantify the isotopic...
Authors
M.J. Herbel, T.M. Johnson, R.S. Oremland, T.D. Bullen

Integrating borehole logs and aquifer tests in aquifer characterization Integrating borehole logs and aquifer tests in aquifer characterization

Integration of lithologic logs, geophysical logs, and hydraulic tests is critical in characterizing heterogeneous aquifers. Typically only a limited number of aquifer tests can be performed, and these need to be designed to provide hydraulic properties for the principle aquifers in the system. This study describes the integration of logs and aquifer tests in the development of a...
Authors
Frederick L. Paillet, R.S. Reese

REE speciation in low-temperature acidic waters and the competitive effects of aluminum REE speciation in low-temperature acidic waters and the competitive effects of aluminum

The effect of simultaneous competitive speciation of dissolved rare earth elements (REEs) in acidic waters (pH 3.3 to 5.2) has been evaluated by applying the PHREEQE code to the speciation of water analyses from Spain, Brazil, USA, and Canada. The main ions that might affect REE are Al3+, F-, SO42-, and PO43-. Fluoride, normally a significant complexer of REEs, is strongly associated...
Authors
Serrano M.J. Gimeno, Sanz L.F. Auque, D. Kirk Nordstrom

Effects of asynchronous snowmelt on flushing of dissolved organic carbon: A mixing model approach Effects of asynchronous snowmelt on flushing of dissolved organic carbon: A mixing model approach

In many snowmelt-dominated catchments, stream dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels typically increase rapidly as spring melt commences, peak before maximum discharge, and decrease quickly as melting continues. We present data from Deer Creek (Summit County, CO) that shows this distinctive flushing response of DOC during snowmelt runoff, with DOC stored in landscape soils flushed to the...
Authors
E.W. Boyer, G.M. Hornberger, K.E. Bencala, Diane M. McKnight

Sorption of selected organic compounds from water to a peat soil and its humic-acid and humin fractions: Potential sources of the sorption nonlinearity Sorption of selected organic compounds from water to a peat soil and its humic-acid and humin fractions: Potential sources of the sorption nonlinearity

The sorption isotherms of ethylene dibromide (EDB), diuron (DUN), and 3,5-dichlorophenol (DCP) from water on the humic acid and humin fractions of a peat soil and on the humic-acid of a muck soil have been measured. The data were compared with those of the solutes with the whole peat from which the humic-acid (HA) and humin (HM) fractions were derived and on which the sorption of the...
Authors
C. T. Chiou, D. E. Kile, D.W. Rutherford, G. Sheng, S.A. Boyd

Reactive uptake of trace metals in the hyporheic zone of a mining- contaminated stream, Pinal Creek, Arizona Reactive uptake of trace metals in the hyporheic zone of a mining- contaminated stream, Pinal Creek, Arizona

Significant uptake of dissolved metals occurred by interaction of groundwater and surface water with hyporheic-zone sediments during transport in Pinal Creek, AZ. The extent of trace metal uptake was calculated by mass balance measurements made directly within the hyporheic zone. A conservative solute tracer injected into the stream was used to quantify hydrologic exchange with the...
Authors
C. C. Fuller, J. W. Harvey
Was this page helpful?