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Publications

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

Filter Total Items: 3785

Oxidation and mobilization of selenium by nitrate in irrigation drainage Oxidation and mobilization of selenium by nitrate in irrigation drainage

Selenium (Se) can be oxidized by nitrate (NO−3) from irrigation on Cretaceous marine shale in western Colorado. Dissolved Se concentrations are positively correlated with dissolved NO−3concentrations in surface water and ground water samples from irrigated areas. Redox conditions dominate in the mobilization of Se in marine shale hydrogeologic settings; dissolved Se concentrations...
Authors
W. G. Wright

Denitrification in marine shales in northeastern Colorado Denitrification in marine shales in northeastern Colorado

Parts of the South Platte River alluvial aquifer in northeastern Colorado are underlain by the Pierre Shale, a marine deposit of Late Cretaceous age that is
Authors
Peter B. McMahon, J.K. Böhlke, Breton W. Bruce

A record of hydrocarbon input to San Francisco Bay as traced by biomarker profiles in surface sediment and sediment cores A record of hydrocarbon input to San Francisco Bay as traced by biomarker profiles in surface sediment and sediment cores

San Francisco Bay is one of the world's largest urbanized estuarine systems. Its water and sediment receive organic input from a wide variety of sources; much of this organic material is anthropogenically derived. To document the spatial and historical record of the organic contaminant input, surficial sediment from 17 sites throughout San Francisco Bay and sediment cores from two...
Authors
F. D. Hostettler, W. E. Pereira, K.A. Kvenvolden, A. VanGeen, S. N. Luoma, C. C. Fuller, R. Anima

Sedimentary record of anthropogenic and biogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in San Francisco Bay, California Sedimentary record of anthropogenic and biogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in San Francisco Bay, California

Dated sediment cores collected from Richardson and San Pablo Bays in San Francisco Bay were used to reconstruct a history of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. The sedimentary record of PAHs in Richardson Bay shows that anthropogenic inputs have increased since the turn of the century, presumably as a result of increasing urbanization and industrialization around the...
Authors
W. E. Pereira, Frances D. Hostettler, Samuel N. Luoma, A. VanGeen, Christopher C. Fuller, R. J. Anima

Stochastic analysis of virus transport in aquifers Stochastic analysis of virus transport in aquifers

A large-scale model of virus transport in aquifers is derived using spectral perturbation analysis. The effects of spatial variability in aquifer hydraulic conductivity and virus transport (attachment, detachment, and inactivation) parameters on large-scale virus transport are evaluated. A stochastic mean model of virus transport is developed by linking a simple system of local-scale...
Authors
Linda L. Campbell Rehmann, Claire Welty, Ronald W. Harvey

Stable lead isotopic analyses of historic and contemporary lead contamination of San Francisco Bay estuary Stable lead isotopic analyses of historic and contemporary lead contamination of San Francisco Bay estuary

Variations in stable lead isotopic composition (240Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb) in three sediment cores from the San Francisco Bay estuary document temporal changes in sources of lead during the past two centuries. Sediment, with lead from natural geologic sources, and relatively homogeneous lead isotopic compositions are overlain by sediments whose isotopic compositions indicate change in...
Authors
P.I. Ritson, R. M. Bouse, A.R. Flegal, Samuel N. Luoma

Binding of polychlorinated biphenyls to aquatic humic substances: The role of substrate and sorbate properties on partitioning Binding of polychlorinated biphenyls to aquatic humic substances: The role of substrate and sorbate properties on partitioning

Two ortho- (2,2‘,5 and 2,2‘,5,6‘) and a non-ortho- (3,3‘,4,4‘) substituted polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were used to study the effects of sorbate structure in binding processes to two lacustrine fulvic acids. Binding constants were determined by solubility enhancement of the solutes by the fulvic acids. The binding of the ortho-trichlorobiphenyl was significantly less than...
Authors
M.E. Uhle, Y.-P. Chin, G. R. Aiken, Diane M. McKnight

Use of cosmogenic 35S for comparing ages of water from three alpine-subalpine basins in the Colorado Front Range Use of cosmogenic 35S for comparing ages of water from three alpine-subalpine basins in the Colorado Front Range

High-elevation basins in Colorado are a major source of water for the central and western United States; however, acidic deposition may affect the quality of this water. Water that is retained in a basin for a longer period of time may be less impacted by acidic deposition. Sulfur-35 (35S), a short-lived isotope of sulfur (t( 1/2 ) = 87 days), is useful for studying short-time scale...
Authors
J.K. Sueker, J.T. Turk, R. L. Michel

GIXAFS study of Fe3+ sorption and precipitation on natural quartz surfaces GIXAFS study of Fe3+ sorption and precipitation on natural quartz surfaces

Grazing-incidence EXAFS has been used to characterize the structure of Fe3+ sorbed onto natural single crystal quartz surfaces. Fe3+ sorption at ca. 5% monolayer coverage on a natural crystal allowed to equilibrate in air resulted in formation of hematite nuclei with strong texturing on r-and m-planes. EXAFS calculations suggests that both O and Fe backscattering is necessary to yield...
Authors
G. Waychunas, J. Davis, R. Reitmeyer

Methane as a product of chloroethene biodegradation under methanogenic conditions Methane as a product of chloroethene biodegradation under methanogenic conditions

Radiometric detection headspace analyses of microcosms containing bed sediments from two geographically distinct sites indicated that 10-39% of the radiolabeled carbon transformed during anaerobic biodegradation of [1,2- 14C]trichloroethene (TCE) or [1,2-14C]vinyl chloride (VC) under methanogenic conditions was ultimately incorporated into 14CH4. The results demonstrate that, in addition...
Authors
P. M. Bradley, F. H. Chapelle

Negative pH, efflorescent mineralogy, and consequences for environmental restoration at the iron mountain superfund site, California Negative pH, efflorescent mineralogy, and consequences for environmental restoration at the iron mountain superfund site, California

The Richmond Mine of the Iron Mountain copper deposit contains some of the most acid mine waters ever reported. Values of pH have been measured as low as -3.6, combined metal concentrations as high as 200 g/liter, and sulfate concentrations as high as 760 g/liter. Copious quantities of soluble metal sulfate salts such as melanterite, chalcanthite, coquimbite, rhomboclase, voltaite...
Authors
D. Kirk Nordstrom, Charles N. Alpers

DBP formation of aquatic humic substances DBP formation of aquatic humic substances

Terrestrial vegetation commonly shed into reservoirs contains chemical precursors of DBPs. Aquatic humic substances (AHSs) in water generate potentially harmful disinfection by‐products (DBPs) such as haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) during chlorination. AHSs from two Arkansas reservoirs were characterized to define source, identify meta‐dihydroxybenzene (m‐DHB)...
Authors
M.L. Pomes, W. R. Green, E.M. Thurman, W. H. Orem, H.E. Lerch
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