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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

Simulating transport of volatile organic compounds in the unsaturated zone using the computer model R-UNSAT Simulating transport of volatile organic compounds in the unsaturated zone using the computer model R-UNSAT

Subsurface spills of gasoline and other petroleum products are a common environmental problem throughout the industrialized world. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that 40 percent of the more than 200,000 retail service stations in the United States have had accidental releases of petroleum hydrocarbons to the subsurface (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1991)
Authors
Matthew A. Lahvis, Arthur L. Baehr

Preliminary estimates of residence times and apparent ages of ground water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and water-quality data from a survey of springs Preliminary estimates of residence times and apparent ages of ground water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and water-quality data from a survey of springs

Knowledge of the residence times of the ground-water systems in Chesapeake Bay watershed helps resource managers anticipate potential delays between implementation of land-management practices and any improvements in river and estuary water quality. This report presents preliminary estimates of ground-water residence times and apparent ages of water in the shallow aquifers of the...
Authors
Michael J. Focazio, Niel Plummer, John K. Bohlke, Eurybiades Busenberg, L. Joseph Bachman, David S. Powars

Metal exposures to native populations of the caddisfly Hydropsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) determined from cytosolic and whole body metal concentrations Metal exposures to native populations of the caddisfly Hydropsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) determined from cytosolic and whole body metal concentrations

Metal concentrations of the soluble fraction of the cytoplasm (cytosol) and the whole body were determined in the caddisfly Hydropsyche spp. (Trichoptera). Metal accumulation in the cytosol and the whole body were compared in samples collected along 380 kms of a contamination gradient in the Clark Fork river in four consecutive years (1992–1995), and from a contaminated tributary (Flint...
Authors
D.J. Cain, S. N. Luoma

Field study and simulation of diurnal temperature effects on infiltration and variably saturated flow beneath an ephemeral stream Field study and simulation of diurnal temperature effects on infiltration and variably saturated flow beneath an ephemeral stream

Two experiments were performed to investigate flow beneath an ephemeral stream and to estimate streambed infiltration rates. Discharge and stream-area measurements were used to determine infiltration rates. Stream and subsurface temperatures were used to interpret subsurface flow through variably saturated sediments beneath the stream. Spatial variations in subsurface temperatures...
Authors
Anne Dudek Ronan, David E. Prudic, Carl E. Thodal, Jim Constantz

Biodegradation of the surfactant linear alkylbenzenesulfonate in sewage-contaminated groundwater: A comparison of column experiments and field tracer tests Biodegradation of the surfactant linear alkylbenzenesulfonate in sewage-contaminated groundwater: A comparison of column experiments and field tracer tests

Transport and biodegradation of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) in sewage-contaminated groundwater were investigated for a range of dissolved oxygen concentrations. Both laboratory column and an 80-day continuous injection tracer test field experiments were conducted. The rates of LAS biodegradation increased with increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations and indicated the...
Authors
C.J. Krueger, K.M. Radakovich, T.E. Sawyer, L. B. Barber, R. L. Smith, J.A. Field

Bacterial methylmercury degradation in Florida Everglades peat sediment Bacterial methylmercury degradation in Florida Everglades peat sediment

Methylmercury (MeHg) degradation was investigated along an eutrophication gradient in the Florida Everglades by quantifying 14CH4 and 14CO2 production after incubation of anaerobic sediments with [14C]MeHg. Degradation rate constants (k) were consistently ≤0.1 d-1 and decreased with sediment depth. Higher k values were observed when shorter incubation times and lower MeHg amendment...
Authors
M. C. Marvin-DiPasquale, R.S. Oremland

Microbial diversity in a hydrocarbon- and chlorinated-solvent- contaminated aquifer undergoing intrinsic bioremediation Microbial diversity in a hydrocarbon- and chlorinated-solvent- contaminated aquifer undergoing intrinsic bioremediation

A culture-independent molecular phylogenetic approach was used to survey constituents of microbial communities associated with an aquifer contaminated with hydrocarbons (mainly jet fuel) and chlorinated solvents undergoing intrinsic bioremediation. Samples were obtained from three redox zones: methanogenic, methanogenic-sulfate reducing, and iron or sulfate reducing. Small-subunit rRNA...
Authors
M.A. Dojka, P. Hugenholtz, S.K. Haack, N.R. Pace

Regression models of herbicide concentrations in outflow from reservoirs in the midwestern USA, 1992-1993 Regression models of herbicide concentrations in outflow from reservoirs in the midwestern USA, 1992-1993

Reservoirs are used to store water for public water supply, flood control, irrigation, recreation, hydropower, and wildlife habitat, but also often store undesirable substances such as herbicides. The outflow from 76 reservoirs in the midwestern USA, was sampled four times in 1992 and four times in 1993. At least one herbicide was detected in 82.6 percent of all samples, and atrazine was...
Authors
W.A. Battaglin, D. A. Goolsby

Water velocities and the potential for the movement of bed sediments in Sinclair Inlet of Puget Sound, Washington Water velocities and the potential for the movement of bed sediments in Sinclair Inlet of Puget Sound, Washington

Sinclair Inlet is a small embayment of Puget Sound in the State of Washington. The inlet, about 6.5 kilometers long and 1.5 kilometers wide, is the site of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. There are concerns that bed sediments in the inlet may have been contaminated as a result of activities at the shipyard, and that these sediments could be resuspended by tide- and wind-driven currents and...
Authors
Jeffrey W. Gartner, E. A. Prych, G. B. Tate, D.A. Cacchione, R. T. Cheng, W. R. Bidlake, J.T. Ferreira
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