Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
GeoHEALTH-USGS Newsletter
GeoHEALTH-USGS Newsletter
The GeoHEALTH–USGS Newsletter—published since 2004—provides information on USGS science activities pertinent to safeguarding the health of fish, wildlife, domesticated animals, and people from environmental exposures to contaminants and pathogens.
Featured Science Activities
Featured Science Activities
Lean about our Featured Science Activities through our pages that highlight science studies, publications, and results.
Filter Total Items: 3785
Geochemical modeling of water-rock interactions in mining environments Geochemical modeling of water-rock interactions in mining environments
Geochemical modeling is a powerful tool for evaluating geochemical processes in mining environments. Properly constrained and judiciously applied, modeling can provide valuable insights into processes controlling the release, transport, and fate of contaminants in mine drainage. This chapter contains 1) an overview of geochemical modeling, 2) discussion of the types of models and...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstrom
Mass balance approach to selenium cycling through the San Joaquin Valley, sources to river to bay Mass balance approach to selenium cycling through the San Joaquin Valley, sources to river to bay
Surface and ground waters of the Central Valley of California (e.g., rivers, dams, off-stream storage reservoirs, pumping facilities, irrigation and drinking water supply canals, agricultural drainage canals) are part of a hydrologic system that makes up a complex ecosystem extending from the riparian wetlands of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers through the San Francisco Bay/Delta...
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, David Z. Piper
Seasonal variation in metal concentrations in a stream affected by acid mine drainage, St. Kevin Gulch, Colorado Seasonal variation in metal concentrations in a stream affected by acid mine drainage, St. Kevin Gulch, Colorado
Mining of mineral deposits in the Rocky Mountains has left a legacy of acidic inflows to otherwise pristine upland watersheds. Since 1986, the U.S. Geological Survey has studied physical, chemical, and biological processes that affect the transport and transformation of metals in St. Kevin Gulch, an acidic, metal-rich stream near Leadville, Colorado. Well-known chemical processes have...
Authors
B. A. Kimball
Studies of the San Francisco Bay, California, estuarine ecosystem regional monitoring program results, 1996 Studies of the San Francisco Bay, California, estuarine ecosystem regional monitoring program results, 1996
As part of a regional monitoring program, water samples were collected in the San Francisco Bay estuary during 21 cruises from January through December 1996. Conductivity, temperature, light attenuation, turbidity, oxygen, and in-vivo chlorophyll fluorescence were measured longitudinally and vertically in the main channel of the estuary from south of the Dumbarton Bridge in the southern...
Authors
Jelriza I. Baylosis, Jody L. Edmunds, Brian E. Cole, James E. Cloern
Spatial and temporal trends of trace metals in surface water, bed sediment, and biota of the upper Clark Fork Basin, Montana, 1985-95 Spatial and temporal trends of trace metals in surface water, bed sediment, and biota of the upper Clark Fork Basin, Montana, 1985-95
No abstract available.
Authors
Michelle I. Hornberger, J. H. Lambing, S. N. Luoma, E.V. Axtmann
Preliminary characterization of acid-generating potential and toxic metal solubility of some abandoned metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River headwaters, northern Jefferson County, Montana Preliminary characterization of acid-generating potential and toxic metal solubility of some abandoned metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River headwaters, northern Jefferson County, Montana
No abstract available.
Authors
George A. Desborough, David L. Fey
Soil, plant, and structural considerations for surface barriers in arid environments: Application of results from studies in the Mojave Desert near Beatty, Nevada Soil, plant, and structural considerations for surface barriers in arid environments: Application of results from studies in the Mojave Desert near Beatty, Nevada
The suitability of a waste-burial site depends on hydrologic processes that can affect the near-surface water balance. In addition, the loss of burial trench integrity by erosion and subsidence of trench covers may increase the likelihood of infiltration and percolation, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the site in isolating waste. Although the main components of the water balance...
Authors
Brian J. Andraski, David E. Prudic
Spring snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada - Does a day make a difference? Spring snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada - Does a day make a difference?
No abstract available.
Authors
D. H. Peterson, M. D. Dettinger, D.R. Cayan, R. E. Smith, L. Riddle, N. Knowles
Assimilation efficiencies and turnover rates of trace elements in marine bivalves: A comparison of oysters, clams and mussels Assimilation efficiencies and turnover rates of trace elements in marine bivalves: A comparison of oysters, clams and mussels
Assimilation efficiencies (AEs) and physiological turnover-rate constants (k) of six trace elements (Ag, Am, Cd, Co, Se, Zn) in four marine bivalves (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin,Macoma balthica Linnaeus, Mercenaria mercenaria Linnaeus, and Mytilus edulis Linnaeus) were measured in radiotracer-depuration experiments. Egestion rates of unassimilated elements were highest during the first...
Authors
J.R. Reinfelder, W.-X. Wang, S. N. Luoma, N.S. Fisher
Assessing hydrogeochemical heterogeneity in natural and constructed wetlands Assessing hydrogeochemical heterogeneity in natural and constructed wetlands
While 'water quality function' is cited as an important wetland function to design for and preserve, we demonstrate that the scale at which hydrochemical samples are collected can significantly influence interpretations of biogeochemical processes in wetlands. Subsurface, chemical profiles for both nutrients and major ions were determined at a site in southwestern Wisconsin that...
Authors
R. J. Hunt, D. P. Krabbenhoft, Marilyn P. Anderson
Differential cytochrome content and reductase activity in Geospirillum barnesii strain SeS3 Differential cytochrome content and reductase activity in Geospirillum barnesii strain SeS3
The protein composition, cytochrome content, and reductase activity in the dissimilatory selenate-reducing bacterium Geospirillum barnesii strain SeS3, grown with thiosulfate, nitrate, selenate, or fumarate as the terminal electron acceptor, was investigated. Comparison of seven high-molecular-mass membrane proteins (105.3, 90.3, 82.6, 70.2, 67.4, 61.1, and 57.3 kDa) by SDS-PAGE showed...
Authors
J.F. Stolz, T. Gugliuzza, Blum J. Switzer, R. Oremland, Murillo F. Martinez
Diagnosing the flood of 1997 in San Francisco Bay with observations and model results Diagnosing the flood of 1997 in San Francisco Bay with observations and model results
No abstract available.
Authors
Noah Knowles, Daniel Cayan, Reginald J. Uncles, Lynn Ingram, Dave Peterson