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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

Logistic model of nitrate in streams of the upper-midwestern United States Logistic model of nitrate in streams of the upper-midwestern United States

Nitrate in surface water can have adverse effects on aquatic life and, in drinking-water supplies, can be a risk to human health. As part of a regional study, nitrates as N (NO3-N) was analyzed in water samples collected from streams throughout 10 Midwestern states during synoptic surveys in 1989, 1990, and 1994. Data from the period immediately following crop planting at 124 sites were...
Authors
D. K. Mueller, B. C. Ruddy, W.A. Battaglin

Constant-concentration boundary condition: Lessons from the HYDROCOIN variable-density groundwater benchmark problem Constant-concentration boundary condition: Lessons from the HYDROCOIN variable-density groundwater benchmark problem

In a solute-transport model, if a constant-concentration boundary condition is applied at a node in an active flow field, a solute flux can occur by both advective and dispersive processes. The potential for advective release is demonstrated by reexamining the Hydrologic Code Intercomparison (HYDROCOIN) project case 5 problem, which represents a salt dome overlain by a shallow...
Authors
Leonard F. Konikow, W. E. Sanford, P.J. Campbell

Organic carbon and nitrogen content associated with colloids and suspended particulates from the Mississippi River and some of its tributaries Organic carbon and nitrogen content associated with colloids and suspended particulates from the Mississippi River and some of its tributaries

Suspended material samples were collected at 16 sites along the Mississippi River and some of its tributaries during July-August 1991, October-November 1991, and April-May 1992, and separated into colloid and particulate fractions to determine the organic carbon content of these two fractions of suspended material. Sample collection involved centrifugation to isolate the suspended...
Authors
C.E. Rostad, J.A. Leenheer, S.R. Daniel

Hydrogeologic framework of western Cape Cod, Massachusetts Hydrogeologic framework of western Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The aquifer of western Cape Cod consists of several hydrogeologic units composed of sand, gravel, silt, and clay (fig. 1) that were deposited during the late Wisconsinan glaciation of New England. The aquifer is a shallow, unconfined hydrologic system in which ground-water flows radially outward from the apex of the ground-water mound near the center of the peninsula toward the coast...
Authors
John P. Masterson, Byron D. Stone, Donald A. Walter, Jennifer G. Savoie

Agricultural chemicals in groundwater of the midwestern United States: Relations to land use Agricultural chemicals in groundwater of the midwestern United States: Relations to land use

To determine the relations between land use and concentrations of selected agricultural chemicals (nitrate, atrazine residue [atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) + deethylatrazinc (2-amino-4-chloro-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) + deisopropylatrazine (2-amino-4-chloro-6-ethylamino-s-triazine)], and alachlor residue [alachlor, [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-...
Authors
D.W. Kolpin

Analysis of environmental data with censored observations Analysis of environmental data with censored observations

The potential threats to humans and to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems from environmental contamination could depend on the sum of the concentrations of different chemicals. However, direct summation of environmental data is not generally feasible because it is common for some chemical concentrations to be recorded as being below the analytical reporting limit. This creates special...
Authors
S. Liu, J.-C. Lu, D.W. Kolpin, W.Q. Meeker

Relation of hydrogeologic characteristics to distribution of radioactivity in ground water, Newark Basin, New Jersey Relation of hydrogeologic characteristics to distribution of radioactivity in ground water, Newark Basin, New Jersey

The distribution of radioactivity in ground water in the Newark Basin is controlled by the lithology of the aquifer and the degree of contact between the water that flows through the fractured strata and the radioactive lithologic units. The primary water-bearing lithologic units of the Newark Basin that contain elevated levels of radioactivity are the arkosic sandstones of the Stockton...
Authors
Zoltan Szabo, Ticie A. Taylor, Dorothy F. Payne, Tamara Ivahnenko

Natural and mining-related sources of dissolved minerals during low flow in the Upper Animas River Basin, southwestern Colorado Natural and mining-related sources of dissolved minerals during low flow in the Upper Animas River Basin, southwestern Colorado

As part of the Clean Water Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-500), all States are required to establish water-quality standards for every river basin in the State. During 1994, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment proposed to the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission (CWQCC) an aquatic-life standard of 225 µg/L (micrograms per liter) for the dissolved-zinc concentration...
Authors
Winfield G. Wright

Analysis of the Cape Cod tracer data Analysis of the Cape Cod tracer data

An analysis of the Cape Cod test was performed using several first- and higher-order theoretical models. We compare conditional and unconditional solutions of the transport equation and employ them for analysis of the experimental data. We consider spatial moments, mass breakthrough curves, and the distribution of the solute mass in space. The concentration measurements were also...
Authors
Souheil Ezzedine, Yoram Rubin

Tritium/3He dating of river infiltration: An example from the Danube in the Szigetköz area, Hungary Tritium/3He dating of river infiltration: An example from the Danube in the Szigetköz area, Hungary

3H, He, 4He, and Ne data were obtained from a shallow ground-water system being recharged by bank infiltration from the Danube River in northwestern Hungary. After correting for excess air, 4He and Ne concentrations reflect a recharge temperature of about 9° C., close to the mean annual temperature of the Danube (10.4° C). Values of H plus 3Hetrit (“initial tritium”) as a function of the...
Authors
M. Stute, J. Deak, K. Révész, J. K. Böhlke, E. Deseo, R. Weppernig, P. Schlosser
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