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
Agricultural chemicals in Iowa's ground water, 1982-95: What are the trends? Agricultural chemicals in Iowa's ground water, 1982-95: What are the trends?
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Geological Survey Bureau: the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory; and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have been working together to address this question. As part of the Iowa Ground-Water Monitoring Program (IGWM). water samples have been collected from selected Iowa municipal wells since 1982. An examination of this data identified two...
Authors
Dana W. Koplin, George Hallberg, D. A. Sneck-Fahrer, Robert Libra
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
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
Near field receiving water monitoring of trace metals in Clams (Macoma balthica) and sediments near the Palo Alto and San Jose/Sunnyvale Water Quality Control Plants in South San Francisco Bay: 1996 Near field receiving water monitoring of trace metals in Clams (Macoma balthica) and sediments near the Palo Alto and San Jose/Sunnyvale Water Quality Control Plants in South San Francisco Bay: 1996
No abstract available.
Authors
S. N. Luoma, D.J. Cain, C. Brown, M. Hornberger, R. Bouse
In situ ecosystem effects of trace contaminants in San Francisco Bay Estuary - The necessary link to establishing water quality standards II In situ ecosystem effects of trace contaminants in San Francisco Bay Estuary - The necessary link to establishing water quality standards II
No abstract available.
Authors
Francis Parcheso, C. L. Brown, J.K. Thompson, S.L. Luoma
Identification of ionic chloroacetanilide-herbicide metabolites in surface water and groundwater by HPLC/MS using negative ion spray Identification of ionic chloroacetanilide-herbicide metabolites in surface water and groundwater by HPLC/MS using negative ion spray
Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was combined with high-performance liquid chromatography/high-flow pneumatically assisted electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESP/MS) for the trace analysis of oxanilic and sulfonic acids of acetochlor, alachlor, and metolachlor. The isolation procedure separated the chloroacetanilide metabolites from the parent herbicides during the elution from C18...
Authors
Imma Ferrer, E.M. Thurman, Damia Barcelo
Assessing aquifer contamination risk using immunoassay: Trace analysis of atrazine in unsaturated zone sediments Assessing aquifer contamination risk using immunoassay: Trace analysis of atrazine in unsaturated zone sediments
The vulnerability of a shallow aquifer in south-central Kansas to contamination by atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamines-triazine) was assessed by analyzing unsaturated zone soil and sediment samples from about 60 dryland and irrigated sites using an ultrasensitive immunoassay (detection level of 0.02 µg/kg) with verification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)...
Authors
K. E. Juracek, E.M. Thurman
Terbuthylazine and deethylterbuthylazine in rain and surface water: Determination by enzyme immunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry Terbuthylazine and deethylterbuthylazine in rain and surface water: Determination by enzyme immunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Rain and surface water samples from Southern Germany were investigated from 1991 to 1995 for terbuthylazine and one of its major metabolites, deethylterbuthylazine. The concentrations observed were compared to the concentrations found for atrazine and deethylatrazine in the same water samples. Concentrations ranged from 0.02 μg/L to 0.7 μg/L for terbuthylazine and from 0.02 μg/L to 0.6...
Authors
A. Dankwardt, E.M. Thurman, B. Hock
Marine bacterial degradation of brominated methanes Marine bacterial degradation of brominated methanes
Brominated methanes are ozone-depleting compounds whose natural sources include marine algae such as kelp. Brominated methane degradation by bacteria was investigated to address whether bacterial processes might effect net emission of these compounds to the atmosphere. Bacteria in seawater collected from California kelp beds degraded CH2Br2 but not CHBr3. Specific inhibitors showed that...
Authors
K.D. Goodwin, M.E. Lidstrom, R.S. Oremland
From the 1988 drought to the 1993 flood: Transport of halogenated organic compounds with the Mississippi river suspended sediment at Thebes, Illinois From the 1988 drought to the 1993 flood: Transport of halogenated organic compounds with the Mississippi river suspended sediment at Thebes, Illinois
Suspended sediment was isolated from water samples collected from the Mississippi River at Thebes, IL, eight times over a 5-year period from May 1988 through September 1993 in order to evaluate the transport of lipophilic halogenated organic compounds associated with the suspended sediment. Two hydrologic extremes were included-the 1988 drought and the 1993 flood. Halogenated organic...
Authors
C.E. Rostad
Effects of carbon dioxide variations in the unsaturated zone on water chemistry in a glacial-outwash aquifer Effects of carbon dioxide variations in the unsaturated zone on water chemistry in a glacial-outwash aquifer
The research site at Otis Air Base, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has been developed for hydrogeological and geochemical studies of sewage-effluent contaminated groundwater since 1982. Research of hydrologic properties, transport, and chemical and biological processes is ongoing, but the origin of background water chemistry has not been determined. The principal geochemical process giving...
Authors
R. W. Lee
A theoretically based determination of bowen-ratio fetch requirements A theoretically based determination of bowen-ratio fetch requirements
Determination of fetch requirements for accurate Bowen-ratio measurements of latent- and sensible-heat fluxes is more involved than for eddy-correlation measurements because Bowen-ratio sensors are located at two heights, rather than just one. A simple solution to the diffusion equation is used to derive an expression for Bowen-ratio fetch requirements, downwind of a step change in...
Authors
D.I. Stannard