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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

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

Experimental design for estimating parameters of rate-limited mass transfer: Analysis of stream tracer studies Experimental design for estimating parameters of rate-limited mass transfer: Analysis of stream tracer studies

Tracer experiments are valuable tools for analyzing the transport characteristics of streams and their interactions with shallow groundwater. The focus of this work is the design of tracer studies in high-gradient stream systems subject to advection, dispersion, groundwater inflow, and exchange between the active channel and zones in surface or subsurface water where flow is stagnant or...
Authors
Brian J. Wagner, Judson W. Harvey

Stable isotope evidence for an atmospheric origin of desert nitrate deposits in northern Chile and southern California, U.S.A. Stable isotope evidence for an atmospheric origin of desert nitrate deposits in northern Chile and southern California, U.S.A.

Natural surficial accumulations of nitrate-rich salts in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, and in the Death Valley region of the Mojave Desert, southern California, are well known, but despite many geologic and geochemical studies, the origins of the nitrates have remained controversial. N and O isotopes in nitrate, and S isotopes in coexisting soluble sulfate, were measured to...
Authors
J.K. Böhlke, G. E. Ericksen, K. Revesz

Herbicides and their metabolites in rainfall: Origin, transport, and deposition patterns across the midwestern and northeastern United States, 1990-1991 Herbicides and their metabolites in rainfall: Origin, transport, and deposition patterns across the midwestern and northeastern United States, 1990-1991

Herbicides were detected in rainfall throughout the midwestern and northeastern United States during late spring and summer of 1990 and 1991. Herbicide concentrations exhibited distinct geographic and seasonal patterns. The highest concentrations occurred in midwestern cornbelt states following herbicide application to cropland. Volume-weighted concentrations of 0.2−0.4 μg/L for atrazine...
Authors
D. A. Goolsby, E.M. Thurman, M.L. Pomes, M. T. Meyer, W.A. Battaglin

Bacterial oxidation of methyl bromide in Mono Lake, California Bacterial oxidation of methyl bromide in Mono Lake, California

The oxidation of methyl bromide (MeBr) in the water column of Mono Lake, CA, was studied by measuring the formation of H14CO3 from [14C]MeBr. Potential oxidation was detected throughout the water column, with highest rates occurring in the epilimnion (5-12 m depth). The oxidation of MeBr was eliminated by filter-sterilization, thereby demonstrating the involvement of bacteria. Vertical...
Authors
T.L. Connell, S.B. Joye, L.G. Miller, R.S. Oremland

Response characteristics of DOC flushing in an alpine catchment Response characteristics of DOC flushing in an alpine catchment

The spatial distribution of source areas and associated residence times of water in the catchment are significant factors controlling the annual cycles of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in Deer Creek (Summit County, Colorado). During spring snowmelt (April-August 1992), stream DOC concentrations increased with the rising limb of the hydrograph, peaked before maximum...
Authors
E.W. Boyer, G.M. Hornberger, K.E. Bencala, Diane M. McKnight

Evaluation of unconfined-aquifer parameters from pumping test data by nonlinear least squares Evaluation of unconfined-aquifer parameters from pumping test data by nonlinear least squares

Nonlinear least squares (NLS) with automatic differentiation was used to estimate aquifer parameters from drawdown data obtained from published pumping tests conducted in homogeneous, water-table aquifers. The method is based on a technique that seeks to minimize the squares of residuals between observed and calculated drawdown subject to bounds that are placed on the parameter of...
Authors
M. Heidari, A. Moench

Microbial reduction of iodate Microbial reduction of iodate

The different oxidation species of iodine have markedly different sorption properties. Hence, changes in iodine redox states can greatly affect the mobility of iodine in the environment. Although a major microbial role has been suggested in the past to account for these redox changes, little has been done to elucidate the responsible microorganisms or the mechanisms involved. In the work...
Authors
T.B. Councell, E. R. Landa, Derek R. Lovley

Integrity of production wells and confining unit at the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Dallas, Texas, 1995 Integrity of production wells and confining unit at the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Dallas, Texas, 1995

Ground water in the shallow alluvial aquifer is contaminated at the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Dallas, Texas. Five production wells at the site are cased through the alluvial aquifer and underlying units and are screened in either the Paluxy or Twin Mountains aquifers. Three abandoned wells, originally completed in the Twin Mountains aquifer but filled with drilling mud in...
Authors
Sonya A. Jones, Frederick L. Paillet

Hydrologic data from the study of acidic contamination in the Miami Wash-Pinal Creek area, Arizona, water years 1994-96 Hydrologic data from the study of acidic contamination in the Miami Wash-Pinal Creek area, Arizona, water years 1994-96

Since 1984, hydrologic data have been collected as part of a U.S. Geological Survey study of the occurrence and movement of acidic contamination in the aquifer and streams of the Pinal Creek drainage basin near Globe, Arizona. Ground-water data from that study are presented for water years 1994, 1995, and 1996 and include location, construction information, site plans, water levels...
Authors
Alice D. Konieczki, Cory E. Angeroth

Quantifying macropore recharge: Examples from a semi-arid area Quantifying macropore recharge: Examples from a semi-arid area

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the significantly increased resolution of determining macropore recharge by combining physical, chemical, and isotopic methods of analysis. Techniques for quantifying macropore recharge were developed for both small-scale (1 to 10 km2) and regional-scale areas in and semi-arid areas. The Southern High Plains region of Texas and New Mexico was...
Authors
W.W. Wood, Ken A. Rainwater, D.B. Thompson
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