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
Applying the DRASTIC model: A review of county-scale maps Applying the DRASTIC model: A review of county-scale maps
The potential for contamination of ground water has become an issue of great concern to citizens and government alike, especially in the last decade. Numerous methods for assessing ground water vulnerability to contamination have been proposed and used. These methods include field-scale deterministic models that predict the rate of migration and fate of specific chemicals, and regional...
Authors
David R. Soller
Physical, chemical, and biological data for detailed study of irrigation drainage in the Kendrick Reclamation Project area, Wyoming, 1988-90 Physical, chemical, and biological data for detailed study of irrigation drainage in the Kendrick Reclamation Project area, Wyoming, 1988-90
No abstract available.
Authors
R.B. See, D. A. Peterson, Pedro Ramirez
A study of ground-water flow beneath the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Massachusetts; project description, August 1992 A study of ground-water flow beneath the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Massachusetts; project description, August 1992
No abstract available.
Authors
P. M. Barlow, D.R. LeBlanc
Trace metals in clams (Macoma balthica) and sediments at the Palo Alto mudflat in South San Francisco Bay, California; May 1991-May, 1992 Trace metals in clams (Macoma balthica) and sediments at the Palo Alto mudflat in South San Francisco Bay, California; May 1991-May, 1992
No abstract available.
Authors
S. N. Luoma, D.J. Cain, C. L. Brown, Michelle Hornberger
Hydrologic research at the Princeton, Minnesota management systems evaluation area Hydrologic research at the Princeton, Minnesota management systems evaluation area
The Management Systems Evaluation Area (MSEA) program is part of a multi-scale, inter-agency initiative to evaluate the effects of agricultural management systems on water quality. The program resulted from the integration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research Plan for Water Quality and the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) Mid-Continent Herbicide Initiative and is part of the...
Authors
G. N. Delin, M.K. Landon, J. L. Anderson, R.H. Dowdy
Ground-water quality in five areas of differing land use in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Long Island, New York Ground-water quality in five areas of differing land use in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Long Island, New York
No abstract available.
Authors
C.E. LeaMond, R.J. Haefner, S.J. Cauller, P. E. Stackelberg
Effects of low-level radioactive-waste disposal on water chemistry in the unsaturated zone at a site near Sheffield, Illinois, 1982-84 Effects of low-level radioactive-waste disposal on water chemistry in the unsaturated zone at a site near Sheffield, Illinois, 1982-84
A 1982-84 field study defined the chemistry of water collected from the unsaturated zone at a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site near Sheffield, Bureau County, Ill. Chemical data were evaluated to determine the principal, naturally occurring geochemical reactions in the unsaturated zone and to evaluate waste-induced effects on pore-water chemistry. Samples of precipitation...
Authors
C.A. Peters, Robert G. Striegl, P. C. Mills, R. W. Healy
Assessment of hydrogeologic conditions with emphasis on water quality and wastewater injection, southwest Sarasota and West Charlotte counties, Florida Assessment of hydrogeologic conditions with emphasis on water quality and wastewater injection, southwest Sarasota and West Charlotte counties, Florida
The 250-square-mile area of southwest Sarasota and west Charlotte Counties is underlain by a complex hydrogeologic system having diverse ground-water quality. The surficial and intermediate aquifer systems and the Upper Floridan aquifer of the Floridan aquifer system contain six separate aquifers, or permeable zones, and have a total thickness of about 2,000 feet. Water in the clastic...
Authors
C. B. Hutchinson
The determination and fate of unstable constituents of contaminated groundwater The determination and fate of unstable constituents of contaminated groundwater
No abstract available
Authors
M.J. Baedecker, M. Cozzarelli
Nitrate is a preferred electron acceptor for growth of freshwater selenate-respiring bacteria Nitrate is a preferred electron acceptor for growth of freshwater selenate-respiring bacteria
An anaerobic, freshwater enrichment grew with either nitrate or selenate as an electron acceptor. With both ions present, nitrate reduction preceded selenate reduction. An isolate from the enrichment grew on either ion, but the presence of nitrate precluded the reduction of selenate. Stock cultures of denitrifiers grew anaerobically on nitrate but not on selenate.
Authors
Nisan A. Steinberg, Jodi Switzer Blum, Lawrence Hochstein, Ronald S. Oremland
Tensiometers: Theory, construction, and use Tensiometers: Theory, construction, and use
Standard tensiometers are used to measure matric potential as low as −870 cm of water in the unsaturated zone by creating a saturated hydraulic link between the soil water and a pressure sensor. The direction and, in some cases, quantity of water flux can be determined using multiple installations. A variety of commercial and fabricated tensiometers are commonly used. Saturated porous...
Authors
D.I. Stannard
Geochemical heterogeneity in a sand and gravel aquifer: Effect of sediment mineralogy and particle size on the sorption of chlorobenzenes Geochemical heterogeneity in a sand and gravel aquifer: Effect of sediment mineralogy and particle size on the sorption of chlorobenzenes
The effect of particle size, mineralogy and sediment organic carbon (SOC) on sorption of tetrachlorobenzene and pentachlorobenzene was evaluated using batch-isotherm experiments on sediment particle-size and mineralogical fractions from a sand and gravel aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Concentration of SOC and sorption of chlorobenzenes increase with decreasing particle size. For a...
Authors
Larry B. Barber, E. Michael Thurman, Donald D. Runnells