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Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).

Filter Total Items: 3784

Errors and parameter estimation in precipitation-runoff modeling: 2. Case study Errors and parameter estimation in precipitation-runoff modeling: 2. Case study

A case study is presented which illustrates some of the error analysis, sensitivity analysis, and parameter estimation procedures reviewed in the first part of this paper. It is shown that those procedures, most of which come from statistical nonlinear regression theory, are invaluable in interpreting errors in precipitation-runoff modeling and in identifying appropriate calibration...
Authors
Brent M. Troutman

Isolation of anaerobic oxalate-degrading bacteria from freshwater lake sediments Isolation of anaerobic oxalate-degrading bacteria from freshwater lake sediments

Enrichment cultures that anaerobically degraded oxalate were obtained from lake sediment inocula. From these, 5 pure cultures of anaerobic oxalate-degrading bacteria were isolated and partially characterized. The isolates were Gram-negative, non-sporeforming, non-motile, obligate anaerobes. Oxalate was required for growth and was stoichiometrically converted to formate; 14CO2 was also...
Authors
R. L. Smith, F.E. Strohmaier, Ronald S. Oremland

Statistical evaluation of an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric method for routine water quality testing Statistical evaluation of an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric method for routine water quality testing

In an interlaboratory test, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was compared with flame atomic absorption spectrometry and molecular absorption spectrophotometry for the determination of 17 major and trace elements in 100 filtered natural water samples. No unacceptable biases were detected. The analysis precision of ICP-AES was found to be equal to or better...
Authors
J.R. Garbarino, B. E. Jones, G.P. Stein

Field determination of the three-dimensional hydraulic conductivity tensor of anisotropic media: 2. Methodology and application to fractured rocks Field determination of the three-dimensional hydraulic conductivity tensor of anisotropic media: 2. Methodology and application to fractured rocks

The analytical solutions developed in the first paper can be used to interpret the results of cross-hole tests conducted in anisotropic porous or fractured media. In the particular case where the injection and monitoring intervals are short relative to the distance between them, the test results can be analyzed graphically. From the transient variation of hydraulic head in a given...
Authors
Paul A. Hsieh, Shlomo P. Neuman, Gary K. Stiles, Eugene S. Simpson

Separation of solute and particulate vectors of heavy metal uptake in controlled suspension-feeding experiments with Macoma balthica Separation of solute and particulate vectors of heavy metal uptake in controlled suspension-feeding experiments with Macoma balthica

Radioisotope labelling experiments with the estuarine clam, Macoma balthica, are described, in which a filter chamber device was used to separate solute metal uptake from uptake, of metals associated with suspended bacteria. Solute uptake contributed a majority of the 14-day total body burdens of 65Zn and 109Cd, whereas 57Co uptake largely resulted from ingestion of isotope-laden...
Authors
Ronald W. Harvey, Samuel N. Luoma

Geochemical investigations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins in the subsurface environment at an abandoned wood-treatment facility Geochemical investigations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins in the subsurface environment at an abandoned wood-treatment facility

The discharge of effluents containing creosote and pentachlorophenol into two unlined surface impoundments at a wood-treatment facility in Pensacola, Florida, resulted in contamination of the underlying sand and gravel aquifer. These wastes contained significant amounts of chlorinated dioxins, such as isomers of hexa- and heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin...
Authors
W. E. Pereira, C.E. Rostad, M.E. Sisak

Reduction of hexavalent chromium in water samples acidified for preservation Reduction of hexavalent chromium in water samples acidified for preservation

Reduction of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in water samples, preserved by standard techniques, was investigated. The standard preservation technique for water samples that are to be analyzed for Cr(VI) consists of filtration through a 0.45‐µm membrane, acidification to a pH 2, and storage in plastic bottles. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of H+ concentration, NO2
Authors
Kenneth G. Stollenwerk, D.B. Grove

Modeling the rate-controlled sorption of hexavalent chromium Modeling the rate-controlled sorption of hexavalent chromium

Sorption of chromium VI on the iron-oxide- and hydroxide-coated surface of alluvial material was numerically simulated with rate-controlled reactions. Reaction kinetics and diffusional processes, in the form of film, pore, and particle diffusion, were simulated and compared with experimental results. The use of empirically calculated rate coefficients for diffusion through the reacting...
Authors
D.B. Grove, Kenneth G. Stollenwerk

Adsorption and desorption of hexavalent chromium in an alluvial aquifer near Telluride, Colorado Adsorption and desorption of hexavalent chromium in an alluvial aquifer near Telluride, Colorado

A laboratory investigation of reactions between hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and alluvium was conducted to evaluate reactions of Cr(VI) contaminating an alluvial aquifer near Telluride, CO and to determine the mechanisms responsible for these reactions. Uncontaminated alluvium and groundwater (spiked with CrO42−) from the study site were used in batch and column experiments. Results of...
Authors
Kenneth G. Stollenwerk, D.B. Grove

Migration of wood-preserving chemicals in contaminated groundwater in a sand aquifer at Pensacola, Florida Migration of wood-preserving chemicals in contaminated groundwater in a sand aquifer at Pensacola, Florida

Operation of a wood-preserving facility for nearly 80 years at Pensacola, FL, contaminated the near-surface groundwater with creosote and pentachlorophenol. The major source of aquifer contamination was unlined surface impoundments that were in direct hydraulic contact with the groundwater. Episodes of overtopping the impoundments and overland flow of treatment liquor and waste were also
Authors
D.F. Goerlitz, D.E. Troutman, E.M. Godsy, B.J. Franks

Unit hydrograph approximations assuming linear flow through topologically random channel networks Unit hydrograph approximations assuming linear flow through topologically random channel networks

The instantaneous unit Hydrograph (IUH) of a drainage basin is derived in terms of fundamental basin characteristics (Z, α, β), where α parameterizes the link (channel segment) length distribution, and β is a vector of hydraulic parameters, Z is one of three basin topological properties, N, (N, D), or (N, M), where N is magnitude (number of first-order streams), D is diameter (mainstream...
Authors
Brent M. Troutman, Michael R. Karlinger
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