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: 3784
Partition coefficients of organic compounds in lipid-water systems and correlations with fish bioconcentration factors Partition coefficients of organic compounds in lipid-water systems and correlations with fish bioconcentration factors
Triolein-water partition coefficients (KtW) have been determined for 38 slightly water-soluble organic compounds, and their magnitudes have been compared with the corresponding octanol-water partition coefficients (KOW). In the absence of major solvent-solute interaction effects in the organic solvent phase, the conventional treatment (based on Raoult's law) predicts sharply lower...
Authors
C. T. Chiou
Culturing Selenastrum capricornutum (Chlorophyta) in a synthetic algal nutrient medium with defined mineral particulates Culturing Selenastrum capricornutum (Chlorophyta) in a synthetic algal nutrient medium with defined mineral particulates
Algal nutrient studies in chemically-defined media typically employ a synthetic chelator to prevent iron hydroxide precipitation. Micronutrient-particulate interactions may, however, significantly affect chemical speciation and hence biovailability of these nutrients in natural waters. A technique is described by which Selenastrum capricornutum Printz (Chlorophyta) may be cultured in a...
Authors
James S. Kuwabara, J.A. Davis, Cecily C.Y. Chang
Geochemistry of great Salt Lake, Utah II: Pleistocene-Holocene evolution Geochemistry of great Salt Lake, Utah II: Pleistocene-Holocene evolution
Sedimentologic and biostratigraphic evidence is used to develop a geochemical model for Great Salt Lake, Utah, extending back some 30,000 yrs. B.P. Hydrologie conditions as defined by the water budget equation are characterized by a lake initially at a low, saline stage, rising by about 17,000 yrs. B.P. to fresh water basin-full conditions (Bonneville level) and then, after about 15,000...
Authors
R. J. Spencer, H.P. Eugster, B.F. Jones
Geochemistry of Great Salt Lake, Utah I: Hydrochemistry since 1850 Geochemistry of Great Salt Lake, Utah I: Hydrochemistry since 1850
The hydrochemistry of Great Salt Lake, Utah, has been defined for the historic period, 1850 through 1982, from published data combined with new observations. The water balance depends largely on river inflow, atmospheric precipitation onto the lake surface and evaporation. Input of the major solutes can best be accounted for by mixing dilute calcium-bicarbonate type river waters with...
Authors
R. J. Spencer, H.P. Eugster, B.F. Jones, S.L. Rettig
Partitioning studies of coal-tar constituents in a two-phase contaminated ground-water system Partitioning studies of coal-tar constituents in a two-phase contaminated ground-water system
Organic compounds derived from coal-tar wastes in a contaminated aquifer in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, were identified, and their partition coefficients between the tar phase and aqueous phase were determined and compared with the corresponding n-octanol/water partition coefficients. Coal tar contains numerous polycyclic aromatic compounds, many of which are suspected carcinogens or...
Authors
Colleen E. Rostad, W. E. Pereira, M. F. Hult
Assessment of long-term salinity changes in an irrigated stream-aquifer system Assessment of long-term salinity changes in an irrigated stream-aquifer system
Changes in salinity in groundwater and surface water in the Arkansas River valley of southeastern Colorado are primarily related to irrigation practices. A solute transport model was applied to an 11-mile reach of the valley to compute salinity changes in response to spatially and temporally varying stresses. The model was calibrated in 1973 using detailed field measurements made during...
Authors
Leonard F. Konikow, Mark Person
On the expected width function for topologically random channel networks On the expected width function for topologically random channel networks
No abstract available.
Authors
Brent M. Troutman, Michael R. Karlinger
Reply [to “Comment on ‘Identifying sources of groundwater pollution: An optimization approach’ by Steven M. Gorelick, Barbara Evans, and Irwin Remson”] Reply [to “Comment on ‘Identifying sources of groundwater pollution: An optimization approach’ by Steven M. Gorelick, Barbara Evans, and Irwin Remson”]
No abstract available.
Authors
Steven M. Gorelick, Barbara Evans, Irwin Remson
Reply to comments by MacIntyre and Smith on: Partition equilibria of nonionic organic compounds between soil-organic matter and water Reply to comments by MacIntyre and Smith on: Partition equilibria of nonionic organic compounds between soil-organic matter and water
No abstract available.
Authors
Cary T. Chiou, Paul E. Porter, Thomas D. Shoup
Modeling the interrelationship of groundwater and surface water Modeling the interrelationship of groundwater and surface water
No abstract available.
Authors
T. C. Winter
Contaminants in the Upper Mississippi: Summary and conclusions Contaminants in the Upper Mississippi: Summary and conclusions
No abstract available.
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma
Groundwater contamination and aquifer reclamation at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Colorado Groundwater contamination and aquifer reclamation at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Colorado
No abstract available.
Authors
Leonard F. Konikow, D. Thompson