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
Remote sensing of tidal chlorophyll-a variations in estuaries Remote sensing of tidal chlorophyll-a variations in estuaries
Simultaneous acquisition of surface chlorophyll-a concentrations for 39 samples from boats and Daedalus 1260 Multispectral Scanner data from a U-2 aircraft was conducted in the northern reaches of San Francisco Bay on 28 August 1980. These data were used to develop regression models for predicting surface chlorophyll-a concentrations over the study area for ebb-tide (8.40 a.m. P.D.T....
Authors
Glenn P. Catts, Siamak Khorram, James E. Cloern, Allen W. Knight, Stephen D. Degloria
Temporal fluctuations of silver, copper and zinc in the bivalve Macoma balthica at five stations in South San Francisco Bay Temporal fluctuations of silver, copper and zinc in the bivalve Macoma balthica at five stations in South San Francisco Bay
Concentrations of Cu, Ag and Zn were measured in the soft tissues of the estuarine bivalve Macoma balthica in South San Francisco Bay at near-monthly intervals for periods of two to three years at four stations, and eight years at a metal-enriched station. The amplitude and frequency of fluctuations differed among stations and among metals. Fluctuations were greatest at stations with the...
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma, Daniel Cain, C. Johansson
Geochemical mass-balance relationships for selected ions in precipitation and stream water, Catoctin Mountains, Maryland Geochemical mass-balance relationships for selected ions in precipitation and stream water, Catoctin Mountains, Maryland
Results of a study of input/output mass balances for major ions based on the chemical composition of precipitation and stream-water, geochemical reactions with different loading rates of hydrogen ion, and watershed processes influencing the chemical character of stream-waters in two small watershed areas are reported with a view to predicting the effect of additions of acidic rain to the...
Authors
B. G. Katz, O.P. Bricker, M.M. Kennedy
Copper and silver accumulation in transplanted and resident clams (Macoma balthica) in South San Francisco Bay Copper and silver accumulation in transplanted and resident clams (Macoma balthica) in South San Francisco Bay
Accumulation of Cu and Ag by soft tissues of the deposit-feeding clam Macoma balthica was less than half in clams transplanted to a contaminated area than in clams native to that area. During a period of tissue growth, the transplants retained 50% and 90%, respectively, of the net Cu and Ag accumulated, but loss of metals from soft tissue by the resident population equalled net...
Authors
D.J. Cain, Samuel N. Luoma
Thermodynamic stability of CoOOH and its coprecipitation with manganese Thermodynamic stability of CoOOH and its coprecipitation with manganese
A precipitate of cobalt oxyhydroxides formed by bubbling oxygen through a dilute solution of Co(NO3)2 held at pH 9.0 and 25°C was aged for 23 months in contact with the original solution, with access to atmospheric oxygen. Co3O4 and CoOOH were identified in the precipitate by X-ray diffraction. Chemical equilibria involving these solids were evaluated by measurements of solution pH and...
Authors
J.D. Hem, C. E. Roberson, Carol J. Lind
Mechanistic roles of soil humus and minerals in the sorption of nonionic organic compounds from aqueous and organic solutions Mechanistic roles of soil humus and minerals in the sorption of nonionic organic compounds from aqueous and organic solutions
Mechanistic roles of soil humus and soil minerals and their contributions to soil sorption of nonionic organic compounds from aqueous and organic solutions are illustrated. Parathion and lindane are used as model solutes on two soils that differ greatly in their humic and mineral contents. In aqueous systems, observed sorptive characteristics suggest that solute partitioning into the...
Authors
C. T. Chiou, T.D. Shoup, P.E. Porter
Dissolution of alkaline earth sulfates in the presence of montmorillonite Dissolution of alkaline earth sulfates in the presence of montmorillonite
In a study of the effect of montmorillonite on the dissolution of BaSO4 (barite), SrSO4 (celestite), and 226Ra from U mill tailings, it was found that: (1) More of these substances dissolve in an aqueous system that contains montmorillonite than dissolve in a similar system without clay, due to the ion exchange properties of the clay; (2) Na-montmorillonite is more effective in aiding...
Authors
D. D. Eberl, Edward R. Landa
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