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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: 3784

Effects of upstream dams versus groundwater pumping on stream temperature under varying climate conditions Effects of upstream dams versus groundwater pumping on stream temperature under varying climate conditions

The relative impact of a large upstream dam versus in‐reach groundwater pumping on stream temperatures was analyzed for humid, semiarid, and arid conditions with long dry seasons to represent typical climate regions where large dams are present, such as the western United States or eastern Australia. Stream temperatures were simulated using the CE‐QUAL‐W2 water quality model over a 110...
Authors
John C. Risley, Jim Constantz, Hedeff I. Essaid, Stewart A. Rounds

Field note--Successful establishment of a phytoremediation system at a petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated shallow aquifer--Trends, trials, and tribulations Field note--Successful establishment of a phytoremediation system at a petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated shallow aquifer--Trends, trials, and tribulations

We report the establishment of a mixed hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) and willow (Salix spp.) phytoremediation system at a fuel-contaminated site. Several approaches were used to balance competing goals of cost-effectiveness yet successful tree establishment without artificial irrigation or trenching. Bare root and unrooted cuttings were installed using either: (1) 1.2 m deep holes...
Authors
Rachel L. Cook, James Landmeyer, Brad Atkinson, Jean-Pierre Messier, Elizabeth Guthrie Nichols

Sources of aerosol nitrate to the Gulf of Aqaba: Evidence from δ15N and δ18O of nitrate and trace metal chemistry Sources of aerosol nitrate to the Gulf of Aqaba: Evidence from δ15N and δ18O of nitrate and trace metal chemistry

The nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) isotopic composition (δ15N and δ18O) of water soluble aerosol nitrate was measured in aerosol samples collected in Eilat, Israel, from August 2003 to November 2004. During this period δ15N values ranged from − 6.9‰ to + 1.9‰ and δ18O from + 65.1‰ to + 84.9‰ and exhibited strong seasonal variability with higher average δ15N values observed in the summer and...
Authors
Scott D. Wankel, Ying Chen, Carol Kendall, A.F. Post, Adina Paytan

PHAST version 2-A program for simulating groundwater flow, solute transport, and multicomponent geochemical reactions PHAST version 2-A program for simulating groundwater flow, solute transport, and multicomponent geochemical reactions

The computer program PHAST (PHREEQC And HST3D) simulates multicomponent, reactive solute transport in three-dimensional saturated groundwater flow systems. PHAST is a versatile groundwater flow and solute-transport simulator with capabilities to model a wide range of equilibrium and kinetic geochemical reactions. The flow and transport calculations are based on a modified version of...
Authors
David L. Parkhurst, Kenneth L. Kipp, Scott R. Charlton

Microbial oxidation of arsenite in a subarctic environment: diversity of arsenite oxidase genes and identification of a psychrotolerant arsenite oxidiser Microbial oxidation of arsenite in a subarctic environment: diversity of arsenite oxidase genes and identification of a psychrotolerant arsenite oxidiser

Arsenic is toxic to most living cells. The two soluble inorganic forms of arsenic are arsenite (+3) and arsenate (+5), with arsenite the more toxic. Prokaryotic metabolism of arsenic has been reported in both thermal and moderate environments and has been shown to be involved in the redox cycling of arsenic. No arsenic metabolism (either dissimilatory arsenate reduction or arsenite...
Authors
Thomas H. Osborne, Heather E. Jamieson, Karen A. Hudson-Edwards, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Stephen R. Walker, Seamus A. Ward, Joanne M. Santini

Fate and transport of petroleum hydrocarbons in the subsurface near Cass Lake, Minnesota Fate and transport of petroleum hydrocarbons in the subsurface near Cass Lake, Minnesota

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigated the natural attenuation of subsurface petroleum hydrocarbons leaked over an unknown number of years from an oil pipeline under the Enbridge Energy Limited Partnership South Cass Lake Pumping Station, in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Three weeks of field work conducted between May 2007 and July 2008 delineated a dissolved plume of aromatic...
Authors
Dina M. Drennan, Barbara A. Bekins, Ean Warren, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Mary Jo Baedecker, William N. Herkelrath, Geoffrey N. Delin, Robert J. Rosenbauer, Pamela L. Campbell

Method description, quality assurance, environmental data, and other Information for analysis of pharmaceuticals in wastewater-treatment-plant effluents, streamwater, and reservoirs, 2004-2009 Method description, quality assurance, environmental data, and other Information for analysis of pharmaceuticals in wastewater-treatment-plant effluents, streamwater, and reservoirs, 2004-2009

Abstract Wastewater-treatment-plant (WWTP) effluents are a demonstrated source of pharmaceuticals to the environment. During 2004-09, a study was conducted to identify pharmaceutical compounds in effluents from WWTPs (including two that receive substantial discharges from pharmaceutical formulation facilities), streamwater, and reservoirs. The methods used to determine and quantify...
Authors
Patrick J. Phillips, Steven G. Smith, Dana W. Kolpin, Steven D. Zaugg, Herbert T. Buxton, Edward T. Furlong

A comparison of methods for estimating open-water evaporation in small wetlands A comparison of methods for estimating open-water evaporation in small wetlands

We compared evaporation measurements from a floating pan, land pan, chamber, and the Priestley-Taylor (PT) equation. Floating pan, land pan, and meteorological data were collected from June 6 to July 21, 2005, at a small wetland in the Canadian River alluvium in central Oklahoma, USA. Evaporation measured with the floating pan compared favorably to 12 h chamber measurements. Differences...
Authors
Jason R. Masoner, David I. Stannard

Source and fate of inorganic solutes in the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA: I. Low-flow discharge and major solute chemistry Source and fate of inorganic solutes in the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA: I. Low-flow discharge and major solute chemistry

The Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is an important natural resource and habitat for fisheries and wildlife. However, the Gibbon River differs from most other mountain rivers because its chemistry is affected by several geothermal sources including Norris Geyser Basin, Chocolate Pots, Gibbon Geyser Basin, Beryl Spring, and Terrace Spring. Norris Geyser Basin is one of the...
Authors
R. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, David D. Susong, James W. Ball, JoAnn M. Holloway

USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, 2010 USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, 2010

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program adapts research priorities to address the most important contamination issues facing the Nation and to identify new threats to environmental health. The Program investigates two major types of contamination problems: * Subsurface Point-Source Contamination, and * Watershed and Regional Contamination. Research objectives...
Authors
Herbert T. Buxton

Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of selenium Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of selenium

No abstract available.
Authors
A. Robin Stewart, M. Grosell, David B. Buchwalter, Nicholas S. Fisher, S. N. Luoma, T. Matthews, P. Orr, W.-X. Wang

Evaluating the behavior of gadolinium and other rare earth elements through large metropolitan sewage treatment plants Evaluating the behavior of gadolinium and other rare earth elements through large metropolitan sewage treatment plants

A primary pathway for emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, steroids, and hormones) to enter aquatic ecosystems is effluent from sewage treatment plants (STP), and identifying technologies to minimize the amount of these contaminants released is important. Quantifying the flux of these contaminants through STPs is difficult. This study evaluates the behavior of...
Authors
Philip L. Verplanck, Edward T. Furlong, James L. Gray, Patrick J. Phillips, Ruth E. Wolf, Kathleen Esposito
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