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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: 3785

Quality assurance and quality control in light stable isotope laboratories: A case study of Rio Grande, Texas, water samples Quality assurance and quality control in light stable isotope laboratories: A case study of Rio Grande, Texas, water samples

New isotope laboratories can achieve the goal of reporting the same isotopic composition within analytical uncertainty for the same material analysed decades apart by (1) writing their own acceptance testing procedures and putting them into their mass spectrometric or laser-based isotope-ratio equipment procurement contract, (2) requiring a manufacturer to demonstrate acceptable...
Authors
T.B. Coplen, H. Qi

Hydrologic connectivity between landscapes and streams: Transferring reach‐ and plot‐scale understanding to the catchment scale Hydrologic connectivity between landscapes and streams: Transferring reach‐ and plot‐scale understanding to the catchment scale

The relationship between catchment structure and runoff characteristics is poorly understood. In steep headwater catchments with shallow soils the accumulation of hillslope area (upslope accumulated area (UAA)) is a hypothesized first‐order control on the distribution of soil water and groundwater. Hillslope‐riparian water table connectivity represents the linkage between the dominant...
Authors
Kelsey G. Jencso, Brian L. McGlynn, Michael N. Gooseff, Steven M. Wondzell, Kenneth E. Bencala, Lucy A. Marshall

Methylmercury enters an aquatic food web through acidophilic microbial mats in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Methylmercury enters an aquatic food web through acidophilic microbial mats in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Microbial mats are a visible and abundant life form inhabiting the extreme environments in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), WY, USA. Little is known of their role in food webs that exist in the Park's geothermal habitats. Eukaryotic green algae associated with a phototrophic green/purple Zygogonium microbial mat community that inhabits low-temperature regions of acidic (pH ∼ 3.0) thermal...
Authors
Eric S. Boyd, S. King, J.K. Tomberlin, D. Kirk Nordstrom, D. P. Krabbenhoft, T. Barkay, G. G. Geesey

Microbial characterization of nitrification in a shallow, nitrogen-contaminated aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts and detection of a novel cluster associated with nitrifying Betaproteobacteria Microbial characterization of nitrification in a shallow, nitrogen-contaminated aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts and detection of a novel cluster associated with nitrifying Betaproteobacteria

Groundwater nitrification is a poorly characterized process affecting the speciation and transport of nitrogen. Cores from two sites in a plume of contamination were examined using culture-based and molecular techniques targeting nitrification processes. The first site, located beneath a sewage effluent infiltration bed, received treated effluent containing O2(> 300 µM) and NH4+ (51–800...
Authors
D.N. Miller, R. L. Smith

Enantiomer fractions of chlordane components in sediment from U.S. Geological Survey sites in lakes and rivers Enantiomer fractions of chlordane components in sediment from U.S. Geological Survey sites in lakes and rivers

Spatial, temporal, and sediment-type trends in enantiomer signatures were evaluated for cis- and trans-chlordane (CC, TC) in archived core, suspended, and surficial-sediment samples from six lake, reservoir, and river sites across the United States. The enantiomer fractions (EFs) measured in these samples are in good agreement with those reported for sediment, soil, and air samples in...
Authors
E.M. Ulrich, W.T. Foreman, P. C. Van Metre, J.T. Wilson, S.A. Rounds

Exposure of insects and insectivorous birds to metals and other elements from abandoned mine tailings in three Summit County drainages, Colorado Exposure of insects and insectivorous birds to metals and other elements from abandoned mine tailings in three Summit County drainages, Colorado

Concentrations of 31 metals, metalloids, and other elements were measured in insects and insectivorous bird tissues from three drainages with different geochemistry and mining histories in Summit Co., Colorado, in 2003, 2004, and 2005. In insect samples, all 25 elements that were analyzed in all years increased in both Snake and Deer Creeks in the mining impacted areas compared to areas...
Authors
Christine M. Custer, Chi Yang, James G. Crock, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Kathleen S. Smith, Philip L. Hageman

Flowpath independent monitoring of reductive dechlorination potential in a fractured rock aquifer Flowpath independent monitoring of reductive dechlorination potential in a fractured rock aquifer

The flowpath dependent approaches that are typically employed to assess biodegradation of chloroethene contaminants in unconsolidated aquifers are problematic in fractured rock settings, due to difficulties defining discrete groundwater flowpaths in such systems. In this study, the variation in the potential for chloroethene biodegradation with depth was evaluated in a fractured rock...
Authors
P. M. Bradley, P.J. Lacombe, T.E. Imbrigiotta, F. H. Chapelle, D.J. Goode

N-15 NMR spectra of naturally abundant nitrogen in soil and aquatic natural organic matter samples of the International Humic Substances Society N-15 NMR spectra of naturally abundant nitrogen in soil and aquatic natural organic matter samples of the International Humic Substances Society

The naturally abundant nitrogen in soil and aquatic NOM samples from the International Humic Substances Society has been characterized by solid state CP/MAS 15N NMR. Soil samples include humic and fulvic acids from the Elliot soil, Minnesota Waskish peat and Florida Pahokee peat, as well as the Summit Hill soil humic acid and the Leonardite humic acid. Aquatic samples include Suwannee...
Authors
K. A. Thorn, L.G. Cox

Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment plant discharge Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment plant discharge

Intersex (specifically, testicular oocytes) has been observed in male smallmouth bass (SMB; Micropterus dolomieu) and other centrarchids in the South Branch of the Potomac River, USA, and forks of the Shenandoah River, USA, during the past five years. This condition often is associated with exposure to estrogenic endocrine‐disrupting chemicals in some fish species, but such chemicals and...
Authors
L. R. Iwanowicz, V. S. Blazer, C.P. Guy, A.E. Pinkney, J.E. Mullcan, D.A. Alvarezw

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for a bacterial thiaminase I gene and the thiaminase-producing bacterium Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for a bacterial thiaminase I gene and the thiaminase-producing bacterium Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus.

The thiaminase I enzyme produced by the gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus isolated from the viscera of Lake Michigan alewives Alosa pseudoharengus is currently the only defined source of the thiaminase activity linked to thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency in early mortality syndrome (EMS) in the larvae of Great Lakes salmonines. Diets of alewife or isolated strains of P
Authors
C.A. Richter, Maureen K. Wright-Osment, J.L. Zajicek, D. C. Honeyfield, D. E. Tillitt

Respiratory arsenate reductase as a bidirectional enzyme Respiratory arsenate reductase as a bidirectional enzyme

The haloalkaliphilic bacterium Alkalilimnicola ehrlichii is capable of anaerobic chemolithoautotrophic growth by coupling the oxidation of arsenite (As(III)) to the reduction of nitrate and carbon dioxide. Analysis of its complete genome indicates that it lacks a conventional arsenite oxidase (Aox), but instead possesses two operons that each encode a putative respiratory arsenate...
Authors
C. Richey, P. Chovanec, S.E. Hoeft, R.S. Oremland, P. Basu, J.F. Stolz

Isoscapes to address large-scale earth science challenges Isoscapes to address large-scale earth science challenges

No abstract available.
Authors
G.J. Bowen, J. B. West, B. H. Vaughn, T. E. Dawson, J.R. Ehleringer, M. L. Fogel, K. Hobson, J. Hoogewerff, C. Kendall, C.-T. Lai, C.C. Miller, D. Noone, H. Schwarcz, C.J. Still
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