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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: 4094

Chemical analyses of hot springs, pools, geysers, and surface waters from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and vicinity, 1974-1975

This report presents all analytical determinations for samples collected from Yellowstone National Park and vicinity during 1974 and 1975. Water temperature, pH, Eh, and dissolved O2 were determined on-site. Total alkalinity and F were determined on the day of sample collection. Flame atomic-absorption spectrometry was used to determine concentrations of Li, Na, K, Ca, and Mg. Ultraviolet/visi
Authors
James W. Ball, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Everett A. Jenne, Davison V. Vivit

Ground water contamination by crude oil near Bemidji, Minnesota

Ground-water contamination by crude oil, and other petroleum-based liquids, is a widespread problem. An average of 83 crude-oil spills occurred per year during 1994-96 in the United States, each spilling about 50,000 barrels of crude oil (U.S. Office of Pipeline Safety, electronic commun., 1997). An understanding of the fate of organic contaminants (such as oil and gasoline) in the subsurface is n
Authors
G. N. Delin, H.I. Essaid, I.M. Cozzarelli, M.H. Lahvis, B.A. Bekins

Characterizing a ground water basin in a New England mountain and valley terrain

A ground water basin is defined as the volume of subsurface through which ground water flows from the water table to a specified discharge location. Delineating the topographically defined surface water basin and extending it vertically downward does not always define the ground water basin. Instead, a ground water basin is more appropriately delineated by tracking ground water flowpaths with a ca
Authors
Claire R. Tiedeman, Daniel J. Goode, Paul A. Hsieh

Humic acids as electron acceptors for anaerobic microbial oxidation of vinyl chloride and dichloroethene

Anaerobic oxidation of [1,2-14C]vinyl chloride and [1,2-14C]dichloroethene to 14CO2under humic acid-reducing conditions was demonstrated. The results indicate that waterborne contaminants can be oxidized by using humic acid compounds as electron acceptors and suggest that natural aquatic systems have a much larger capacity for contaminant oxidation than previously thought.
Authors
P. M. Bradley, F. H. Chapelle, D. R. Lovley

Estimating formation properties from early-time recovery in wells subject to turbulent head losses

A mathematical model is developed to interpret the early-time recovering water level following the termination of pumping in wells subject to turbulent head losses. The model assumes that turbulent head losses dissipate immediately when pumping ends. In wells subject to both borehole storage and turbulent head losses, the early-time recovery exhibits a slope equal to 1/2 on log-log plots of the re
Authors
A.M. Shapiro, D.S. Oki, E.A. Greene

Benthic sulfate reduction along the Chesapeake Bay central channel. I. Spatial trends and controls

Factors controlling the spatial distribution of benthic sulfate reduction (SR) were investigated at 3 stations [upper (UB), mid (MB) and lower bay (LB)] along the Chesapeake Bay (eastern USA) central channel from early spring through late fall, 1989 to 1994. Annual rates of 0 to 12 cm depth-integrated SR were 0.96, 9.62 and 6.33 mol S m-2 yr-1 for UB, MB and LB, respectively, as calculated from 35
Authors
M. C. Marvin-DiPasquale, D.G. Capone

Similar rates of decrease of persistent, hydrophobic and particle-reactive contaminants in riverine systems

Although it is well-known that concentrations of anthropogenic radionuclides and organochlorine compounds in aquatic systems have decreased since their widespread release has stopped in the United States, the magnitude and variability of rates of decrease are not well-known. Paleolimnological studies of reservoirs provide a tool for evaluating these long-term trends in riverine systems. Rates of d
Authors
Peter C. Van Metre, Jennifer T. Wilson, Edward Callender, Christopher C. Fuller

Determination of a wide range of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using multisorbent adsorption/thermal desorption and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Adsorption/thermal desorption with multisorbent air-sampling cartridges was developed for the determination of 87 method analytes including halogenated alkanes, halogenated alkenes, ethers, alcohols, nitriles, esters, ketones, aromatics, a disulfide, and a furan. The volatilities of the compounds ranged from that of dichlorofluoromethane (CFC12) to that of 1,2,3- trichlorobenzene. The eight most v
Authors
J. F. Pankow, W. Luo, L.M. Isabelle, D.A. Bender, R.J. Baker

Field study and simulation of diurnal temperature effects on infiltration and variably saturated flow beneath an ephemeral stream

Two experiments were performed to investigate flow beneath an ephemeral stream and to estimate streambed infiltration rates. Discharge and stream-area measurements were used to determine infiltration rates. Stream and subsurface temperatures were used to interpret subsurface flow through variably saturated sediments beneath the stream. Spatial variations in subsurface temperatures suggest that flo
Authors
Anne Dudek Ronan, David E. Prudic, Carl E. Thodal, Jim Constantz

Modeling tidal hydrodynamics of San Diego Bay, California

In 1983, current data were collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration using mechanical current meters. During 1992 through 1996, acoustic Doppler current profilers as well as mechanical current meters and tide gauges were used. These measurements not only document tides and tidal currents in San Diego Bay, but also provide independent data sets for model calibration and verif
Authors
P.-F. Wang, R. T. Cheng, K. Richter, E.S. Gross, D. Sutton, J. W. Gartner

Biodegradation of the surfactant linear alkylbenzenesulfonate in sewage-contaminated groundwater: A comparison of column experiments and field tracer tests

Transport and biodegradation of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) in sewage-contaminated groundwater were investigated for a range of dissolved oxygen concentrations. Both laboratory column and an 80-day continuous injection tracer test field experiments were conducted. The rates of LAS biodegradation increased with increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations and indicated the preferential biodegr
Authors
C.J. Krueger, K.M. Radakovich, T.E. Sawyer, L. B. Barber, R. L. Smith, J.A. Field