Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
Filter Total Items: 4094
Nodeomics: Pathogen detection in vertebrate lymph nodes using meta-transcriptomics
The ongoing emergence of human infections originating from wildlife highlights the need for better knowledge of the microbial community in wildlife species where traditional diagnostic approaches are limited. Here we evaluate the microbial biota in healthy mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) by analyses of lymph node meta-transcriptomes. cDNA libraries from five individuals and two pools of samples we
Authors
Nicola E. Wittekindt, Abinash Padhi, Stephan C. Schuster, Ji Qi, Fangqing Zhao, Lynn P. Tomsho, Lindsay R. Kasson, Michael Packard, Paul C. Cross, Mary Poss
Mortality of centrarchid fishes in the Potomac drainage: Survey results and overview of potential contributing factors
Skin lesions and spring mortality events of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu and selected other species were first noted in the South Branch of the Potomac River in 2002. Since that year morbidity and mortality have also been observed in the Shenandoah and Monocacy rivers. Despite much research, no single pathogen, parasite, or chemical cause for the lesions and mortality has been identified.
Authors
Vicki Blazer, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Clifford E. Starliper, Steven D. Zaugg, Mark R. Burkhardt, P. Barbash, J.D. Hedrick, S.J. Reeser, J.E. Mullican, J. Kelble
Caution on the use of liquid nitrogen traps in stable hydrogen isotope-ratio mass spectrometry
An anomalous stable hydrogen isotopic fractionation of 4 ‰ in gaseous hydrogen has been correlated with the process of adding liquid nitrogen (LN2) to top off the dewar of a stainless-steel water trap on a gaseous hydrogen-water platinum equilibration system. Although the cause of this isotopic fractionation is unknown, its effect can be mitigated by (1) increasing the capacity of any dewars so th
Authors
Tyler B. Coplen, Haiping Qi
The toll of toxics: investigating environmental contaminants
On Earth Day of this year, the British Petroleum-operated Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, 41 miles off the Louisiana coast. The blast killed 11 workers, injured 17, launched a massive oil spill, and triggered an environmental catastrophe—the full impact of which may not be realized for years.
Authors
Donald W. Sparling, Barnett A. Rattner, John S. Barclay
Measurement of dissolved organic matter fluorescense in aquatic environments: An interlaboratory comparison
The fluorescent properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) are often studied in order to infer DOM characteristics in aquatic environments, including source, quantity, composition, and behavior. While a potentially powerful technique, a single widely implemented standard method for correcting and presenting fluorescence measurements is lacking, leading to difficulties when comparing data collect
Authors
Kathleen R. Murphy, Kenna D. Butler, Robert G. M. Spencer, Colin A. Stedmon, Jennifer R. Boehme, George R. Aiken
The effects of simulated solar UVB radiation on early developmental stages of the Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile) from three lakes
Solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) has received much attention as a factor that could play a role in amphibian population declines. UV can be hazardous to some amphibians, but the resultant effects depend on a variety of environmental and behavioral factors. In this study, the potential effects of UV on the Northwestern Salamander, Ambystoma gracile, from three lakes were assessed in the laboratory
Authors
Robin Calfee, Edward E. Little, Christopher A. Pearl, Robert L. Hoffman
Stimulation of methane generation from nonproductive coal by addition of nutrients or a microbial consortium
Biogenic formation of methane from coal is of great interest as an underexploited source of clean energy. The goal of some coal bed producers is to extend coal bed methane productivity and to utilize hydrocarbon wastes such as coal slurry to generate new methane. However, the process and factors controlling the process, and thus ways to stimulate it, are poorly understood. Subbituminous coal from
Authors
Elizabeth J.P. Jones, Mary A. Voytek, M.D. Corum, William H. Orem
A role for analytical chemistry in advancing our understanding of the occurrence, fate, and effects of Corexit Oil Dispersants
On April 24, 2010, the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig resulted in the release of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. As of July 19, 2010, the federal government's Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center estimates the cumulative range of oil released is 3,067,000 to 5,258,000 barrels, with a relief well to be completed in early August. By comparison, the Exxon Valdez oil spill releas
Authors
Ben Place, Brian Anderson, Abdou Mekebri, Edward T. Furlong, James L. Gray, Ron Tjeerdema, Jennifer Field
Source and fate of inorganic solutes in the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. II. Trace element chemistry
The Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park receives inflows from several geothermal areas, and consequently the concentrations of many trace elements are elevated compared to rivers in non-geothermal watersheds. Water samples and discharge measurements were obtained from the Gibbon River and its major tributaries near Norris Geyser Basin under the low-flow conditions of September 2006 allowing
Authors
R. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, David D. Susong, James W. Ball, Howard E. Taylor
Aquatic assessment of the Ely Copper Mine Superfund site, Vershire, Vermont
The Ely Mine, which operated from 1821 to 1905, and its area of downstream impact constitute the Ely Copper Mine Superfund site. The site was placed on the National Priorities List in 2001. The mine comprises underground workings, foundations from historical structures, several waste-rock piles, roast beds associated with the smelting operation, and slag piles resulting from the smelting. The mine
Authors
Robert R. Seal, Richard G. Kiah, Nadine M. Piatak, John M. Besser, James F. Coles, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Denise M. Argue, Denise M. Levitan, Jeffrey R. Deacon, Christopher G. Ingersoll
Reproduction in mallards exposed to dietary concentrations of methylmercury
The purpose of this experiment was to use mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) tested under controlled conditions to determine how much harm to reproduction resulted from various concentrations of mercury in eggs. Breeding pairs of mallards were fed a control diet or diets containing 1, 2, 4, or 8 μg/g mercury, as methylmercury chloride. Mean concentrations of mercury in eggs laid by parents fed 0, 1, 2,
Authors
Gary Heinz, David J. Hoffman, Jon D. Klimstra, Katherine R. Stebbins
Rejoinder: Sifting through model space
Observational data sets generated by complex processes are common in ecology. Traditionally these have been very challenging to analyze because of the limitations of available statistical tools. This seems to be changing, and these are exciting times to be involved with ecological statistics, not just because of the neo-Bayesian revival but also because of the proliferation of computationally inte
Authors
Dennis M. Heisey, Erik E. Osnas, Paul C. Cross, Damien O. Joly, Julia A. Langenberg, Michael W. Miller