Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
Filter Total Items: 4094
Modeling of selenium for the San Diego Creek watershed and Newport Bay, California
The San Diego Creek watershed and Newport Bay in southern California are contaminated with selenium (Se) as a result of groundwater associated with urban development overlying a historical wetland, the Swamp of the Frogs. The primary Se source is drainage from surrounding seleniferous marine sedimentary formations. An ecosystem-scale model was employed as a tool to assist development of a site-spe
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Samuel N. Luoma
Geochemical data for Upper Mineral Creek, Colorado, under existing ambient conditions and during an experimental pH modification, August 2005
Mineral Creek, an acid mine drainage stream in south-western Colorado, was the subject of a water-quality study that employed a paired synoptic approach. Under the paired synoptic approach, two synoptic sampling campaigns were conducted on the same study reach. The initial synoptic campaign, conducted August 22, 2005, documented stream-water quality under existing ambient conditions. A second syno
Authors
Robert L. Runkel, Briant A. Kimball, Judy I. Steiger, Katherine Walton-Day
Mercury contamination in three species of anuran amphibians from the Cache Creek watershed, California, USA
Fish and wildlife may bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) to levels that adversely affect reproduction, growth, and survival. Sources of Hg within the Cache Creek Watershed in northern California have been identified, and concentrations of Hg in invertebrates and fish have been documented. However, bioaccumulation of Hg by amphibians has not been evaluated. In this study, adult and juvenile American bullfr
Authors
Roger L. Hothem, Mark R. Jennings, John J. Crayon
Transport and sources of suspended sediment in the Mill Creek Watershed, Johnson County, Northeast Kansas, 2006-07
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program, evaluated suspended-sediment transport and sources in the urbanizing, 57.4 mi2 Mill Creek watershed from February 2006 through June 2007. Sediment transport and sources were assessed spatially by continuous monitoring of streamflow and turbidity as well as sampling of suspended sediment at nine sites
Authors
Casey J. Lee, Patrick P. Rasmussen, Andrew C. Ziegler, Christopher C. Fuller
Development of a probabilistic assessment methodology for evaluation of carbon dioxide storage
This report describes a probabilistic assessment methodology developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for evaluation of the resource potential for storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the subsurface of the United States as authorized by the Energy Independence and Security Act (Public Law 110-140, 2007). The methodology is based on USGS assessment methodologies for oil and gas resources create
Authors
Robert A. Burruss, Sean T. Brennan, Philip A. Freeman, Matthew D. Merrill, Leslie F. Ruppert, Mark F. Becker, William N. Herkelrath, Yousif K. Kharaka, Christopher E. Neuzil, Sharon M. Swanson, Troy A. Cook, Timothy R. Klett, Philip H. Nelson, Christopher J. Schenk
Collection of pyrethroids in water and sediment matrices: Development and validation of a standard operating procedure
Loss of pyrethroid insecticides onto surfaces during sample collection can confound the interpretation of analytical and toxicity test results. Sample collection devices, container materials, and water matrix composition have a significant influence on the association of pyrethroids to container walls, which can be as high as 50 percent. Any sample collection method involving transfer through mult
Authors
Michelle Hladik, James L. Orlando, Kathryn Kuivila
Why are diverse relationships observed between phytoplankton biomass and transport time?
Transport time scales such as flushing time and residence time are often used to explain variability in phytoplankton biomass. In many cases, empirical data are consistent with a positive phytoplankton‐transport time relationship (i.e., phytoplankton biomass increases as transport time increases). However, negative relationships, varying relationships, or no significant relationship may also be ob
Authors
Lisa V. Lucas, Janet K. Thompson, Larry R. Brown
Calibrating biomonitors to ecological disturbance: a new technique for explaining metal effects in natural waters
Bioaccumulated toxic metals in tolerant biomonitors are indicators of metal bioavailability and can be calibrated against metal‐specific responses in sensitive species, thus creating a tool for defining dose–response for metals in a field setting. Dose–response curves that define metal toxicity in natural waters are rare. Demonstrating cause and effect under field conditions and integrated chemica
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma, Daniel J. Cain, Philip S. Rainbow
The Evolution of analytical technology and its impact on water-quality studies for selected herbicides and their degradation products in water
This chapter aims to describe advances in analytical instrumentation and methods for the analyses of herbicides and their degradation products and to assess their impact on major findings of broad surveys of herbicides in water conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) over the last two decades. Standards for water purity have been set and continually revised by governments as new contaminants
Authors
Michael T. Meyer, Elisabeth A. Scribner
Radionuclides as tracers and timers in surface and groundwater
Environmental radionuclides—in combination with stable isotopes, geochemistry, and other hydrological techniques—provide a powerful tool, often indispensable, for studying the cycling of water in continental hydrological systems. The use of environmental radionuclides in surface water studies is reviewed in the chapter. The chapter also briefly discusses groundwater and geothermal water taking int
Authors
Robert L. Michel
Investigation of river eutrophication as part of a low dissolved oxygen total maximum daily load implementation
In the United States, environmentally impaired rivers are subject to regulation under total maximum daily load (TMDL) regulations that specify watershed wide water quality standards. In California, the setting of TMDL standards is accompanied by the development of scientific and management plans directed at achieving specific water quality objectives. The San Joaquin River (SJR) in the Central Val
Authors
W. Stringfellow, Gary Litton, Sharon Borglin, James R. Hanlon, C. Chen, J. Graham, Remie Burks, Randy A. Dahlgren, Carol Kendall, R. Brown, Nigel Quinn
Ingredients in sustainably managing water in semi-arid environments
The lessons learned from CALFED indicate that ingredients important in the long-term resolution of water management issues may not result in short-term “solutions”. The value of this special issue lies in its identification of ingredients that stimulate re-framing of issues, adapting to new knowledge and innovative decisions. But sustainable water management also requires the political patience to
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma