Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Publications

Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).

Filter Total Items: 3746

Methylmercury in flood-control impoundments and natural waters of northwestern Minnesota, 1997-99

We studied methylmercury (MeHg) and total mercury (HgT) in impounded and natural surface waters in northwestern Minnesota, in settings ranging from agricultural to undeveloped. In a recently constructed (1995) permanent-pool impoundment, MeHg levels typically increased from inflow to outflow during 1997; this trend broke down from late 1998 to early 1999. MeHg levels in the outflow reached seasona
Authors
M. E. Brigham, D. P. Krabbenhoft, M.L. Olson, J.F. DeWild

Modeling enhanced in situ denitrification in groundwater

A two-dimensional numerical solute transport model was developed for simulating an enhanced in situ denitrification experiment performed in a nitrate-contaminated aquifer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In this experiment, formate (HCOO-) was injected for a period of 26 days into the carbon-limited aquifer to stimulate denitrification. Calibration of the vertical-profile site model was demonstrated th
Authors
M.W. Killingstad, M.A. Widdowson, R. L. Smith

Effects of topography on the transport of agricultural chemicals to groundwater in a sand-plain setting

Geochemical data were collected to investigate the effects of topography and focused recharge on the transport of agricultural chemicals to groundwater through sandy soils. The research was done at a topographically high (upland) site and a depressional (lowland) site within a corn field. Agricultural chemicals that move readily with water were most directly affected by focused recharge to the low
Authors
G. N. Delin, M.K. Landon

Characterization of microbial arsenate reduction in the anoxic bottom waters of Mono Lake, California

Dissimilatory reduction of arsenate (DAsR) occurs in the arsenic-rich, anoxic water column of Mono Lake, California, yet the microorganisms responsible for this observed in situ activity have not been identified. To gain insight as to which microorganisms mediate this phenomenon, as well as to some of the biogeochemical constraints on this activity, we conducted incubations of arsenate-enriched bo
Authors
S.E. Hoeft, F. Lucas, J.T. Hollibaugh, R.S. Oremland

In‐stream sorption of fulvic acid in an acidic stream: A stream‐scale transport experiment

The variation of concentration and composition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in stream waters cannot be explained solely on the basis of soil processes in contributing subcatchments. To investigate in‐stream processes that control DOC, we injected DOC‐enriched water into a reach of the Snake River (Summit County, Colorado) that has abundant iron oxyhydroxides coating the streambed. The injecte
Authors
Diane M. McKnight, George M. Hornberger, Kenneth E. Bencala, Elizabeth W. Boyer

Effect of adsorbed metals ions on the transport of Zn- and Ni-EDTA complexes in a sand and gravel aquifer

Adsorption, complexation, and dissolution reactions strongly influenced the transport of metal ions complexed with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in a predominantly quartz-sand aquifer during two tracer tests conducted under mildly reducing conditions at pH 5.8 to 6.1. In tracer test M89, EDTA complexes of zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni), along with excess free EDTA, were injected such that the
Authors
D.B. Kent, J.A. Davis, L.C.D. Anderson, B.A. Rea, J.A. Coston

Multispecies reactive tracer test in an aquifer with spatially variable chemical conditions, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Dispersive transport of bromide and nickel

Dispersive transport of groundwater solutes was investigated as part of a multispecies reactive tracer test conducted under spatially variable chemical conditions in an unconfined, sewage‐contaminated sand and gravel aquifer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Transport of the nonreactive tracer bromide (Br) reflected physical and hydrologic processes. Transport of the reactive tracer nickel (Ni) complexe
Authors
Kathryn M. Hess, James A. Davis, Douglas B. Kent, Jennifer A. Coston

Binding of mercury(II) to dissolved organic matter: The role of the mercury-to-DOM concentration ratio

The binding of Hg(II) to dissolved organic matter (DOM; hydrophobic acids isolated from the Florida Everglades by XAD-8 resin) was measured at a wide range of Hg-to-DOM concentration ratios using an equilibrium dialysis ligand exchange method. Conditional distribution coefficients (KDOM‘) determined by this method were strongly affected by the Hg/DOM concentration ratio. At Hg/DOM ratios below app
Authors
M. Haitzer, G. R. Aiken, J. N. Ryan

Alkylcyclohexanes in environmental geochemistry

The n-alkylated cyclohexanes (CHs) are a homologous series of hydrocarbon compounds that are commonly present in crude oil and refinery products such as diesel fuel. These compounds exhibit specific distribution patterns for different fuel types, providing useful fingerprints for characterizing petroleum products, especially after degradation of n-alkanes has occurred. However, there are no publis
Authors
F. D. Hostettler, K. A. Kvenvolden

Effects of surface run-off on the transport of agricultural chemicals to ground water in a sandplain setting

An experiment was conducted at a depressional (lowland) and an upland site in sandy soils to evaluate the effects of surface run-off on the transport of agricultural chemicals to ground water. Approximately 16.5 cm of water was applied to both sites during the experiment, representing a natural precipitation event with a recurrence interval of approximately 100 years. Run-off was quantified at the
Authors
G. N. Delin, M.K. Landon

Assessment of metal loads in watersheds affected by acid mine drainage by using tracer injection and synoptic sampling: Cement Creek, Colorado, USA

Watersheds in mineralized zones may contain many mines, each of which can contribute to acidity and the metal load of a stream. In this study the authors delineate hydrogeologic characteristics determining the transport of metals from the watershed to the stream in the watershed of Cement Creek, Colorado. Combining the injection of a chemical tracer, to determine a discharge, with synoptic samplin
Authors
B. A. Kimball, R.L. Runkel, K. Walton-Day, K.E. Bencala

Rapid evolution of redox processes in a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer

Ground water chemistry data collected over a six‐year period show that the distribution of contaminants and redox processes in a shallow petroleum hydrocarbon‐contaminated aquifer has changed rapidly over time. Shortly after a gasoline release occurred in 1990, high concentrations of benzene were present near the contaminant source area. In this contaminated zone, dissolved oxygen in ground water
Authors
F. H. Chapelle, P. M. Bradley, D. R. Lovley, Kyle O'Neil, J. E. Landmeyer