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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: 3746

Sulfur geochemistry of hydrothermal waters in Yellowstone National Park: IV Acid-sulfate waters

Many waters sampled in Yellowstone National Park, both high-temperature (30-94 ??C) and low-temperature (0-30 ??C), are acid-sulfate type with pH values of 1-5. Sulfuric acid is the dominant component, especially as pH values decrease below 3, and it forms from the oxidation of elemental S whose origin is H2S in hot gases derived from boiling of hydrothermal waters at depth. Four determinations of
Authors
D. Kirk Nordstrom, R. Blaine McCleskey, J. W. Ball

Biochemical indicators for the bioavailability of organic carbon in ground water

The bioavailability of total organic carbon (TOC) was examined in ground water from two hydrologically distinct aquifers using biochemical indicators widely employed in chemical oceanography. Concentrations of total hydrolyzable neutral sugars (THNS), total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA), and carbon‐normalized percentages of TOC present as THNS and THAA (referred to as “yields”) were assessed as
Authors
F. H. Chapelle, P. M. Bradley, D.J. Goode, C. Tiedeman, P.J. Lacombe, K. Kaiser, R. Benner

Lagrangian sampling for emerging contaminants through an urban stream corridor in Colorado

Recent national concerns regarding the environmental occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs) have catalyzed a series of recent studies. Many ECs are released into the environment through discharges from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and other sources. In 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey and the City of Longmont initiated an investigation of selected ECs in a 13.8‐km reach of St. Vrain Cree
Authors
J.B. Brown, W.A. Battaglin, R.E. Zuellig

Potential environmental issues of CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers: Geochemical results from the Frio-I Brine Pilot test, Texas, USA

Sedimentary basins in general, and deep saline aquifers in particular, are being investigated as possible repositories for large volumes of anthropogenic CO2 that must be sequestered to mitigate global warming and related climate changes. To investigate the potential for the long-term storage of CO2 in such aquifers, 1600 t of CO2 were injected at 1500 m depth into a 24-m-thick "C" sandstone unit
Authors
Yousif K. Kharaka, James J. Thordsen, Susan D. Hovorka, H. Seay Nance, David R. Cole, Tommy J. Phelps, Kevin G. Knauss

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 reductase (Arr).
Authors
C. Richey, P. Chovanec, S.E. Hoeft, R.S. Oremland, P. Basu, J.F. Stolz

Ultraviolet absorbance as a proxy for total dissolved mercury in streams

Stream water samples were collected over a range of hydrologic and seasonal conditions at three forested watersheds in the northeastern USA. Samples were analyzed for dissolved total mercury (THgd), DOC concentration and DOC composition, and UV254 absorbance across the three sites over different seasons and flow conditions. Pooling data from all sites, we found a strong positive correlation of THg
Authors
J.A. Dittman, J. B. Shanley, C. T. Driscoll, G. R. Aiken, A.T. Chalmers, J.E. Towse

Biodegradation of 17β-estradiol, estrone and testosterone in stream sediments

Biodegradation of 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and testosterone (T) was investigated in three wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) affected streams in the United States. Relative differences in the mineralization of [4-14C] substrates were assessed in oxic microcosms containing saturated sediment or water-only from locations upstream and downstream of the WWTP outfall in each system. Upstream se
Authors
Paul M. Bradley, Larry B. Barber, Francis H. Chapelle, James L. Gray, Dana W. Kolpin, Peter B. McMahon

Effects of simplifying fracture network representation on inert chemical migration in fracture-controlled aquifers

[1] While it is widely recognized that highly permeable ‘large‐scale' fractures dominate chemical migration in many fractured aquifers, recent studies suggest that the pervasive ‘small‐scale’ fracturing once considered of less significance can be equally important for characterizing the spatial extent and residence time associated with transport processes. A detailed examination of chemical migrat
Authors
Tristan Wellman, Allen M. Shapiro, Mary C. Hill

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 catchment la
Authors
Kelsey G. Jencso, Brian L. McGlynn, Michael N. Gooseff, Steven M. Wondzell, Kenneth E. Bencala, Lucy A. Marshall

Mercury cycling in stream ecosystems. 1. Water column chemistry and transport

We studied total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in eight streams, located in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Florida, that span large ranges in climate, landscape characteristics, atmospheric Hg deposition, and water chemistry. While atmospheric deposition was the source of Hg at each site, basin characteristics appeared to mediate this source by providing controls on methylation and fluvial THg an
Authors
M. E. Brigham, D.A. Wentz, G. R. Aiken, D. P. Krabbenhoft

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 their sou
Authors
L. R. Iwanowicz, V. S. Blazer, C.P. Guy, A.E. Pinkney, J.E. Mullcan, D.A. Alvarezw

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 River humic,
Authors
K. A. Thorn, L.G. Cox