# Rhodamine WT Reader

# Readings on the Reactivity and Transport Characteristics of This Tracer

## Regulatory Standards

-   The standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency in
    the Federal Register (Vol. 63, No. 40) state the maximum Rhodamine
    WT concentrations to be 10 micrograms per liter for water entering a
    drinking water plant (prior to treatment and distribution) and 0.1
    micrograms per liter in drinking water.

-   The standards established by the National Sanitation Foundation
    (NSF) in the NSF Standard 60 state the maximum use concentration of
    Rhodamine WT to be 0.0001 milligrams per liter.

The US Geological Survey provides the regulatory standard references for
information purposes ONLY. This information was obtained in August of
2004.

## Background for Any Application

Characterization of fluorescence background in dye tracing. CC Smart, KC
Karunaratne, *Environmental Geology*, **42**: 492, 2002. DOI:
10.1007/s00254-001-0510-y

Transient storage assessments of dye-tracer injections in rivers of the
Willamette Basin, Oregon. A Laenen, KE Bencala, *Journal of the American
Water Resources Association*, **37**(2): 367-377, 2001.

Fluorometric procedures for dye tracing. JF Wilson, ED Cobb, FA
Kilpatrick, *USGS TWRI*, Bk3 ChapA12*,* Revised 1986.

A review of the toxicity of twelve fluorescent dyes used for water
tracing. PL Smart, *The National Speleological Society Bulletin*,
**46**: 21, 1984.

An evaluation of some fluorescent dyes for water tracing. PL Smart, IMS
Laidlaw, *Water Resources Research*, **13**(1): 15, 1976.

## Reactivity & Transport in Field Conditions

An evaluation of two tracers in surface-flow wetlands: rhodamine-WT and
lithium. FE Dierberg, TA DeBusk, *Wetlands*, **25**(1): 8-25, 2005.

Use of rhodamine water tracer in the marshland upwelling system. SD
Richardson, CS Wilson, and KA Rusch, *Ground Water*, **42**(5): 678-688,
2004.

A continuous dye injection system for estimating discharge in
snow-choked streams. M Russell, P Marsh, and C Onclin, *Arctic,
Antarctic, and Alpine Research*, **36**(4): 539-554, 2004

Conservative and reactive solute transport in constructed wetlands. SH
Keefe, LB Barber, RL Runkel, JN Ryan, DM McKnight, and RD Wass, *Water
Resources Research*, **40**: W01201. 2004, doi:10.1029/2003WR002121.

Comparison of rhodamine WT and bromide in the determination of hydraulic
characteristics of constructed wetlands. AY-C Lin, J-F Debroux, JA
Cunningham, and M Reinhard, *Ecological Engineering*, **20**: 75-88,
2003, doi:10.1016/S0925-8574(03)00005-3.

Comparing transient storage modeling and residence time distribution
(RTD) analysis in geomorphically varied reaches in the Lookout Creek
basin, Oregon, USA. MN Gooseff, SM Wondzell, R Haggerty, and J Anderson,
*Advances in Water Resources*, **26**(9): 925-937, 2003.

Evaluation of tracer tests completed in 1999 and 2000 on the Upper Santa
Clara River, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, California. MH Cox, GO
Mendez, CR Kratzer, EG Reichard, *US Geological Survey Water-Resources
Investigations Report*, 03-4277, 2003,
<http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wrir034277/>.

Description of flow through a natural wetland using dye tracer tests. DA
Stern, R Khanbilvardi, JC Alair, W Richardson, *Ecological Engineering*,
**18**(2): 173, 2001.

Limitations and potential of commercially available rhodamine WT as a
groundwater tracer. DJ Sutton, ZJ Kabala, A Francisco, D Vasudevan,
*Water Resources Research*, **37**(6): 1641, 2001.

The use of photolytic rhodamine WT and sulpho G as conservative tracers
of dispersion in surface waters.

RC Upstill-Goddard, JM Suijlen, G Malin, PD Nightingale, *Limnology and
Oceanography*, 46(4): 927, 2001.

Tracer-grade rhodamine WT: structure of constituent isomers and their
sorption behavior. D Vasudevan, RL Fimmen, AB Francisco, *Environmental
Science and Technology*, **35**(20): 4089, 2001.

Sorption and intraparticle diffusion of fluorescent dyes with
consolidated aquifer media. DA Sabatini, *Ground Water*, **38**: 651,
2000.

Numerical model of a tracer test on the Santa Clara River, Ventura
County, California. T Nishikawa, KS Paybins, JA Izbicki, EG Reichard,
*Journal of the American Water Resources Association*, **35**(1):
133-141.

Fluorescent dye and media properties affecting sorption and tracer
selection. T Kasnavia, D Vu, DA Sabatini, *Ground Water*, **37**(3):
376, 1999.

Dye adsorption in a loam soil as influenced by potassium bromide. SE
Allaire-Leung, SC Gupta, JF Moncrief, *J Environmental Quality*, **28**:
1831, 1999.

Evaluation of rhodamine WT as an adsorbed tracer in an agricultural
soil. CJ Everts, RS Kanwar, *Journal of Hydrology*, **153**: 53, 1994.

Cosolvency effects on sorption of a semipolar, ionogenic compound
(Rhodamine WT) with subsurface materials. TS Soerens, DA Sabatini,
*Environmental Science and Technology*, **28**: 1010, 1994.

Potentials of photolytic rhodamine WT as a large-scale water tracer
assessed in a long-term experiment in the Loosdrecht lakes. JM Suijlen,
J J Buyse, *Limnology and Oceanography*, **39**(6):141, 1994.

Influence of rhodamine WT properties on sorption and transport in
subsurface media. BJ Shiau, DA Sabatini, JH Harwell, *Ground Water*,
**31**: 913, 1993.

Characteristics of rhodamine WT and Fluorescein as adsorbing
ground-water tracers. DA Sabatini, TA Austin, *Ground Water*, **29**:
341, 1991.

Submersed plants and algae as factors in the loss of rhodamine WT dye.
EG Turner, MD Netherland, KD Getsinger, *J Aquat Plant Manage*, **29**:
113, 1991.

Fluorescent dyes: a search for new tracers for hydrology. ML Viriot, JC
Andre, *Analusis*, **17**: 97, 1989.

Tracing ground-water movement in abandoned coal mined aquifers using
fluorescent dyes. PJ Aldous, PL Smart, *Ground Water*, **26**: 172,
1988.

Photolysis of rhodamine-WT dye. DY Tai, RE Rathbun, *Chemosphere*,
**17**(3): 559, 1988.

Practical aspects of tracer experiments in acidic, metal enriched
streams. GW Zellweger, KE Bencala, DM McKnight, RM Hirsch, BA Kimball,
In *USGS OFR 87-764*, 125, 1988.

Soil water dye tracing, with special reference to the use of rhodamine
WT, lissamine FF and amino G acid. ST Trudgill, *Hydrological
Processes*, **1**: 149, 1987.

The stability of rhodamine WT dye in trial studies of solute transport
in an acidic and metal-rich stream. KE Bencala, DM McKnight, GW
Zellweger, J Goad, In *USGS WSP 2310*, 87, 1986.

Rhodamine WT dye losses in a mountain stream environment. KE Bencala, RE
Rathbun, AP Jackman, VC Kennedy, GW Zellweger, and RJ Avanzino, *Water
Resources Bulletin*, **19**(6): 943, 1983.

Use of tracers to confirm ground-water flow. DB Aulenbach, JH Bull, BC
Middlesworth, *Ground Water*, **16**: 149, 1978.

## Sampling and Analysis

Detection of fluorescent compounds in the environment using granular
activated charcoal detectors. C Smart, B Simpson. *Environmental
Geology*, **42**: 538, 2002. DOI: 10.1007/s00254-001-0517-4

Capillary electrophoresis/laser-induced fluorescence in groundwater
migration determination. WC Brumley, ClL Gerlach, American Laboratory,
January, 1999. <http://www.iscpubs.com/articles/entireal.html>.

Analysis of fluorescent water tracers using on-line pre-concentration in
Micro HPLC. REJ Van Soest, JP Chervet, M Ursem, JM Suijlen, *LC-GC
International*, **9**(9): 586, 1996.

A HPLC-based detection method for fluorescent sea water tracers using
on-line solid phase extraction. JM Suijlen, W Staal, PM Houpt, A.
Draaier, *Continental Shelf Research*, **14**(13/14): 1523, 1994.

Identification and separation of water tracing dyes using pH response
characteristics. R.G. Lyons, Journal of Hydrology, **152**: 13-29, 1993.

Determination of rhodamine WT in surface water by solid-phase extraction
and HPLC with fluorescence detection. JW Hofstratt, M Steendijk, G
Vriezekolk, W Schreurs, GJAA Broer, N Wijnstok, *Water Research*,
**25**: 883, 1991.

Analytical problems arising from the use of bromide and rhodamine WT as
co-tracers in streams. DR Jones, RF Jung, *Water Research*, **24**: 125,
1990.

A procedure for enriching and cleaning up rhodamine B and rhodamine WT
in natural waters, using a Sep-pak C18 cartridge. RWPM Lane, MW Manuels,
W Staal, *Water Research*, **18**: 163, 1984.

## Aquatic Effects

Toxicological and ecotoxicological assessment of water tracers. H
Behrens, U Beims, H Dieter, G Dietze, T Eikmann, T Grummt, H Hanisch, H
Henseling, W Käß, H Kerndorff, C Leibundgut, U Müller-Wegener, I
Rönnefahrt, B Scharenberg, R Schleyer, W Schloz, and F Tilkes,
*Hydrogeology Journal*, **9**:321-325, 2001

An assessment of the potential adverse properties of fluorescent tracer
dyes used for groundwater tracing. MS Field, RG Wilhelm, JF Quinlan, TJ
Aley, *Environmental Monitoring and Assessment*, **38**: 75, 1995.

Effects of rhodamine water tracer on Escherichia Coli densities. M
Jensen, KK Kristennsen, *Water Research*, **23**: 257, 1989.

## Nitrosamine formation

Potential for nitrosamine formation in seven fishery chemicals. SL
Abidi, VK Dawson, RC Huber, *The Progressive Fish-Culturist*, **48**:
301, 1986.

Investigation of the possible formation of diethylnitrosamine resulting
from the use of rhodamine WT dye as a tracer in river waters. TR
Steinheimer, SM Johnson, *USGS WSP 2290*, 37, 1986.

Detection of diethylnitrosamine in nitrate-rich water following
treatment with rhodamine flow tracers. SL Abidi, *Water Research*,
**16**: 199, 1982.

## Commercial Product Information

The US Geological Survey does *NOT* endorse or recommend commercial
products.

The following is provided *ONLY* for identification and information
purposes.

*Rhodamine WT*

Sensient Corporation

<http://www.sensient-tech.com/solutions/industrial_colors.htm>

800- 558-9892

Keystone Corporation

<http://www.dyes.com/>

800-522-4dye

*Fluorometers*

Seapoint Sensors, Inc

<http://www.seapoint.com/srf.htm>

603-642-4921

Turner Designs

[http://turnerdesigns.com](http://turnerdesigns.com/)

877-316-8049

Opti-Sciences

<http://www.optisci.com/ps.htm>

603-883-4400

YSI Inc.

Model 6130 Rhodamine WT Sensor

<http://216.68.81.171/852568CB0010F86A/web+by+document+type/CF82E634926142FB85256AF8005E9FCF?Open>

800-897-4151

*International Chemical Safety Cards*

<http://www.itcilo.it/english/actrav/telearn/osh/ic/37299898.htm>

<http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0325.htm>

Compilation by Ken Bencala and Marisa Cox, September 23, 2005

<http://water.usgs.gov/nrp/proj.bib/bencala.html>

kbencala@usgs.gov

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