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Contamination and pollution
Introduction of harmful substances into the environment by human action or natural processes.
Subtopics:
Nonpoint-source pollution (11 items)
Industrial pollution (25 items)
Pesticide and herbicide contamination (24 items)
Toxic radionuclide contamination (12 items)
Toxic trace element contamination (40 items)
Pharmaceutical contamination (3 items)

Water pollution (13 items)
Soil pollution (1 items)
Air pollution (7 items)
Related topics:
Results 164 - 182 of 182 listed alphabetically [list by similarity]
USGS Science Serves Public Health [More info]
Studies showing how human activities affect environmental and ecological health and how the quality of our environment and wildlife affects human health.
USGS develops geophysical methods to improve remediation monitoring and site characterization [More info]
Short news article describing the use of electrical resistivity tomography to improve imaging of tracer flow in ground water.
USGS guide to federal environmental laws and regulations [More info]
Guide to major U.S. environmental statutes and corresponding regulations on air quality, fish and wildlife conservation, cultural and historic resources, solid and hazardous substances, public lands, farmlands, and water resources.
USGS mine drainage activities [More info]
Listing of USGS research and monitoring projects on mine drainage, in order to promote cooperation and collaboration among scientists working on problems related to mining and the environment.
USGS responds to Deepwater Horizon oil spill [More info]
Imagery, sampling information, and other data intended for use in assessing and remediating environmental problems related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010
PDF Understanding Contaminants Associated with Mineral Deposits [More info]
Outlines processes that control the release of metals and acidic waters from inactive mines and mineralized areas, the transport of metals and acidic waters to streams, and the fate and effect of metals and acidity on downstream ecosystems.
PDF Understanding beach health throughout the Great Lakes -- Continuing research [More info]
Outlines tactical problems that make it difficult for beach managers to use scientific information to make beach closure and advisory decisions. Explains methodologies we are using to address those problems and better prepare local decision makers.
PDF Understanding beach health throughout the Great Lakes-Entering a new era of investigations [More info]
People who manage recreational areas need better, more timely estimates of the likelihood that the beach and lake waters will be hazardous to human health, and which factors cause those hazards.
PDF Understanding pesticides in California's Delta [More info]
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is the hub of California's water system and an important habitat for fish and wildlife. USGS research has provided resource managers and other stakeholders with a good understanding of how pesticides enter the Delta.
PDF Understanding processes affecting mineral deposits in humid environments [More info]
Contaminants from mines move more easily from ore materials and mine waste piles to surrounding estuaries and living organisms when water moves through the mine site. Geochemical results shown here will help people mitigate the negative effects.
Upper Mississippi River basin: sediments, contaminants, and nutrients [More info]
Downloadable data and map images depicting sedimentation changes and contaminants in sediments in the upper Mississippi River.
PDF Urban development results in stressors that degrade stream ecosystems [More info]
Explains which aspects of stream ecosystems are harmed by urban development and how, along with implications for those who manage urban ecosystems.
PDF Use of Semipermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) in Petroleum Polluted Waters [More info]
Provides a brief discussion of issues surrounding the use and capabilities of SPMDs, which can be used in monitoring petroleum spills.
Using geochemical and statistical tools to identify irrigated areas that might contain high selenium concentrations in surface water [More info]
Program using pattern recognition analysis and classification models to determine areas of irrigated land with concentrations of selenium.
Wastewater Indicators Shown to Degrade in Streams [More info]
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--the stability of contaminants that indicate human wastewater needs to be considered.
Water co-produced with coalbed methane in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming: preliminary compositional data [More info]
Compositional data on water from 47 CBM wells sampled in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Data on major, minor, and trace elements are included.
Water quality information pages [More info]
Homepage of the Office of Water Quality programs on the quality of the Nation's surface water and ground water resources, with links to general information, quality assurance, software, data, publications, USGS facilities, techniques, and programs.
Water resources of Michigan - protection of drinking water sources [More info]
Links to descriptions, publications, and photos of research projects in Michigan related to drinking water including source assessment, ground water availability, water resources, and contaminants in water.
Water science for schools: water quality [More info]
Educational site for elementary school students on water quality with links to related topics including pesticides in ground water, kid's view, urbanization and water and others.
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