Analytical Capabilities, Sample Requirements, and Instrumentation Active
Organic Geochemistry Research Lab
(OGRL)
OGRL works independently or collaboratively to pair fate and transport with biological
experiments and effects. OGRL has three main focuses:
1. Development and modification of robust analytical methods needed for analysis of
compounds in multiple matrices to address relevant environmental health issues.
2. Conduct independent and collaborative lab to national based studies to provide new
knowledge on source to receptor pathways for potential environmental relevant organic
contaminants.
3. Conduct collaborative research to study correlations between individual compound
and environmental mixture and environmental health effects.
Hot Topics
- A team of scientists from the USGS and the Agroscope Reckenholz-Tanikon Research Station, Switzerland, found that some mycotoxins are common in U.S. stream waters. (more)
- Measuring POEA, a Surfactant Mixture in Herbicide Formulations. (more)
- Groundwater microbial community composition affected during 30-day exposure to sub mg/L concentrations of the antibiotic, sulfamethoxazole.
- Two microbial communities from a sandy aquifer, one acclimated historically to wastewater with sulfamethoxazole and the other unacclimated were exposed to in situ 240-520 μg/L sulfamethoxazole using filter chambers suspended ambient groundwater for 30 days. The unacclimated microbial community displayed greater changes in mortality and impairment, sensitivity to sulfamethoxazole, and community composition than the unacclimated microbial community. The study shows that microbial communities can be affected by concentrations 2-3 orders of magnitude less than those used in clinical applications.
Sample Processing
Samples will be collected using protocols for the collection of pesticide analysis in Shelton, (1994) http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/pubs/ofr94-455/sw-t.html
- Preclean all equipment with a Liquinox/tap-water solution, rinsed with tap water, deonized water, and then methanol, and then air dry.
- Filter sample water through a 0.7-µm pore-size baked glass-fiber filter after a 100 ml rinse of the filter with sample water, into 125-ml (4 oz) baked amber glass bottles (If filtering is not possible, then it can be done upon request at a rate of $30 persample).
- Upon collection, all samples will be kept chilled until shipped to the lab.
Shipping Instructions
Label bottles clearly with waterproof marker or preprinted labels (a paper label completely covered with clear packing tape is preferred). Information required on the bottle is shown:
- -Project code:
- -station id
- -stream/well name/location
- -date and time
- -initials of collector
- -lab method code
Example:
Project code: To be assigned by Julie Dietze
station id: Lake Houston North End, Texas
stream/well name/location: 40305060
date and time: 5-18-06 @ 1015
initials of collector: JD
lab method code: LCGY
Bottle Requirements
Method Required Bottles
LCPD 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
LCAB 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
LCEA 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
LCGY 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
IMA 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
IMB 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
IMNT/IMND *1- 8 oz (250mL) HDPE with polypropylene closure
IMYT/IMYD *1- 8 oz (250mL) HDPE with polypropylene closure
IMXT/IMXD *1- 8 oz (250mL) HDPE with polypropylene closure
Custom Methods Contact Julie Dietze for bottles requirements
*When submitting samples for total analysis (IMNT, IMYT, and IMXT) only fill the bottles half-way to ensure that they do not break when frozen.
The following information form an ASR is required for transfer from the lab database to NWIS batch files/QWDX.
- USGS station ID
- Phone Number
- E-mail Contact
- User Code
- Project Account Number
- Collection Date
- Collection Time
- Sample Medium Code
- Sample Type
A copy of an ASR may be made and enclosed in a watertight bag if sample is also being sent to NWQL. Please make sure the lab methods and any other information specific to our lab is on the ASR sent to Kansas.
Data can be uploaded to the QWDX site upon request with the exception of immunoassay and soils/solids/bed sediment methods.
Glass bottles to be placed in foam sleeves to help prevent breakage. The bottles from each site will then be placed in a ZIPLOCK-type bag, which will help keep them dry in the coolers and keep all bottles from the same site together. All samples will be kept chilled and shipped on ice. Permanently mark the inside lid of the cooler with return address and telephone number. If this is not possible, make certain samples are kept cool until they are shipped to the OGRL.
Coolers will be returned at your project's expense. The three options for cooler return are listed below.
- A. Enclose a return mailing label and correct postage metered for return of cooler by parcel post mail
- B. Return a completed Federal Express shipping label identifying your USGS internal cost code or Federal Express account number.
- C. Enclose a mailing label and internal USGS cost code to have the cooler returned by Federal Express Ground shipping.
The coolers must be sent Monday-Thursday by overnight delivery. The laboratory is not open on Saturday or Sunday. The laboratory is also closed on federal holidays; therefore, coolers should not be sent the day before a holiday.
If you have questions or need to set up a new project, please call Julie Dietze at the following number and use the following address when shipping samples:
OGRL
USGS KS WSC
4821 Quail Crest Place
Lawrence, KS 66049
785/832-3564
Organic Geochemistry Research Group
Links
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
OGRL Algal Toxins Methods of Analysis
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Cyanotoxin mixtures and taste-and-odor compounds in cyanobacterial blooms from the midwestern united states
Phytoestrogens and mycotoxins in Iowa streams: An examination of underinvestigated compounds in agricultural basins
Determination of glyphosate, its degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid, and glufosinate, in water by isotope dilution and online solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Fate of sulfamethoxazole, 4-nonylphenol, and 17β-estradiol in groundwater contaminated by wastewater treatment plant effluent
A shift in the dominant toxin-producing algal species in central California alters phycotoxins in food webs
Comparing wastewater chemicals, indicator bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as fecal pollution indicators
Comparison of two cell lysis procedures for recovery of microcystins in water samples from silver lake in Dover, Delaware, with microcystin producing cyanobacterial accumulations
Occurrence of organic wastewater compounds in the Tinkers Creek watershed and two other tributaries to the Cuyahoga River, northeast Ohio
Water-quality data for pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants in ground water and in untreated drinking water sources in the United States, 2000-01
Limnological Conditions in Lake William C. Bowen and Municipal Reservoir #1, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, August to September 2005, May 2006, and October 2006
Guidelines for design and sampling for cyanobacterial toxin and taste-and-odor studies in lakes and reservoirs
Subsurface fate and transport of sulfamethoxazole, 4-nonylphenol, and 17β-estradiol
- Overview
OGRL works independently or collaboratively to pair fate and transport with biological
experiments and effects. OGRL has three main focuses:
1. Development and modification of robust analytical methods needed for analysis of
compounds in multiple matrices to address relevant environmental health issues.
2. Conduct independent and collaborative lab to national based studies to provide new
knowledge on source to receptor pathways for potential environmental relevant organic
contaminants.
3. Conduct collaborative research to study correlations between individual compound
and environmental mixture and environmental health effects.Hot Topics
- A team of scientists from the USGS and the Agroscope Reckenholz-Tanikon Research Station, Switzerland, found that some mycotoxins are common in U.S. stream waters. (more)
- Measuring POEA, a Surfactant Mixture in Herbicide Formulations. (more)
- Groundwater microbial community composition affected during 30-day exposure to sub mg/L concentrations of the antibiotic, sulfamethoxazole.
- Two microbial communities from a sandy aquifer, one acclimated historically to wastewater with sulfamethoxazole and the other unacclimated were exposed to in situ 240-520 μg/L sulfamethoxazole using filter chambers suspended ambient groundwater for 30 days. The unacclimated microbial community displayed greater changes in mortality and impairment, sensitivity to sulfamethoxazole, and community composition than the unacclimated microbial community. The study shows that microbial communities can be affected by concentrations 2-3 orders of magnitude less than those used in clinical applications.
Sample Processing
Samples will be collected using protocols for the collection of pesticide analysis in Shelton, (1994) http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/pubs/ofr94-455/sw-t.html
- Preclean all equipment with a Liquinox/tap-water solution, rinsed with tap water, deonized water, and then methanol, and then air dry.
- Filter sample water through a 0.7-µm pore-size baked glass-fiber filter after a 100 ml rinse of the filter with sample water, into 125-ml (4 oz) baked amber glass bottles (If filtering is not possible, then it can be done upon request at a rate of $30 persample).
- Upon collection, all samples will be kept chilled until shipped to the lab.
Shipping Instructions
Label bottles clearly with waterproof marker or preprinted labels (a paper label completely covered with clear packing tape is preferred). Information required on the bottle is shown:
- -Project code:
- -station id
- -stream/well name/location
- -date and time
- -initials of collector
- -lab method code
Example:
Project code: To be assigned by Julie Dietze
station id: Lake Houston North End, Texas
stream/well name/location: 40305060
date and time: 5-18-06 @ 1015
initials of collector: JD
lab method code: LCGY
Bottle Requirements
Method Required Bottles
LCPD 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
LCAB 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
LCEA 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
LCGY 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
IMA 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
IMB 3-4oz (125mL) amber glass with teflon lined caps
IMNT/IMND *1- 8 oz (250mL) HDPE with polypropylene closure
IMYT/IMYD *1- 8 oz (250mL) HDPE with polypropylene closure
IMXT/IMXD *1- 8 oz (250mL) HDPE with polypropylene closure
Custom Methods Contact Julie Dietze for bottles requirements
*When submitting samples for total analysis (IMNT, IMYT, and IMXT) only fill the bottles half-way to ensure that they do not break when frozen.
The following information form an ASR is required for transfer from the lab database to NWIS batch files/QWDX.
- USGS station ID
- Phone Number
- E-mail Contact
- User Code
- Project Account Number
- Collection Date
- Collection Time
- Sample Medium Code
- Sample Type
A copy of an ASR may be made and enclosed in a watertight bag if sample is also being sent to NWQL. Please make sure the lab methods and any other information specific to our lab is on the ASR sent to Kansas.
Data can be uploaded to the QWDX site upon request with the exception of immunoassay and soils/solids/bed sediment methods.
Glass bottles to be placed in foam sleeves to help prevent breakage. The bottles from each site will then be placed in a ZIPLOCK-type bag, which will help keep them dry in the coolers and keep all bottles from the same site together. All samples will be kept chilled and shipped on ice. Permanently mark the inside lid of the cooler with return address and telephone number. If this is not possible, make certain samples are kept cool until they are shipped to the OGRL.
Coolers will be returned at your project's expense. The three options for cooler return are listed below.
- A. Enclose a return mailing label and correct postage metered for return of cooler by parcel post mail
- B. Return a completed Federal Express shipping label identifying your USGS internal cost code or Federal Express account number.
- C. Enclose a mailing label and internal USGS cost code to have the cooler returned by Federal Express Ground shipping.
The coolers must be sent Monday-Thursday by overnight delivery. The laboratory is not open on Saturday or Sunday. The laboratory is also closed on federal holidays; therefore, coolers should not be sent the day before a holiday.
If you have questions or need to set up a new project, please call Julie Dietze at the following number and use the following address when shipping samples:
OGRLUSGS KS WSC
4821 Quail Crest Place
Lawrence, KS 66049
785/832-3564
Organic Geochemistry Research Group
Links - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
OGRL Algal Toxins Methods of Analysis
Algal toxins are a group of toxic compounds produced by a range of photosynthetic freshwater and marine plankton. These toxins have the ability to cause sickness in animals and humans and in severe cases lead to death. OGRL has the ability to evaluate and conduct occurrence, fate, transport, effects, and treatability studies methods. - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 107Cyanotoxin mixtures and taste-and-odor compounds in cyanobacterial blooms from the midwestern united states
The mixtures of toxins and taste-and-odor compounds present during cyanobacterial blooms are not well characterized and of particular concern when evaluating potential human health risks. Cyanobacterial blooms were sampled in twenty-three Midwestern United States lakes and analyzed for community composition, thirteen cyanotoxins by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and immunoassay, and two tAuthorsJennifer L. Graham, Keith A. Loftin, Michael T. Meyer, Andrew C. ZieglerPhytoestrogens and mycotoxins in Iowa streams: An examination of underinvestigated compounds in agricultural basins
This study provides the first broad-scale investigation on the spatial and temporal occurrence of phytoestrogens and mycotoxins in streams in the United States. Fifteen stream sites across Iowa were sampled five times throughout the 2008 growing season to capture a range of climatic and crop-growth conditions. Basin size upstream from sampling sites ranged from 7 km2 to >836,000 km2 Atrazine (herbAuthorsDana W. Kolpin, Corinne C. Hoerger, Michael T. Meyer, Felix E. Wettstein, Laura E. Hubbard, Thomas D. BucheliDetermination of glyphosate, its degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid, and glufosinate, in water by isotope dilution and online solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
The U.S. Geological Survey method (0-2141-09) presented is approved for the determination of glyphosate, its degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and glufosinate in water. It was was validated to demonstrate the method detection levels (MDL), compare isotope dilution to standard addition, and evaluate method and compound stability. The original method USGS analytical method 0-213AuthorsMichael T. Meyer, Keith A. Loftin, Edward A. Lee, Gary H. Hinshaw, Julie E. Dietze, Elisabeth A. ScribnerFate of sulfamethoxazole, 4-nonylphenol, and 17β-estradiol in groundwater contaminated by wastewater treatment plant effluent
Organic wastewater contaminants (OWCs) were measured in samples collected from monitoring wells located along a 4.5-km transect of a plume of groundwater contaminated by 60 years of continuous rapid infiltration disposal of wastewater treatment plant effluent. Fifteen percent of the 212 OWCs analyzed were detected, including the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SX), the nonionic surfactant degradationAuthorsLarry B. Barber, Steffanie H. Keefe, Denis R. LeBlanc, Paul M. Bradley, Francis H. Chapelle, Michael T. Meyer, Keith A. Loftin, Dana W. Koplin, Fernando RubioA shift in the dominant toxin-producing algal species in central California alters phycotoxins in food webs
In California, the toxic algal species of primary concern are the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella and members of the pennate diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia, both producers of potent neurotoxins that are capable of sickening and killing marine life and humans. During the summer of 2004 in Monterey Bay, we observed a change in the taxonomic structure of the phytoplankton community-the typicallyAuthorsR. Jester, K. Lefebvre, G. Langlois, V. Vigilant, K. Baugh, M.W. SilverComparing wastewater chemicals, indicator bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as fecal pollution indicators
The objective of this study was to compare fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) (fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli [EC], and enterococci [ENT]) concentrations with a wide array of typical organic wastewater chemicals and selected bacterial genes as indicators of fecal pollution in water samples collected at or near 18 surface water drinking water intakes. Genes tested included esp (indicating human-pathAuthorsS.K. Haack, J.W. Duris, L.R. Fogarty, D.W. Kolpin, M. J. Focazio, E. T. Furlong, M. T. MeyerComparison of two cell lysis procedures for recovery of microcystins in water samples from silver lake in Dover, Delaware, with microcystin producing cyanobacterial accumulations
A collaboration was developed between Abraxis, LLC, the State of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Division of Water Resources Environmental Laboratory, the University of Delaware, and the United States Geological Survey to investigate the efficacy of the QuikLyse procedure developed by Abraxis, LLC as an alternative cell-lysis technique suitable for use with an exAuthorsKeith A. Loftin, Michael T. Meyer, Fernando Rubio, Lisa Kamp, Edythe Humphries, Ed WhereatOccurrence of organic wastewater compounds in the Tinkers Creek watershed and two other tributaries to the Cuyahoga River, northeast Ohio
The U.S. Geological Survey - in cooperation with the Ohio Water Development Authority; National Park Service; Cities of Aurora, Bedford, Bedford Heights, Solon, and Twinsburg; and Portage and Summit Counties - and in collaboration with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, did a study to determine the occurrence and distribution of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) in the Tinkers Creek waterAuthorsJ.S. Tertuliani, D.A. Alvarez, E. T. Furlong, M. T. Meyer, S.D. Zaugg, G. F. KoltunWater-quality data for pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants in ground water and in untreated drinking water sources in the United States, 2000-01
This report presents water-quality data from two nationwide studies on the occurrence and distribution of organic wastewater contaminants. These data are part of the continuing effort of the U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program to collect baseline information on the environmental occurrence of pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants. In 2000, samples were colAuthorsKimberlee K. Barnes, Dana W. Kolpin, Michael J. Focazio, Edward T. Furlong, Michael T. Meyer, Steven D. Zaugg, Sheridan K. Haack, Larry B. Barber, E. Michael ThurmanLimnological Conditions in Lake William C. Bowen and Municipal Reservoir #1, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, August to September 2005, May 2006, and October 2006
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Spartanburg Water System, conducted three spatial surveys of the limnological conditions in Lake William C. Bowen (Lake Bowen) and Municipal Reservoir #1 (Reservoir #1), Spartanburg County, South Carolina, during August to September 2005, May 2006, and October 2006. The surveys were conducted to identify spatial distribution and concentrations ofAuthorsCeleste A. Journey, Thomas A. AbrahamsenGuidelines for design and sampling for cyanobacterial toxin and taste-and-odor studies in lakes and reservoirs
Cyanobacteria and associated toxins and taste-and-odor compounds are of increasing environmental concern. However, consistent guidelines for the development of studies assessing cyanobacterial toxins and taste-and-odor compounds presently are not available. This report provides guidance for the development of scientific studies of cyanobacteria and associated by-products in lakes and reservoirs. TAuthorsJennifer L. Graham, Keith A. Loftin, Andrew C. Ziegler, Michael T. MeyerSubsurface fate and transport of sulfamethoxazole, 4-nonylphenol, and 17β-estradiol
Subsurface fate and transport of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SX), the non-ionic surfactant degradation product 4-nonylphenol (NP), and the sex hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) were evaluated in a plume of contaminated groundwater at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. The plume is the result of 60 years of wastewater treatment plant effluent disposal into rapid infiltration beds. Natural-gradient, in sitAuthorsL. B. Barber, M. T. Meyer, D.R. LeBlanc, Dana W. Kolpin, Paul Radley, F. Chapelle, F. Rubio