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Laboratory Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC

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By Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center June 23, 2020

The labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC are clean, well-stocked, and appointed with modern equipment and a highly talented staff.  The three labs analyze samples, conduct controlled-environment chemical tests with GCMS in the Water Qualty lab. Scientists and technicians work with core samples and analyze soils in the Sediment Lab.

Our labs assure reliability, reproducibility, and high quality of its data and information through adherence to USGS Fundamental Science Practices for publications. The use of comprehensive internal and external QA/QC processes to monitor method and analyst performance insure that our labs meet their commitment to publish high quality data of known and documented quality. External, independent oversight is provided by the USGS Branch of Quality Services as our labs are inspected by USGS qualified safety professionals.

There will be a lot more information specific to the labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC coming to this site very soon!

 

 

Some specialized USGS laboratories across the United States

Media
Pollen samples from various plants collected from hedgerows
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory -- Sacramento, California

 

Media
Pressurized fluid extractor used to extract organic compounds from solid samples
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory — Lawrence, Kansas

 

Media
A customized extraction system used for the collection and extraction of large volumes of water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Environmental Chemistry Laboratory — Columbia, Missouri

 

Media
The polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS - on the left) and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs - on the right)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Passive Sampling Research—Columbia, Missouri

 

Media
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) microbiologist prepares a water sample for enterococci testing
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory — Lansing, Michigan

 

Media
Primary leukocytes have been isolated from experimental fish to evaluate functional immune responses
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Functional and Molecular Bioassay Laboratory — Kearneysville, West Virginia

 

Media
Attribution of storm-weighted potential contaminant hazard ranks to sampling locations in the SCoRR network
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Geospatial Analyses and Applications — Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Media
Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
High-Content Screening Laboratory — Columbia, Missouri

 

Media
Swimming paths of control (left) and copper (right) exposed fish demonstrate changes in swimming behavior
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Behavioral Toxicology Laboratory — Columbia, Missouri

 

Media
Digestive gland from a freshwater snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
National Wildlife Health Center — Madison, Wisconsin

 

Media
Satellite image of a dust cloud from the Sahara Desert moving across the Atlantic Ocean
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Laboratory — St. Petersburg, Florida

 

Media
A saltwater tracer was injected into the shallow aquifer at a uranium-contaminated site in Colorado
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Hydrogeophysics Laboratory — Storrs, Connecticut

 

Media
Microscopic video imaging for computerized analysis of sperm motility
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Photomicroscopy and Flow Cytometry Laboratory — Lafayette, Louisiana

 

Media
Bacteria contained in filter chambers placed in downgradient observation wells were exposed to sulfamethoxazole for 30 days
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Microbial-Contaminant Interactions Laboratory — Boulder, Colorado

 

Media
USGS scientist collecting samples of aquatic species from the Pike River, Wis., for later analysis of mercury contamination
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Microbial Biogeochemistry Laboratory — Menlo Park, California

 

Media
Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an experimental aquarium
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Bioactive Chemicals Research Laboratory — Boulder, Colorado

 

Below are some of the related science elements closely related to Lab Analysis in our WSC

Water Quality Sampling in NWIS:     MD    DE    DC

Stacks of organized boxes containing trays of archived samples splits in the National Geochemical Sample Archive, Denver, CO.

Analytical Chemistry

The USGS Mineral Resources Program and other USGS scientists need specialized routine analysis in order to conduct their research. The Analytical Chemistry project facilitates the ability of USGS scientists to obtain needed analyses.
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Analytical Chemistry

Analytical Chemistry

The USGS Mineral Resources Program and other USGS scientists need specialized routine analysis in order to conduct their research. The Analytical Chemistry project facilitates the ability of USGS scientists to obtain needed analyses.
Learn More
Early life stage exposure laboratory study

Core Technology Team

Short descriptions of our capabilities across the United States.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Environmental Health Program
Core Technology Team

Core Technology Team

Short descriptions of our capabilities across the United States.
Learn More

Chemists and hydrologists develop targeted analytical methods for the quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of organisms and humans. Here are some publications about studies that were completed at the MD-DE-DC WSC with help from the scientists in our labs...

Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Processing, taxonomy, and quality control of benthic macroinvertebrate samples Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Processing, taxonomy, and quality control of benthic macroinvertebrate samples

Qualitative and quantitative methods to process benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) samples have been developed and tested by the U.S. Geological Survey?s National Water Quality Laboratory Biological Group. The qualitative processing method is based on visually sorting a sample for up to 2 hours. Sorting focuses on attaining organisms that are likely to result in taxonomic identifications to
Authors
Stephen R. Moulton, James L. Carter, Scott A. Grotheer, Thomas F. Cuffney, Terry M. Short
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, National Water Quality Laboratory

Analytical properties of some commercially available nitrate reductase enzymes evaluated as replacements for cadmium in automated, semiautomated, and manual colorimetric methods for determination of nitrate plus nitrite in water Analytical properties of some commercially available nitrate reductase enzymes evaluated as replacements for cadmium in automated, semiautomated, and manual colorimetric methods for determination of nitrate plus nitrite in water

A multiyear research effort at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) evaluated several commercially available nitrate reductase (NaR) enzymes as replacements for toxic cadmium in longstanding automated colorimetric air-segmented continuous-flow analyzer (CFA) methods for determining nitrate plus nitrite (NOx) in water. This research culminated in USGS...
Authors
Charles J. Patton, Jennifer R. Kryskalla
By
Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Laboratory

Interpreting and Reporting Radiological Water-Quality Data Interpreting and Reporting Radiological Water-Quality Data

This document provides information to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Science Centers on interpreting and reporting radiological results for samples of environmental matrices, most notably water. The information provided is intended to be broadly useful throughout the United States, but it is recommended that scientists who work at sites containing radioactive hazardous wastes need...
Authors
David E. McCurdy, John R. Garbarino, Ann H. Mullin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Laboratory

Determination of human-health pharmaceuticals in filtered water by chemically modified styrene-divinylbenzene resin-based solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Determination of human-health pharmaceuticals in filtered water by chemically modified styrene-divinylbenzene resin-based solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

In 1999, the Methods Research and Development Program of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory began the process of developing a method designed to identify and quantify human-health pharmaceuticals in four filtered water-sample types: reagent water, ground water, surface water minimally affected by human contributions, and surface water that contains a substantial...
Authors
Edward T. Furlong, Stephen L. Werner, Bruce D. Anderson, Jeffery D. Cahill
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, National Water Quality Laboratory

Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Determination of whole-water recoverable arsenic, boron, and vanadium using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Determination of whole-water recoverable arsenic, boron, and vanadium using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Analysis of in-bottle digestate by using the inductively coupled plasma?mass spectrometric (ICP?MS) method has been expanded to include arsenic, boron, and vanadium. Whole-water samples are digested by using either the hydrochloric acid in-bottle digestion procedure or the nitric acid in-bottle digestion procedure. When the hydrochloric acid in-bottle digestion procedure is used...
Authors
John R. Garbarino
By
Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Laboratory

Below are FAQ associated with this project.

Photo of USGS staffer collecting groundwater sample

How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater? How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are widely used in the manufacture of many products including refrigerants, plastics, adhesives, paints, and petroleum products, have been detected in about one-third of the wells sampled by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the USGS. Chloroform and other trihalomethanes, the most commonly detected compounds, were found in about 9...
How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater?

How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are widely used in the manufacture of many products including refrigerants, plastics, adhesives, paints, and petroleum products, have been detected in about one-third of the wells sampled by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the USGS. Chloroform and other trihalomethanes, the most commonly detected compounds, were found in about 9...
Learn More
Crop dusting is one technique used to spread pesticides on agricultural lands in the Albemarle Sound region.

Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality? Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality?

Pesticide use in the United States has increased because not only must we supply our exploding population with food, but crops and food are also grown for export to other countries. The United States has become the largest producer of food products in the world, partly owing to our use of modern chemicals (pesticides) to control the insects, weeds, and other organisms that attack food crops. But...
Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality?

Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality?

Pesticide use in the United States has increased because not only must we supply our exploding population with food, but crops and food are also grown for export to other countries. The United States has become the largest producer of food products in the world, partly owing to our use of modern chemicals (pesticides) to control the insects, weeds, and other organisms that attack food crops. But...
Learn More

The labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC are clean, well-stocked, and appointed with modern equipment and a highly talented staff.  The three labs analyze samples, conduct controlled-environment chemical tests with GCMS in the Water Qualty lab. Scientists and technicians work with core samples and analyze soils in the Sediment Lab.

Our labs assure reliability, reproducibility, and high quality of its data and information through adherence to USGS Fundamental Science Practices for publications. The use of comprehensive internal and external QA/QC processes to monitor method and analyst performance insure that our labs meet their commitment to publish high quality data of known and documented quality. External, independent oversight is provided by the USGS Branch of Quality Services as our labs are inspected by USGS qualified safety professionals.

There will be a lot more information specific to the labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC coming to this site very soon!

 

 

Some specialized USGS laboratories across the United States

Media
Pollen samples from various plants collected from hedgerows
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory -- Sacramento, California

 

Media
Pressurized fluid extractor used to extract organic compounds from solid samples
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory — Lawrence, Kansas

 

Media
A customized extraction system used for the collection and extraction of large volumes of water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Environmental Chemistry Laboratory — Columbia, Missouri

 

Media
The polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS - on the left) and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs - on the right)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Passive Sampling Research—Columbia, Missouri

 

Media
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) microbiologist prepares a water sample for enterococci testing
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory — Lansing, Michigan

 

Media
Primary leukocytes have been isolated from experimental fish to evaluate functional immune responses
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Functional and Molecular Bioassay Laboratory — Kearneysville, West Virginia

 

Media
Attribution of storm-weighted potential contaminant hazard ranks to sampling locations in the SCoRR network
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Geospatial Analyses and Applications — Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Media
Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
High-Content Screening Laboratory — Columbia, Missouri

 

Media
Swimming paths of control (left) and copper (right) exposed fish demonstrate changes in swimming behavior
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Behavioral Toxicology Laboratory — Columbia, Missouri

 

Media
Digestive gland from a freshwater snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
National Wildlife Health Center — Madison, Wisconsin

 

Media
Satellite image of a dust cloud from the Sahara Desert moving across the Atlantic Ocean
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Laboratory — St. Petersburg, Florida

 

Media
A saltwater tracer was injected into the shallow aquifer at a uranium-contaminated site in Colorado
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Hydrogeophysics Laboratory — Storrs, Connecticut

 

Media
Microscopic video imaging for computerized analysis of sperm motility
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Photomicroscopy and Flow Cytometry Laboratory — Lafayette, Louisiana

 

Media
Bacteria contained in filter chambers placed in downgradient observation wells were exposed to sulfamethoxazole for 30 days
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Microbial-Contaminant Interactions Laboratory — Boulder, Colorado

 

Media
USGS scientist collecting samples of aquatic species from the Pike River, Wis., for later analysis of mercury contamination
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Microbial Biogeochemistry Laboratory — Menlo Park, California

 

Media
Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an experimental aquarium
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Bioactive Chemicals Research Laboratory — Boulder, Colorado

 

Below are some of the related science elements closely related to Lab Analysis in our WSC

Water Quality Sampling in NWIS:     MD    DE    DC

Stacks of organized boxes containing trays of archived samples splits in the National Geochemical Sample Archive, Denver, CO.

Analytical Chemistry

The USGS Mineral Resources Program and other USGS scientists need specialized routine analysis in order to conduct their research. The Analytical Chemistry project facilitates the ability of USGS scientists to obtain needed analyses.
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Analytical Chemistry

Analytical Chemistry

The USGS Mineral Resources Program and other USGS scientists need specialized routine analysis in order to conduct their research. The Analytical Chemistry project facilitates the ability of USGS scientists to obtain needed analyses.
Learn More
Early life stage exposure laboratory study

Core Technology Team

Short descriptions of our capabilities across the United States.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Environmental Health Program
Core Technology Team

Core Technology Team

Short descriptions of our capabilities across the United States.
Learn More

Chemists and hydrologists develop targeted analytical methods for the quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of organisms and humans. Here are some publications about studies that were completed at the MD-DE-DC WSC with help from the scientists in our labs...

Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Processing, taxonomy, and quality control of benthic macroinvertebrate samples Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Processing, taxonomy, and quality control of benthic macroinvertebrate samples

Qualitative and quantitative methods to process benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) samples have been developed and tested by the U.S. Geological Survey?s National Water Quality Laboratory Biological Group. The qualitative processing method is based on visually sorting a sample for up to 2 hours. Sorting focuses on attaining organisms that are likely to result in taxonomic identifications to
Authors
Stephen R. Moulton, James L. Carter, Scott A. Grotheer, Thomas F. Cuffney, Terry M. Short
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, National Water Quality Laboratory

Analytical properties of some commercially available nitrate reductase enzymes evaluated as replacements for cadmium in automated, semiautomated, and manual colorimetric methods for determination of nitrate plus nitrite in water Analytical properties of some commercially available nitrate reductase enzymes evaluated as replacements for cadmium in automated, semiautomated, and manual colorimetric methods for determination of nitrate plus nitrite in water

A multiyear research effort at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) evaluated several commercially available nitrate reductase (NaR) enzymes as replacements for toxic cadmium in longstanding automated colorimetric air-segmented continuous-flow analyzer (CFA) methods for determining nitrate plus nitrite (NOx) in water. This research culminated in USGS...
Authors
Charles J. Patton, Jennifer R. Kryskalla
By
Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Laboratory

Interpreting and Reporting Radiological Water-Quality Data Interpreting and Reporting Radiological Water-Quality Data

This document provides information to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Science Centers on interpreting and reporting radiological results for samples of environmental matrices, most notably water. The information provided is intended to be broadly useful throughout the United States, but it is recommended that scientists who work at sites containing radioactive hazardous wastes need...
Authors
David E. McCurdy, John R. Garbarino, Ann H. Mullin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Laboratory

Determination of human-health pharmaceuticals in filtered water by chemically modified styrene-divinylbenzene resin-based solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Determination of human-health pharmaceuticals in filtered water by chemically modified styrene-divinylbenzene resin-based solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

In 1999, the Methods Research and Development Program of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory began the process of developing a method designed to identify and quantify human-health pharmaceuticals in four filtered water-sample types: reagent water, ground water, surface water minimally affected by human contributions, and surface water that contains a substantial...
Authors
Edward T. Furlong, Stephen L. Werner, Bruce D. Anderson, Jeffery D. Cahill
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, National Water Quality Laboratory

Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Determination of whole-water recoverable arsenic, boron, and vanadium using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Determination of whole-water recoverable arsenic, boron, and vanadium using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Analysis of in-bottle digestate by using the inductively coupled plasma?mass spectrometric (ICP?MS) method has been expanded to include arsenic, boron, and vanadium. Whole-water samples are digested by using either the hydrochloric acid in-bottle digestion procedure or the nitric acid in-bottle digestion procedure. When the hydrochloric acid in-bottle digestion procedure is used...
Authors
John R. Garbarino
By
Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Laboratory

Below are FAQ associated with this project.

Photo of USGS staffer collecting groundwater sample

How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater? How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are widely used in the manufacture of many products including refrigerants, plastics, adhesives, paints, and petroleum products, have been detected in about one-third of the wells sampled by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the USGS. Chloroform and other trihalomethanes, the most commonly detected compounds, were found in about 9...
How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater?

How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are widely used in the manufacture of many products including refrigerants, plastics, adhesives, paints, and petroleum products, have been detected in about one-third of the wells sampled by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the USGS. Chloroform and other trihalomethanes, the most commonly detected compounds, were found in about 9...
Learn More
Crop dusting is one technique used to spread pesticides on agricultural lands in the Albemarle Sound region.

Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality? Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality?

Pesticide use in the United States has increased because not only must we supply our exploding population with food, but crops and food are also grown for export to other countries. The United States has become the largest producer of food products in the world, partly owing to our use of modern chemicals (pesticides) to control the insects, weeds, and other organisms that attack food crops. But...
Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality?

Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality?

Pesticide use in the United States has increased because not only must we supply our exploding population with food, but crops and food are also grown for export to other countries. The United States has become the largest producer of food products in the world, partly owing to our use of modern chemicals (pesticides) to control the insects, weeds, and other organisms that attack food crops. But...
Learn More
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