Contaminant Biology

Imidacloprid, a commonly used insecticide in both agricultural and urban settings, is reaching rivers and streams across the country, where it can potentially harm the aquatic insects and other organisms that support healthy freshwater ecosystems. A decade‑long USGS study found this insecticide in nearly half of all samples, often at levels above chronic health benchmarks and present throughout...

USGS is studying how different waste materials are reused on farmland and what they might mean for people and the environment. These wastes can offer benefits, but they can also carry substances we don’t fully understand. Because little is known about what’s in these waste materials or how they move through soil and water, more information is needed. USGS research helps fill these gaps so...

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) in Lake Erie’s western basin have long been associated with microcystins, a well-known group of liver toxins. However, new research shows that these blooms are far more chemically diverse than previously thought. A seven-year study using advanced chemical and genetic tools reveals that cyanobacteria produce a succession of different chemical...