The Environmental Health Program's Science Approach is Based on the Principle that Human and Animal Health are Interdependent and Linked to the Health of the Ecosystems they Share
Integrated Science Teams
Work together in the field and laboratories across the United States
Work together in the field and laboratories across the United States
Questions We Answer
Examples of how our scientists answer high priority environmental health science questions
Examples of how our scientists answer high priority environmental health science questions
Video Presenting the USGS Laboratory for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Located at the Eastern Ecological Science Center
Located at the Eastern Ecological Science Center
Environmental Health Program
The Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology) supports integrated natural science expertise and capabilities across the USGS related to environmental contaminants and pathogens. This One Health approach recognizes the interdependence of human and animal health and the health of ecosystems that they share.
Integrated Science
Integrated Science
Science centers and scientists supported by the Environmental Health Program work together on integrated science teams to develop and apply advanced laboratory methods, field investigations, and modeling to understand sources, fate, exposure, toxicity, and effects of environmental contaminants and pathogens.
Program Highlights
Program Highlights
A new interactive dashboard is available to visualize PFAS measurements for 716 tap water samples collected at select sites across the nation between 2016 and 2021 from private and public supplies.
News
Director's Message: To All of Our Partners, Thank You!
Director's Message: To All of Our Partners, Thank You!
Fertilizer or foe? Land-applied waste reuse materials and farm-to-fork potential contaminant pathways
Fertilizer or foe? Land-applied waste reuse materials and farm-to-fork potential contaminant pathways
GeoHEALTH - USGS Newsletter - Issue September 2025
GeoHEALTH - USGS Newsletter - Issue September 2025
Publications
Pathways for potential exposure to onshore oil and gas wastewater: What we need to know to protect human health Pathways for potential exposure to onshore oil and gas wastewater: What we need to know to protect human health
Produced water is a chemically complex waste stream generated during oil and gas development. Roughly four trillion liters were generated onshore in the United States in 2021 (ALL Consulting, 2022, https://www.gwpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021_Produced_Water_Volumes.pdf). Efforts are underway to expand historic uses of produced water to offset freshwater needs in water-stressed...
A multidisciplinary approach that considers occurrence, geochemistry, bioavailability, and toxicity to prioritize critical minerals for environmental research A multidisciplinary approach that considers occurrence, geochemistry, bioavailability, and toxicity to prioritize critical minerals for environmental research
Critical minerals (or critical elements) are minerals or elements that are essential to global security and development and have supply chains vulnerable to disruption. In general, knowledge of the environmental behavior and health effects of critical elements is needed to support the development of safe and environmentally responsible supplies. This knowledge includes identifying...
By
Environmental Health Program, Mineral Resources Program, California Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Distribution of ancient carbon in groundwater and soil gas from degradation of petroleum near the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Distribution of ancient carbon in groundwater and soil gas from degradation of petroleum near the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
The groundwater below the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (the facility) in Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, contains fuel compounds from past spills. This study used carbon-14 analyses to distinguish fuel-derived carbon from background carbon, along with other biodegradation indicators, to address two goals: (1) determine the extent and migration direction of groundwater affected by residual fuel...
Science
Tracking Toxins at the Coastline: A National Look at Harmful Algal Toxins in U.S. Coastal Waters
This study is a major step forward in understanding how harmful algal blooms, which are often associated with lakes and rivers, can also affect coastal environments. It provides important baseline information for scientists, public health officials, and environmental managers.
From Stream to Spider: How PFAS Move Through Aquatic and Terrestrial Food Webs
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent synthetic chemicals that accumulate in the environment and living organisms. A USGS study examined how different PFAS compounds move through a stream ecosystem and are transferred from aquatic to terrestrial food webs. The findings documented that not all PFAS behave the same once they enter the environment, leading to differences in...
Bioenergy and Pesticides: Lessons from the AltEn Bioenergy Plant
Ethanol production from seed corn, while reducing waste and promoting renewable energy, can have environmental and health implications. A USGS study on a former bioenergy plant that received pesticide-coated seeds used for ethanol production, revealed that the process led to contaminated wastewater and solid residue, resulting in elevated pesticide levels in nearby surface waters even after the...