Integrated Science Teams
Biologists, ecologists, toxicologists, hydrologists, chemists, and geographers work together in the field and laboratories across the United States
Biologists, ecologists, toxicologists, hydrologists, chemists, and geographers work together in the field and laboratories across the United States
Questions We Answer
Examples of how specialized teams of scientists answer high priority environmental health science questions.
Examples of how specialized teams of scientists answer high priority environmental health science questions.
Featured Science Activities
Science activities are summarized in a series of feature articles
Science activities are summarized in a series of feature articles
Contaminant Biology
Science Centers and scientists supported by Contaminant Biology develop and apply advanced laboratory methods, field investigations, and modeling capabilities to understand toxicity and effects of environmental contaminant and pathogen exposure.
Featured Science Activities
Featured Science Activities
Our Featured Science Articles highlight Environmental Health Program science activities.
GeoHEALTH-USGS
GeoHEALTH-USGS
The GeoHEALTH–USGS Newsletter—published since 2004—provides information on USGS science activities pertinent to safeguarding the health of fish, wildlife, domesticated animals, and people from environmental exposures to contaminants and pathogens.
News
EESC in the News: PFAS in Blue Catfish
EESC in the News: PFAS in Blue Catfish
GeoHEALTH - USGS Newsletter - Issue April 2025
GeoHEALTH - USGS Newsletter - Issue April 2025
EESC in the News: PFAS in Pelicans
EESC in the News: PFAS in Pelicans
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...
Anaerobic biodegradation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and microbial community composition in soil amended with a dechlorinating culture and chlorinated solvents Anaerobic biodegradation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and microbial community composition in soil amended with a dechlorinating culture and chlorinated solvents
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), one of the most frequently detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) occurring in soil, surface water, and groundwater near sites contaminated with aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), has proven to be recalcitrant to many destructive remedies, including chemical oxidation. We investigated the potential to utilize microbially mediated reduction...
Land-use interactions, Oil-Field infrastructure, and natural processes control hydrocarbon and arsenic concentrations in groundwater, Poso Creek Oil Field, California, USA Land-use interactions, Oil-Field infrastructure, and natural processes control hydrocarbon and arsenic concentrations in groundwater, Poso Creek Oil Field, California, USA
Like many hydrocarbon production areas in the U.S., the Poso Creek Oil Field in California includes and is adjacent to other land uses (agricultural and other developed lands) that affect the hydrology and geochemistry of the aquifer overlying and adjacent to oil development. We hypothesize that the distributions of hydrocarbons and arsenic in groundwater in such areas will be controlled...
Science
Exploring the Sensitivity of Salmonids to 6PPD-Quinone: Implications for Urban Ecosystems
The USGS is investigating the effects of 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), a harmful contaminant found in urban stormwater runoff, on fish and wildlife health, particularly in salmonids. Recent studies have shown that 6PPDQ poses acute toxicity risks, especially to coho salmon, with sensitivity varying by life stage. New research evaluated the lethal and sublethal impacts of 6PPDQ exposure on coastal...
Effective Communication in PFAS Research: Moving Beyond "Ubiquitous"
In recent years, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have gained attention for their environmental presence; however, the term "ubiquitous" used to describe them can be misleading. USGS scientists push to use more precise language such as "widespread" and “commonly detected” to avoid confusion and misinformation. This distinction is crucial for understanding the actual occurrence of PFAS...
Navigating PFAS Contamination: Insights from the USGS Potomac River Watershed Study
The Potomac River is a major watershed in the eastern United States that serves as a crucial water supply for millions of people. USGS researchers conducted a comprehensive investigation to identify the contributions of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant effluent to the levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Potomac River. This study included measuring PFAS...