Contaminants can be chemical or biological and represent major stressors to ecosystems, including human and wildlife populations. Chemical contaminants include those purposefully released into the environment (for example, pesticides) and those that are inadvertently released (for example, mining waste). Biological contaminants can harm our food, water or environment with microorganisms (for example, fungus, bacteria, virus). USGS scientists are helping to understand potential environmental and health hazards posed by chemical and biological contaminants. We study the connections between air, water, soil, and living things to identify the environmental pathways that expose humans and wildlife to contaminants.
Environmental Health Program
Contaminants and Pathogens
Emerging Contaminants
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
USGS Contaminants Science
Understanding the Dynamics of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Insights from USGS Research
Beneath the Surface: Exploring PFAS and Drinking Water on French Island, Wisconsin
Increasing Efficiency During the Life Cycle of Energy Development: Key Strategies for Improving the Utilization of Our Nation's Energy Resources
Life Cycle of Critical Minerals: A Balanced Approach to Meeting Our Nation's Resource Demands
Natural Solutions for Reducing PFOS Pollution in Our Environment
Innovative Sensor Development for Detecting Low-Micrometer Plastics in Freshwater Systems
Wildfires Increase Mercury Concentrations in Headwater Streams
Increased Mercury, Reduced Insect Diversity, and Food Web impacts from Historical Mercury Mining
A National Predictive Model for PFAS Occurrence in Groundwater
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Core Technology Team
Estimating Methylmercury Injury to Birds—“The Bird Mercury Tool”
USGS Science Opportunities Related to the Nationally Relevant Study of Microplastics
U.S. Geological Survey Develops Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Sampling Guide
Human-Related Compounds in Water Sources in the Grand Canyon Help Identify Water Flow Pathways and Highlight Potential Water Quality Changes
Michigan Bacteriological Research Core Technology Team
Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
USGS Scientists Develop an Interactive Mapping Tool to Visualize PFAS in Tap Water
Organic Contaminants in Reuse Waters and Transport Following Land Application
Collaborative Science Provides Understanding of Contaminants in Bottled Water-an Increasingly Common Alternate Drinking Water Source
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Measurements in Tampa Bay Fish and Sediments Provide an Understanding of Potential Human Exposure
Contaminants
Contaminants can be chemical or biological and represent major stressors to ecosystems, including human and wildlife populations. Chemical contaminants include those purposefully released into the environment (for example, pesticides) and those that are inadvertently released (for example, mining waste). Biological contaminants can harm our food, water or environment with microorganisms (for example, fungus, bacteria, virus). USGS scientists are helping to understand potential environmental and health hazards posed by chemical and biological contaminants. We study the connections between air, water, soil, and living things to identify the environmental pathways that expose humans and wildlife to contaminants.