USGS researchers have studied environmental contaminants and pathogens to address questions involving exposure pathways and human-health implications. They also study climate change impacts and ecosystem health. On this page, read about ecosystems and environmental health research in Puerto Rico, including contaminants in tap water, and possible human exposures.
Investigadores del USGS han estudiado los patógenos y contaminantes ambientales para responder las interrogantes que involucran las vías de exposición y las implicaciones en la salud humana. También estudian los efectos del cambio climático y la salud del ecosistema. Lea en esta página sobre los ecosistemas y las investigaciones sobre la salud ambiental de Puerto Rico, incluyendo los contaminantes en el agua de grifo y las posibles consecuencias de exposición.
Contaminants in Tap Water | Los contaminantes del agua del grifo

Figura 1: Concentración acumulativa relativa de contaminantes orgánicos en muestras de agua recolectadas en lugares comerciales y domésticos en Puerto Rico durante 2018. Los números sobre las barras indican la cantidad de analitos detectados en la muestra para esa clase de contaminante. Obtenga más información.
Figura 2: Investigador del USGS toma muestras de pesticidas y productos farmacéuticos en un grifo de una residencia, como parte de una investigación de USGS sobre el agua potable.
The USGS Environmental Health Program has measured a wide variety of chemicals in tap water (where human exposure occurs) across the Nation. In Puerto Rico, a study evaluated the presence of 524 contaminants in 14 tap water sites. The study reported the detection of 67 contaminants, some of which raise concerns about potential health impacts for humans. This information is available to public health agencies and decision-makers. Access the full report report and visit the website to learn more about the research.
El Programa de Salud Ambiental ha medido una amplia variedad de químicos en el agua del grifo (donde ocurre la exposición humana) en toda la nación. En Puerto Rico, un estudio evaluó la presencia de 524 contaminantes en agua de grifo en 14 lugares. Según el estudio, se detectaron 67 contaminantes, algunos de los cuales generan preocupación sobre su posible impacto en la salud humana. Esta información es beneficiosa para la toma de decisiones y las agencias de salud pública. Acceda al informe completo y visite el sitio web para conocer más sobre el proyecto.
Learn more about USGS Puerto Rico hazards research and tools. | Obtenga más información sobre las herramientas e investigaciones del USGS acerca de riesgos en Puerto Rico.
Science
USGS supports integrated natural science expertise and capabilities related to environmental contaminants and pathogens. This science informs stakeholder decisions to manage ecosystem health and provides environmental exposure information to partners in public health. Learn more about the research involving environmental health and ecosystems in the links below.
Ciencias
El USGS respalda capacidades y conocimientos en ciencias naturales integrados con relación a los patógenos y contaminantes ambientales. Esta ciencia informa a los interesados las decisiones para gestionar la salud de los ecosistemas y brinda información sobre exposición ambiental a los encargados de la salud pública. Obtenga más información en los enlaces a continuación.
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Environmental Health Program Drinking Water Science
First National-Scale Reconnaissance of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in United States Streams
Explore scientific publications for Puerto Rico about ecosystems and environmental health.
Explore algunas publicaciones científicas útiles para Puerto Rico sobre los ecosistemas y la salud ambiental.
A biological condition gradient for Caribbean coral reefs: Part II. Numeric rules using sessile benthic organisms
The Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) is a conceptual model used to describe incremental changes in biological condition along a gradient of increasing anthropogenic stress. As coral reefs collapse globally, scientists and managers are focused on how to sustain the crucial structure and functions, and the benefits that healthy coral reef ecosystems provide for many economies and societies. We de
Linking demographic rates to local environmental conditions: Empirical data to support climate adaptation strategies for Eleutherodactylus frogs
Pilot-scale expanded assessment of inorganic and organic tapwater exposures and predicted effects in Puerto Rico, USA
Altered climate leads to positive density‐dependent feedbacks in a tropical wet forest
Drought in the U.S. Caribbean:Impacts to Coastal Estuary Ecosystems
Contaminants in tropical island streams and their biota
Downscaling future climate change projections over Puerto Rico using a non-hydrostatic atmospheric model
Infrared heater system for warming tropical forest understory plants and soils
U.S. Caribbean
Analyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change
Expanded target-chemical analysis reveals extensive mixed-organic-contaminant exposure in USA streams
Insular ecosystems of the southeastern United States—A regional synthesis to support biodiversity conservation in a changing climate
- Overview
USGS researchers have studied environmental contaminants and pathogens to address questions involving exposure pathways and human-health implications. They also study climate change impacts and ecosystem health. On this page, read about ecosystems and environmental health research in Puerto Rico, including contaminants in tap water, and possible human exposures.
Investigadores del USGS han estudiado los patógenos y contaminantes ambientales para responder las interrogantes que involucran las vías de exposición y las implicaciones en la salud humana. También estudian los efectos del cambio climático y la salud del ecosistema. Lea en esta página sobre los ecosistemas y las investigaciones sobre la salud ambiental de Puerto Rico, incluyendo los contaminantes en el agua de grifo y las posibles consecuencias de exposición.
Contaminants in Tap Water | Los contaminantes del agua del grifo
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.Figure 1: Relative cumulative concentration of organic contaminants in tap water samples collected from commercial and domestic locations in Puerto Rico during 2018. Numbers above bars indicate number of analytes detected in the sample for that contaminant class. Learn more.
Figura 1: Concentración acumulativa relativa de contaminantes orgánicos en muestras de agua recolectadas en lugares comerciales y domésticos en Puerto Rico durante 2018. Los números sobre las barras indican la cantidad de analitos detectados en la muestra para esa clase de contaminante. Obtenga más información.Figure 2: USGS researcher sampling pesticides and pharmaceuticals at a residential tap, as part of ongoing USGS research on point-of-use drinking water.
Figura 2: Investigador del USGS toma muestras de pesticidas y productos farmacéuticos en un grifo de una residencia, como parte de una investigación de USGS sobre el agua potable.The USGS Environmental Health Program has measured a wide variety of chemicals in tap water (where human exposure occurs) across the Nation. In Puerto Rico, a study evaluated the presence of 524 contaminants in 14 tap water sites. The study reported the detection of 67 contaminants, some of which raise concerns about potential health impacts for humans. This information is available to public health agencies and decision-makers. Access the full report report and visit the website to learn more about the research.
El Programa de Salud Ambiental ha medido una amplia variedad de químicos en el agua del grifo (donde ocurre la exposición humana) en toda la nación. En Puerto Rico, un estudio evaluó la presencia de 524 contaminantes en agua de grifo en 14 lugares. Según el estudio, se detectaron 67 contaminantes, algunos de los cuales generan preocupación sobre su posible impacto en la salud humana. Esta información es beneficiosa para la toma de decisiones y las agencias de salud pública. Acceda al informe completo y visite el sitio web para conocer más sobre el proyecto.
Learn more about USGS Puerto Rico hazards research and tools. | Obtenga más información sobre las herramientas e investigaciones del USGS acerca de riesgos en Puerto Rico.
- Science
Science
USGS supports integrated natural science expertise and capabilities related to environmental contaminants and pathogens. This science informs stakeholder decisions to manage ecosystem health and provides environmental exposure information to partners in public health. Learn more about the research involving environmental health and ecosystems in the links below.
CienciasEl USGS respalda capacidades y conocimientos en ciencias naturales integrados con relación a los patógenos y contaminantes ambientales. Esta ciencia informa a los interesados las decisiones para gestionar la salud de los ecosistemas y brinda información sobre exposición ambiental a los encargados de la salud pública. Obtenga más información en los enlaces a continuación.
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
The island of Puerto Rico is subject to numerous threats from natural hazards, including hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal and inland flooding, environmental contaminants, and freshwater scarcity, among others. USGS science can help citizens better prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to these hazards. This website compiles USGS resources available for Puerto Rico to provide...Environmental Health Program Drinking Water Science
Drinking water in the United States rarely is tested for contaminants and pathogens at the tap, where human exposure can occur. In this special issue, we present the science to help understand contaminants and pathogens in drinking water at business and residential taps.First National-Scale Reconnaissance of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in United States Streams
Neonicotinoid insecticides (neonicotinoids) were present in a little more than half of the streams sampled across the United States and Puerto Rico, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study. This is the first national-scale study of the presence of neonicotinoids in urban and agricultural land use settings across the Nation and was completed as part of ongoing USGS investigations of... - Publications
Explore scientific publications for Puerto Rico about ecosystems and environmental health.
Explore algunas publicaciones científicas útiles para Puerto Rico sobre los ecosistemas y la salud ambiental.
Filter Total Items: 24A biological condition gradient for Caribbean coral reefs: Part II. Numeric rules using sessile benthic organisms
The Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) is a conceptual model used to describe incremental changes in biological condition along a gradient of increasing anthropogenic stress. As coral reefs collapse globally, scientists and managers are focused on how to sustain the crucial structure and functions, and the benefits that healthy coral reef ecosystems provide for many economies and societies. We de
AuthorsDeborah L Santavy, Susan K Jackson, Benjamin Jessup, Christina Horstmann, Caroline Rogers, Ernesto Weil, Alina Szmant, David Cuevas Miranda, Brian K Walker, Christopher F.G. Jeffrey, David Ballantine, William S. Fisher, Randy Clark, Hector Ruiz Torres, Brandi Todd, Sandy RaimondoLinking demographic rates to local environmental conditions: Empirical data to support climate adaptation strategies for Eleutherodactylus frogs
Conducting managed species translocations and establishing climate change refugia are adaptation strategies to cope with projected consequences of global warming, but successful implementation requires on-the-ground validation of demographic responses to transient climate conditions. Here we estimated the effect of nine abiotic and biotic factors on local occupancy and an index of abundance (few oAuthorsA.C. Rivera-Burgos, Jaime A. Collazo, Adam Terando, Krishna PacificiPilot-scale expanded assessment of inorganic and organic tapwater exposures and predicted effects in Puerto Rico, USA
A pilot-scale expanded target assessment of mixtures of inorganic and organic contaminants in point-of-consumption drinking water (tapwater, TW) was conducted in Puerto Rico (PR) to continue to inform TW exposures and corresponding estimations of cumulative human-health risks across the US. In August 2018, a spatial synoptic pilot assessment of than 524 organic, 37 inorganic, and select microbioloAuthorsPaul Bradley, Ingrid Y. Padilla, Kristin Romanok, Kelly Smalling, Michael J. Focazio, Sara Breitmeyer, Mary C. Cardon, Justin M. Conley, Nicola Evans, Carrie E Givens, James L. Gray, L. Earl Gray, Phillip C. Hartig, Michelle Hladik, Christopher P. Higgins, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Rachael F. Lane, Keith Loftin, R. Blaine McCleskey, Carrie A. McDonough, Elizabeth Medlock-Kakaley, Shannon M. Meppelink, Christopher P. Weis, Vickie S. WilsonAltered climate leads to positive density‐dependent feedbacks in a tropical wet forest
Climate change is predicted to result in warmer and drier Neotropical forests relative to current conditions. Negative density‐dependent feedbacks, mediated by natural enemies, are key to maintaining the high diversity of tree species found in the tropics, yet we have little understanding of how projected changes in climate are likely to affect these critical controls. Over 3 years, we evaluated tAuthorsArmando Barreto-Muñoz, Aura M. Alonso-Rodríguez, Laura Aldrich-Wolfe, Molly A. Cavaleri, Sasha C. Reed, Tana E WoodDrought in the U.S. Caribbean:Impacts to Coastal Estuary Ecosystems
The topography of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is characterized by steep terrain and short distances to the sea. This means that freshwater runs off the islands quickly, coming into contact with seawater in coastal estuaries. The physical characteristics of estuaries change as the tides rise and fall, creating a wide range of habitats that support diverse plants and wildlife, incAuthorsBrent Murry, Miguel Garcia-Bermudez, Shelley Crausbay, Kate MalpeliContaminants in tropical island streams and their biota
Environmental contamination is problematic for tropical islands due to their typically dense human populations and competing land and water uses. The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico (USA) has a long history of anthropogenic chemical use, and its human population density is among the highest globally, providing a model environment to study contaminant impacts on tropical island stream ecosystems. PAuthorsElissa N. Buttermore, W. Gregory Cope, Thomas J. Kwak, Patrick B. Cooney, Damian Shea, Peter R. LazaroDownscaling future climate change projections over Puerto Rico using a non-hydrostatic atmospheric model
We present results from 20-year “high-resolution” regional climate model simulations of precipitation change for the sub-tropical island of Puerto Rico. The Japanese Meteorological Agency Non-Hydrostatic Model (NHM) operating at a 2-km grid resolution is nested inside the Regional Spectral Model (RSM) at 10-km grid resolution, which in turn is forced at the lateral boundaries by the Community ClimAuthorsAmit Bhardwaj, Vasubandhu Misra, A. Mishra, Adrienne Wootten, Ryan Boyles, J.H. Bowden, Adam J. TerandoInfrared heater system for warming tropical forest understory plants and soils
The response of tropical forests to global warming is one of the largest uncertainties in predicting the future carbon balance of Earth. To determine the likely effects of elevated temperatures on tropical forest understory plants and soils, as well as other ecosystems, an infrared (IR) heater system was developed to provide in situ warming for the Tropical Responses to Altered Climate ExperimentAuthorsBruce A. Kimball, Aura M. Alonso-Rodríguez, Molly A. Cavaleri, Sasha C. Reed, Grizelle González, Tana E. WoodU.S. Caribbean
Historically, the U.S. Caribbean region has experienced relatively stable seasonal rainfall patterns, moderate annual temperature fluctuations, and a variety of extreme weather events, such as tropical storms, hurricanes, and drought. However, the Caribbean climate is changing and is projected to be increasingly variable as levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase.The high percentageAuthorsWilliam A. Gould, Ernesto L. Diaz, Nora L. Álvarez-Berríos, Felix Aponte-González, Wayne Archibald, Jared H. Bowden, Lisamarie Carrubba, Wanda Crespo, Stephen J. Fain, Grizelle González, Annmarie Goulbourne, Eric Harmsen, Eva Holupchinski, Azad H. Khalyani, James P. Kossin, Amanda J. Leinberger, Vanessa I. Marrero-Santiago, Odalys Martínez-Sánchez, Kathleen McGinley, Pablo Méndez-Lázaro, Julio Morrell, Melissa Meléndez Oyola, Isabel K. Parés-Ramos, Roger Pulwarty, William V. Sweet, Adam J. Terando, Sigfredo Torres-GonzálezAnalyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change
The degree to which cloud immersion provides water in addition to rainfall, suppresses transpiration, and sustains tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs) during rainless periods is not well understood. Climate and land use changes represent a threat to these forests if cloud base altitude rises as a result of regional warming or deforestation. To establish a baseline for quantifying future changesAuthorsAshley E. Van Beusekom, Grizelle González, Martha A. SchollExpanded target-chemical analysis reveals extensive mixed-organic-contaminant exposure in USA streams
Surface water from 38 streams nationwide was assessed using 14 target-organic methods (719 compounds). Designed-bioactive anthropogenic contaminants (biocides, pharmaceuticals) comprised 57% of 406 organics detected at least once. The 10 most-frequently detected anthropogenic-organics included eight pesticides (desulfinylfipronil, AMPA, chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, metolachlor, atrazine, CIAT, glyphosaAuthorsPaul M. Bradley, Celeste A. Journey, Kristin M. Romanok, Larry B. Barber, Herbert T. Buxton, William T. Foreman, Edward T. Furlong, Susan T. Glassmeyer, Michelle L. Hladik, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Daniel Jones, Dana W. Kolpin, Kathryn M. Kuivila, Keith A. Loftin, Marc A. Mills, Michael T. Meyer, James L. Orlando, Timothy J. Reilly, Kelly L. Smalling, Daniel L. VilleneuveInsular ecosystems of the southeastern United States—A regional synthesis to support biodiversity conservation in a changing climate
In the southeastern United States, insular ecosystems—such as rock outcrops, depression wetlands, high-elevation balds, flood-scoured riparian corridors, and insular prairies and barrens—occupy a small fraction of land area but constitute an important source of regional and global biodiversity, including concentrations of rare and endemic plant taxa. Maintenance of this biodiversity depends upon rAuthorsJennifer M. Cartwright, William J. Wolfe