Toxic Substances Hydrology

Unintended consequences: New research shows all California condor flocks have been exposed to anticoagulant rodenticides

sbeliew@usgs.gov — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:52:31 EST

USGS scientists of the Eastern Ecological Science Center and the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center published new findings on environmental contaminants to assist the National Park Service and Yurok Tribe in management of the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), one of the rarest avian scavengers in the world.

Explore Natural Hazards Science

lisa@usgs.gov — Thu, 6 Oct 2022 12:20:00 EDT

The Earth is a very dynamic and powerful place where natural hazards can quickly become disasters that threaten society. The USGS monitors and studies the science behind natural hazards of all kinds so that our society can reduce potential risk and loss by being prepared.

New England WSC Expands Research on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

krossos@usgs.gov — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 11:40:01 EDT

The New England Water Science Center (New England WSC) is conducting multiple research projects on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of more than 4,000 chemical compounds.

Six Ways the USGS Celebrates Earth Day Everyday

egoldbaum@usgs.gov — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:00:36 EDT

What better way to mark Earth Day than with a listicle all about USGS science for our changing world?

USGS Releases Strategy for Addressing PFAS Science Gaps

apdemas@usgs.gov — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 08:00:00 EST

RESTON, Va. – The U.S. Geological Survey released a strategy today that outlines the agency’s future scientific role in the study of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, chemicals known as PFAS.

Media Alert: USGS Dye Tracing Study on the Kansas River to Aid in Protecting Water Supplies

hkoehler@usgs.gov — Tue, 6 Jul 2021 07:30:00 EDT

U.S. Geological Survey scientists and partners will inject a harmless, bright red fluorescent dye into the Kansas River at Eudora July 7-9, weather permitting.

Inorganic and Organic Chemical Mixtures Detected in both Public and Private Tap Water in Cape Cod, Massachusetts

klee@usgs.gov — Thu, 27 May 2021 10:45:00 EDT

Multiple detections of regulated and unregulated chemical (inorganic, organic) analytes or elements were detected in both privately and publicly supplied tap water samples from 20 residences in Cape Cod, Massachusetts that share a common source of water.

Long-Term Monitoring Reveals How Water and Biota in Remote Lakes Respond Differently to Changes in Atmospheric Deposition of Mercury

klee@usgs.gov — Tue, 25 May 2021 11:45:00 EDT

A comparison of regional mercury atmospheric deposition data with water, yellow perch, and dragonfly larvae samples from lakes in Voyageurs National Park indicates that decreases in mercury emissions resulted in mercury reduction in water from these remote lakes, but mercury declines in biota were significant in only one of three lakes.

Media Alert: Second Round of USGS Dye-Tracing Study on the Kansas River Begins This Week

hkoehler@usgs.gov — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 09:00:00 EDT

U.S. Geological Survey and partners will inject a harmless, bright red fluorescent dye into the Kansas River on April 29, weather permitting. The study is being done by the USGS in cooperation with the Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, The Nature Conservancy, City of Manhattan, City of Topeka, City of Olathe, City of Lawrence, and WaterOne.

Flood Redistributes Mercury in Grand Canyon Aquatic Food Webs

vglenn@usgs.gov — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 05:15:00 EDT

Scientists coupled the concepts of energy flow through food webs with measurements of mercury in organic matter and animals to estimate mercury fluxes and fate during an experimental flood in the Colorado River. The flood redistributed mercury in simple, upstream food webs but not in more complex, downstream food webs.

Flood Redistributes Mercury in Grand Canyon Aquatic Food Webs

vglenn@usgs.gov — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 05:15:00 EDT

Flood Redistributes Mercury in Grand Canyon Aquatic Food Webs

vglenn@usgs.gov — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 05:15:00 EDT

Bioaccumulation of Mercury in Fish Varied by Species and Location in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed—Summary of Existing Data and a Roadmap for Integrated Monitoring

vglenn@usgs.gov — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 10:15:00 EDT

Fish mercury data from State monitoring programs and research studies within the Chesapeake Bay were compiled and summarized to provide a comprehensive overview of the variation in fish mercury concentrations among species and habitats within the watershed.

Review of Cyanobacterial Neurotoxins—Information for Prioritizing Future Science Directions

vglenn@usgs.gov — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 09:15:00 EDT

The current state of knowledge on the modes of action, production, fate, and occurrence of the freshwater cyanobacterial neurotoxins, anatoxin-a and saxitoxin, was reviewed and synthesized to identify gaps and critical research needs to better understand the health effects of algal toxins.

Conceptual Model Developed to Understand Contaminant Pathways between Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

klee@usgs.gov — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 07:30:00 EDT

A conceptual model, based on contaminant properties and ecotoxicological principles, was developed to understand the transfer of contaminants from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems and the effects of various classes of contaminants on terrestrial insectivores living near contaminated freshwaters.

Equus Beds Aquifer Water Quality Nearly Unchanged between 2001 and 2016

hkoehler@usgs.gov — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 06:00:00 EDT

Study Shows Water Quality Minimally Affected by Artificial Recharge

Satellite Imagery Can Track Harmful Algal Blooms

apdemas@usgs.gov — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 06:00:00 EDT

A joint collaboration between EPA, NOAA, NASA, and USGS scientists has demonstrated that satellite imagery can be used to track the frequency of harmful algal blooms. The satellites can accomplish this by measuring certain algal pigments in the water.

USGS Finds 28 Types of Cyanobacteria in Florida Algal Bloom

jburton@usgs.gov — Wed, 31 May 2017 06:15:00 EDT

A new U.S. Geological Survey study that looked at the extensive harmful algal bloom that plagued Florida last year found far more types of cyanobacteria present than previously known.

Uranium in Spring Water North of Grand Canyon Likely Not Related to Nearby Mining Activity

jlavista@usgs.gov — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 05:00:00 EST

Uranium levels in Pigeon Spring, just north of the Grand Canyon, are likely due to a natural source of uranium and not related to the nearby former Pigeon Mine, according to a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

In Orlando, USGS Science on the Health of the Environment is on Display

apdemas@usgs.gov — Tue, 8 Nov 2016 07:45:00 EST

Studies on the aquatic food web, tree swallows, and the spread of contaminants take center stage at SETAC 2016.

EarthWord–Morbidity

apdemas@usgs.gov — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 09:45:00 EDT

When you’re not dead yet, but aren’t feeling well either, there’s an EarthWord for that...

New Science Challenges Old Assumptions about Harmful Algal Blooms

apdemas@usgs.gov — Tue, 31 May 2016 06:00:00 EDT

First-of-its-kind survey shows that algal toxins are found nationwide

Pharmaceuticals Commonly Detected in Small Streams in the Southeastern United States

apdemas@usgs.gov — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:00:00 EDT

At least one pharmaceutical chemical was detected in all 59 streams sampled

Evidence of Unconventional Oil and Gas Wastewater Found in Surface Waters near Underground Injection Site

apdemas@usgs.gov — Mon, 9 May 2016 06:00:00 EDT

These are the first published studies to demonstrate water-quality impacts to a surface stream due to activities at an unconventional oil and gas wastewater deep well injection disposal site.

Nitrogen in Lakes Connected to Groundwater

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 09:00:00 EDT

A recent scientific study shows new, important information about how groundwater cannot only contribute nutrients such as nitrogen to lakes, but can also carry it away. Nitrogen is an important nutrient but harmful when over-supplied. The fate and transport of nitrogen are critically important issues for human and aquatic ecosystem health.

Mystery Solved: Traits Identified for Why Certain Chemicals Reach Toxic Levels in Aquatic Food Webs

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 06:00:00 EDT

Researchers have figured out what makes certain chemicals accumulate to toxic levels in aquatic food webs. And, scientists have developed a screening technique to determine which chemicals pose the greatest risk to the environment.

Algal Toxins Detected in One-Third of Streams Assessed in Southeastern United States

shorvath@usgs.gov — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 06:00:00 EST

USGS scientists have detected toxins known as microcystins produced by various forms of algae in 39 percent of the small streams assessed throughout the southeastern United States. Their recent study looked at 75 streams in portions of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Manmade Mercury Emissions Decline 30 Percent from 1990-2010

shorvath@usgs.gov — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 05:00:00 EST

Between 1990 and 2010, global mercury emissions from manmade sources declined 30 percent, according to a new analysis by Harvard University, Peking University, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, and the University of Alberta. These results challenge long-standing assumptions about mercury emission trends.

EarthWord – Leachate

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 13:00:00 EST

No, it’s not a sports drink for leeches, although that’s what it sounds like. Leachate is the solution (or suspension) that forms when liquid travels through a solid and removes some components of that solid with it. Those components may be dissolved or suspended within the liquid.

New Tool Can Determine the Sources of Mercury Found in the Great Lakes

shorvath@usgs.gov — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 05:00:00 EST

For the first time, land and resource managers in the Great Lakes will be able to distinguish between the various sources of mercury in the environment, a toxic chemical of significant concern in the region. This is thanks to a new tool that “fingerprints” the mercury, developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.