Tracking status and trends in seven key indicators of stream health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
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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
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
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
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
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.
Recent Research
Recent Research
The Environmental Health Program supports one-health science to address the full range of questions related to the processes that affect contaminants as they move from environmental sources through aquifers, aquatic environments, and infrastructure to tap water where human exposure can occur.
News
Publications
The influence of short-term temporal variability on the efficacy of dragonfly larvae as mercury biosentinels
Mercury (Hg) exposure to fish, wildlife, and humans is widespread and of global concern, thus stimulating efforts to reduce emissions. Because the relationships between rates of inorganic Hg loading, methylmercury (MeHg) production, and bioaccumulation are extremely complex and challenging to predict, there is a need for reliable biosentinels to understand the distribution of Hg in the environment
Contaminant exposure and transport from three potential reuse waters within a single watershed
Global demand for safe and sustainable water supplies necessitates a better understanding of contaminant exposures in potential reuse waters. In this study, we compared exposures and load contributions to surface water from the discharge of three reuse waters (wastewater effluent, urban stormwater, and agricultural runoff). Results document substantial and varying organic-chemical contribution to
By
Water Resources, Environmental Health Program, Colorado Water Science Center, Oklahoma Water Science Center, California Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory
Science
Organic Contaminants in Reuse Waters and Transport Following Land Application
Potential reuse waters contained unique mixtures of organic contaminants with the greatest number detected in treated municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent, followed by urban stormwater, and agricultural runoff. This study provided information for decisions on reuse strategies to support freshwater supplies.
Understanding the environmental pathways of avian influenza transmission
This project focuses on improving our understanding of how avian influenza viruses persist and spread via the environment and wild waterfowl.
Collaborative Science Provides Understanding of Contaminants in Bottled Water-an Increasingly Common Alternate Drinking Water Source
U.S. Geological Survey researchers and public health experts collaborated to determine what contaminants occur in bottled water, which is an increasingly common alternate drinking water source, to broaden their understanding of human exposure to contaminants in drinking water supply chains. Bottled water, like public-supply and private-well tap water supply chains, contained multiple organic...