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
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
Examples of how our scientists answer high priority environmental health science questions
Examples of how our scientists answer high priority environmental health science questions
Video Presenting the USGS Laboratory for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Located at the Eastern Ecological Science Center
Located at the Eastern Ecological Science Center
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 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.
Program Highlights
Program Highlights
A new interactive dashboard is available to visualize PFAS measurements for 716 tap water samples collected at select sites across the nation between 2016 and 2021 from private and public supplies.
News
Treading Water. 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone in US Streams: Analysis, Sample Handling, and National Reconnaissance
Treading Water. 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone in US Streams: Analysis, Sample Handling, and National Reconnaissance
GeoHEALTH—USGS Newsletter, March 2025
GeoHEALTH—USGS Newsletter, March 2025
Publications
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...
A multidisciplinary approach that considers occurrence, geochemistry, bioavailability, and toxicity to prioritize critical minerals for environmental research
Critical minerals (or critical elements) are minerals or elements that are essential to global security and development and have supply chains vulnerable to disruption. In general, knowledge of the environmental behavior and health effects of critical elements is needed to support the development of safe and environmentally responsible supplies. This knowledge includes identifying...
By
Environmental Health Program, Mineral Resources Program, California Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Distribution of ancient carbon in groundwater and soil gas from degradation of petroleum near the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
The groundwater below the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (the facility) in Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, contains fuel compounds from past spills. This study used carbon-14 analyses to distinguish fuel-derived carbon from background carbon, along with other biodegradation indicators, to address two goals: (1) determine the extent and migration direction of groundwater affected by residual fuel...
Science
USGS Ecosystems Science for Food and Water Security
USGS science developed by the Ecosystems Mission Area helps ensure safe and abundant domestic food and water supplies, ensuring all Americans access to livelihoods and traditions that connect generations with each other and the outdoors and strengthen America’s self-reliance. USGS science is used by decision makers at all levels to understand how the quality of America’s food supply is directly...
Algal and Environmental Toxins Research Laboratory — Lawrence, Kansas
About the Laboratory The Environmental Health Program collaborates with scientists at the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) in Lawrence, Kansas, to develop and employ targeted and non-targeted analytical methods for identification and quantitation of known and understudied algal/cyanobacterial toxins. The laboratory contructed in 2019 is a 2,500 square foot modern laboratory facility...
Beyond the Usual Suspects: A Comprehensive Look at Agricultural Stream Contaminants
Clean water is essential for both environmental health and human safety, but many everyday products and activities can contribute to water pollution including contaminants such as microplastics, harmful chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides, and antibiotic resistance genes. A recent USGS study in Iowa investigated pollutants in streams, including stream sediment and biota, to determine...