Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
GeoHEALTH-USGS Newsletter
GeoHEALTH-USGS Newsletter
The GeoHEALTH–USGS Newsletter—published since 2004—provides information on USGS science activities pertinent to safeguarding the health of fish, wildlife, domesticated animals, and people from environmental exposures to contaminants and pathogens.
Featured Science Activities
Featured Science Activities
Learn about our Featured Science Activities through our pages that highlight studies, publications, and results.
Filter Total Items: 4093
Factors affecting sampling strategies for design of an effects‐directed analysis for endocrine‐active chemicals Factors affecting sampling strategies for design of an effects‐directed analysis for endocrine‐active chemicals
Effects‐directed analysis (EDA) is an important tool for identifying unknown bioactive components in a complex mixture. Such an analysis of endocrine‐active chemicals (EACs) from water sources has promising regulatory implications but also unique logistical challenges. We propose a conceptual EDA (framework) based on a critical review of EDA literature and concentrations of common EACs...
Authors
Jennifer Brennan, Robert Gale, David Alvarez, Jason P. Berninger, Jessica Leet, Yan Li, Tyler Wagner, Donald Tillitt
Characterization of water-quality and bed-sediment conditions in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, prior to the Mid-Currituck Bridge construction, 2011–18 Characterization of water-quality and bed-sediment conditions in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, prior to the Mid-Currituck Bridge construction, 2011–18
The North Carolina Turnpike Authority plans to improve transportation in the Currituck Sound area by constructing a two-lane bridge—the Mid-Currituck Bridge—across Currituck Sound from the mainland to the Outer Banks, North Carolina. The results of the final environmental impact statement for the project indicate potential water-quality and habitat effects for Currituck Sound associated...
Authors
Stephen L. Harden, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Chad R. Wagner, Emilia L. Bristow, Keith A. Loftin, Barry H. Rosen
Hillslope groundwater discharges provide localized ecosystem buffers from regional PFAS contamination in a gaining coastal stream Hillslope groundwater discharges provide localized ecosystem buffers from regional PFAS contamination in a gaining coastal stream
Emerging groundwater contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact surface-water quality and groundwater-dependent ecosystems of gaining streams. Although complex near-surface hydrogeology of stream corridors challenges sampling efforts, recent advances in heat tracing of discharge zones enable efficient and informed data collection. For this study we used a...
Authors
Martin Briggs, Andrea Tokranov, Robert Hull, Denis LeBlanc, A. Haynes, John W. Lane
Emerging and historical contaminants detected in desert rodents collected near a low‐level radioactive waste site Emerging and historical contaminants detected in desert rodents collected near a low‐level radioactive waste site
In an effort to determine contaminant presence, concentrations, and movement from a low‐level radioactive waste (LLRW) burial disposal site to ecosystems in the surrounding area, a study was developed to assess concentrations of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and tritium. To complete this assessment small mammals, vegetation, soil, and...
Authors
Ryan Cleary, Adcharee Karnjanapiboonwong, William Thompson, Steven Lasee, Seenivasan Sabbiah, Ronald Kauble, Brian Andraski, Todd Anderson
Organic compounds in produced waters from the Bakken Formation and Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota Organic compounds in produced waters from the Bakken Formation and Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota
The organic composition of produced waters (flowback and formation waters) from the middle member of the Bakken Formation and the Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota were examined to aid in the remediation of surface contamination and help develop treatment methods for produced-water recycling. Twelve produced water samples were collected from the Bakken and Three...
Authors
Matthew S. Varonka, Tanya Gallegos, Anne Bates, Colin Doolan, William Orem
Landfill leachate contributes per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pharmaceuticals to municipal wastewater Landfill leachate contributes per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pharmaceuticals to municipal wastewater
Widespread disposal of landfill leachate to municipal sewer infrastructure in the United States calls for an improved understanding of the relative organic-chemical contributions to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) waste stream and associated surface-water discharge to receptors in the environment. Landfill leachate, WWTP influent, and WWTP effluent samples were collected from three...
Authors
Jason Masoner, Dana Kolpin, Isabelle Cozzarelli, Kelly Smalling, Stephanie Bolyard, Jennifer Field, Edward Furlong, James Gray, Duncan Lozinski, Debra Reinhart, Alix Rodowa, Paul Bradley
Groundwater quality and geochemistry of West Virginia’s southern coal fields Groundwater quality and geochemistry of West Virginia’s southern coal fields
Coal mining has been the dominant industry and land use in West Virginia’s southern coal fields since the mid-1800s. Mortality rates for a variety of serious chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer in Appalachian coal mining regions, are higher than in areas lacking substantial coal mining activity within the Appalachian Region or elsewhere in the...
Authors
Mark Kozar, Mitchell McAdoo, Karl B. Haase
Acute and chronic toxicity of sodium nitrate and sodium sulfate to several freshwater organisms in water-only exposures Acute and chronic toxicity of sodium nitrate and sodium sulfate to several freshwater organisms in water-only exposures
Elevated nitrate (NO3) and sulfate (SO4) in surface water are of global concern, and studies are needed to generate toxicity data to develop environmental guideline values for NO3 and SO4. The present study was designed to fill existing gaps in toxicity databases by determining the acute and/or chronic toxicity of NO3 (tested as NaNO3) to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea), a midge...
Authors
Ning Wang, Rebecca Dorman, Chris Ivey, David Soucek, Amy Dickinson, Bethany Kunz, Jeffery Steevens, Edward Hammer, Candice Bauer
Mixed organic and inorganic tapwater exposures and potential effects in greater Chicago area, USA Mixed organic and inorganic tapwater exposures and potential effects in greater Chicago area, USA
Safe drinking water at the point of use (tapwater, TW) is a public-health priority. TW exposures and potential human-health concerns of 540 organics and 35 inorganics were assessed in 45 Chicago area United States (US) homes in 2017. No US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level(s) (MCL) were exceeded in any residential or water treatment plant (WTP)...
Authors
Paul Bradley, Maria Argos, Dana W. Kolpin, Shannon M. Meppelink, Kristin M. Romanok, Kelly L. Smalling, Michael Focazio, Joshua Allen, Julie E. Dietze, Michael Devito, Ariel Donovan, Nicola Evans, Carrie Givens, James L. Gray, Christopher Higgins, Michelle Hladik, Luke Iwanowicz, Celeste A. Journey, Rachael Lane, Zachary Laughrey, Keith A. Loftin, R. McCleskey, Carrie McDonough, Elizabeth Medlock Kakaley, Michael Meyer, Andrea Holthouse-Putz, Susan Richardson, Alan Stark, Christopher Weis, Vickie Wilson, Abderrahman Zehraoui
Sensitivity of warm water fishes and rainbow trout to selected contaminants Sensitivity of warm water fishes and rainbow trout to selected contaminants
Guidelines for developing water quality standards allow U.S. states to exclude toxicity data for the family Salmonidae (trout and salmon) when deriving guidelines for warm-water habitats. This practice reflects the belief that standards based on salmonid data may be overprotective of toxic effects on other fish taxa. In acute tests with six chemicals and eight fish species, the salmonid...
Authors
John Besser, Rebecca Dorman, Chris Ivey, Danielle Cleveland, Jeffery Steevens
Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania
The number of horizontally drilled shale oil and gas wells in the United States has increased from nearly 28,000 in 2007 to nearly 127,000 in 2017, and research has suggested the potential for the development of shale resources to affect nearby stream ecosystems. However, the ability to generalize current studies is limited by the small geographic scope as well as limited breadth and...
Authors
Adam Mumford, Kelly Maloney, Denise M. Akob, Sarah Nettemann, Arianne Proctor, Jason Ditty, Luke Ulsamer, Josh Lookenbill, Isabelle Cozzarelli
Review of studies of composition, toxicology and human health impacts of wastewater from unconventional oil and gas development from shale Review of studies of composition, toxicology and human health impacts of wastewater from unconventional oil and gas development from shale
Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extractions has produced large economic benefits. However, prudent management of UOG wastes necessitates a thorough understanding of the complex composition, fate, and potential impacts of wastewater releases. UOG production results in large volumes of wastewater. Despite limited re-use of the wastewater, the majority needs to be disposed of, usually by...
Authors
Lynn M. Crosby, William Orem