The Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology) supports the one-health science to address the full range of questions related to contaminant and pathogen sources, environmental transport, exposure/transmission pathways, uptake, biological effects, and human health implications. The science is accomplished within focused integrated science teams.
Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
Ecologically-Driven Exposure Pathways Science Team
Energy Integrated Science Team
Fishing and Hunting Integrated Science Team
Food Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team
Immunomodulation Science Team
Land Stewardship Science Team
Minerals Science Team
Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team
Toxins and Harmful Algal Blooms Science Team
Core Technology Team
Environmental Health Featured Science Activities
Questions We Answer
FAQs
I recovered a bird band with illegible numbers. How can I get the band etched so I can read and report the numbers?
Most bird bands are made of an aluminum alloy and have unique numbers engraved. These numbers can wear off with time to the point that one or more numbers become illegible. The time that it takes for a bird band number to wear off depends on the habits of that bird species and the amount of time that it spends in the water. For instance, a band on a Mallard might wear off one number in 6 to 8...
What functions are available in the Bander Portal for bird banders?
Use the Bander Portal to: Submit your banding and recapture data to the Bird Banding Laboratory View and download your banding and recapture data View your data submission history View and update your contact information List subpermittees, band inventory, and locations associated with your permit Order bands and confirm bands as received Request transferal of bands TO your permit or FROM your...
How can I get bird banding and encounter data, and longevity records, from the Bird Banding Laboratory?
Banding and encounter data are available for research purposes. Individual banding data records exist electronically starting in 1960. Pre-1960 banding data are available only for birds that have been encountered. Individual encounter data are available from 1913. To make a data request go to the Banding and Encounter Data page. Longevity records shows recorder holders for each bird species and...
Education
Lepidoptera Research Collection
In April of 2023 a citizen science invitation began asking people to mail in already deceased insects in the order Lepidoptera to help establish a USGS Research Scientific Collection. The collection will enable USGS scientists to have specimens from various regional areas to be able to identify contaminants and environmental factors which could be contributing to the decline of insect populations.
I Am An...Ecotoxicologist
Welcome to the "The I Am A..." series. This is the tenth video in a series of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers. The concept is to show "what society (or my mom) thinks I do" compared with "what I really do." One image captures a more whimsical representation of a "scientist" and the second demonstrates a more accurate representation of