James L Gray, PhD
James Gray is a Research Chemist for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Science and Products
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...
Study Provides a Data Resource for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Streams Within Iowa Agricultural Watersheds
Per- and poly fl uoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in streams within agricultural areas (an often-unmeasured landscape) across Iowa. The data from this study provide one resource to understand the extent of PFAS concentrations in water resources from diverse landscapes throughout the United States.
Commonly Used Chemicals Transported to Agricultural Field through Municipal Biosolids Application
Commonly used chemicals (including fragrances, detergents, fire retardants, plasticizers, and antibacterials) transferred to wastewater treatment plants were detected in municipal wastewater biosolids applied to agricultural field plots and subsequently detected in the runoff transported from the plots during precipitation events.
Filter Total Items: 20
Concurrent Occurrence of Pesticides and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Agricultural Streams in California, USA Concurrent Occurrence of Pesticides and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Agricultural Streams in California, USA
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are frequently found in streams, with most research focusing on urban sources of PFAS to surface water (e.g., firefighting foams, industrial releases, and wastewater treatment plant discharges). Pesticide applications are an under-investigated source of PFAS to streams in both agricultural and urban areas. There are few studies that analyze the...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in water, sediment, and tissue in a stream food web contaminated by food processing facility wastewater, 2021-2022 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in water, sediment, and tissue in a stream food web contaminated by food processing facility wastewater, 2021-2022
This dataset contains chemistry results for water, sediment, and various tissue samples collected upstream and downstream of a PFAS source (treated industrial wastewater). Samples were analyzed by a USGS laboratory (National Water Quality Laboratory; Denver, CO) and SGS-AXYS (Sidney, BC, Canada). Concentration, surrogate recovery, and blank results are presented within.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) results for varying industries, 2021-2022 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) results for varying industries, 2021-2022
Samples were collected for a comparison method development study with the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Lakewood, Colorado. Widely used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods fail to capture large fractions of total organofluorine in environmental samples confounding the assessment and...
Concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from validation experiments and custom sample analysis by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) Laboratory Code 9660, December 2020 to March 2022 Concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from validation experiments and custom sample analysis by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) Laboratory Code 9660, December 2020 to March 2022
This data release contains concentration and isotope-dilution standard (IDS) recovery data from individual samples that are summarized and interpreted in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Techniques and Methods (T&M) Report "Determination of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Water by Direct Injection of Matrix-Modified Centrifuge Supernatant and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass...
Site information and compound concentrations for 15 Iowa streams, 2021 Site information and compound concentrations for 15 Iowa streams, 2021
Microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and pesticides cause unintentional environmental contamination through many pathways in multiple matrices. This statewide, multi-matrix study examined multiple contaminants of global concern (CGCs) in water, bed sediment, and fish to...
Chemical concentration results for assessment of mixed-organic/inorganic chemical exposures in the southeast United States, beginning 2022 Chemical concentration results for assessment of mixed-organic/inorganic chemical exposures in the southeast United States, beginning 2022
This data release contains the concentration and quality-assurance results for inorganic constituents, organic compounds (volatile organic compounds [VOC], per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS], pesticides, and disinfection byproducts [DBP]) collected in tapwater from locations in Alabama and Mississippi. Tapwater samples (11 public supply and 1 private well) were collected on...
Filter Total Items: 49
Bioaccumulation and transfer of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a stream and riparian food web contaminated by food processing wastewater Bioaccumulation and transfer of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a stream and riparian food web contaminated by food processing wastewater
We evaluated the bioaccumulation and transfer of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a stream food web contaminated by a food processing facility. Abiotic (i.e., water, sediment, and foam) and biotic (i.e., algae, aquatic insect larvae and adults, fish, and riparian spiders) matrices were sampled upstream and downstream of the facility’s wastewater outfall. Compared with...
Authors
Christopher James Kotalik, Laura E. Hubbard, Brittany G. Perrotta, David M. Walters, Dana W. Kolpin, James L. Gray, Alison M. Zachritz, Johanna M. Kraus, Carrie E. Givens, Gary A. Lamberti, Karen A. Kidd
Determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water by direct injection of matrix-modified centrifuge supernatant and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with isotope dilution Determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water by direct injection of matrix-modified centrifuge supernatant and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with isotope dilution
A direct-injection liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to determine 34 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including selected branched isomers, in centrifuge supernatant of matrix-modified (amended with approximately 50 percent methanol) water samples. The method has been validated in reagent water, surface water, groundwater, and wastewater...
Authors
James L. Gray, Leslie K. Kanagy, Christopher J. Kanagy, Cyrissa A. Anderson
Revealing organofluorine contamination in effluents and surface waters with complementary analytical approaches: Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F-NMR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Revealing organofluorine contamination in effluents and surface waters with complementary analytical approaches: Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F-NMR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Fluorinated organic contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and fluorinated pesticides and pharmaceuticals (FPPs), pose a persistent threat to environmental health. Widely used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods fail to capture large fractions of total organofluorine in environmental samples, confounding the assessment of...
Authors
K.A. Faber, W.C.K Pomerantz, James L. Gray, Laura E. Hubbard, Dana W. Kolpin, W.A. Arnold
Assessing microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other contaminants of global concern in wadable agricultural streams Assessing microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other contaminants of global concern in wadable agricultural streams
Microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and pesticides may lead to unintended environmental contamination through many pathways in multiple matrices. This statewide, multi-matrix study of contaminants of global concern (CGCs) in agricultural streams across Iowa (United States) is...
Authors
Shannon M. Meppelink, Dana W. Kolpin, Gregory H. LeFevre, David M. Cwiertny, Carrie E. Givens, Lee A. Green, Laura E. Hubbard, Luke Iwanowicz, Rachael F. Lane, Alyssa L. Mianecki, Padraic S. O’Shea, Clayton D. Raines, John W. Scott, Darrin A. Thompson, Michaelah C. Wilson, James L. Gray
Mixed contaminant exposure in tapwater and the potential implications for human-health in disadvantaged communities in California Mixed contaminant exposure in tapwater and the potential implications for human-health in disadvantaged communities in California
Water is an increasingly precious resource in California as years of drought, climate change, pollution, as well as an expanding population have all stressed the state's drinking water supplies. Currently, there are increasing concerns about whether regulated and unregulated contaminants in drinking water are linked to a variety of human-health outcomes particularly in socially...
Authors
Kelly Smalling, Kristin M. Romanok, Paul M. Bradley, Michelle Hladik, James L. Gray, Leslie K. Kanagy, R. Blaine McCleskey, Diana A. Stavreva, Annika K. Alexander-Ozinskas, Jesus Alonso, Wendy Avila, Sara E. Breitmeyer, Roberto Bustillo, Stephanie E. Gordon, Gordon L. Hager, Rena R. Jones, Dana W. Kolpin, Seth Newton, Peggy Reynolds, John Sloop, Andria Ventura, Julie Von Behren, Mary H. Ward, Gina M. Solomon
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Southeast Los Angeles: Industrial legacy and environmental justice Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Southeast Los Angeles: Industrial legacy and environmental justice
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals of increasing concern to human health. PFAS contamination in water systems has been linked to a variety of sources including hydrocarbon fire suppression activities, industrial and military land uses, agricultural applications of biosolids, and consumer products. To assess PFAS in California tap water, we collected 60...
Authors
Julie Von Behren, Peggy Reynolds, Paul M. Bradley, James L. Gray, Dana W. Kolpin, Kristin M. Romanok, Kelly Smalling, Catherine Carpenter, Wendy Avila, Paul B. English, Rena R. Jones, Gina Solomon
Non-USGS Publications**
Kolodziej, E. P., Gray, J. L., & Sedlak, D. L. (2003). Quantification Of Steroid Hormones With Pheromonal Properties In Municipal Wastewater Effluent. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 22(11), 2622. doi:10.1897/03-42
Sedlak, D. L., Pinkston, K. E., Gray, J. L., & Kolodziej, E. P. (2003). Approaches for Quantifying the Attenuation of Wastewater-Derived Contaminants in the Aquatic Environment. CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry, 57(9), 567-569. doi:10.2533/000942903777679055
Sedlak, D. L., Gray, J. L., & Pinkston, K. E. (2000). Peer Reviewed: Understanding Microcontaminants in Recycled Water. Environmental Science & Technology, 34(23). doi:10.1021/es003513e
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in U.S. Tapwater: Comparison of Public-Supply and Underserved Private-Well Exposures and Associated Health Implications Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in U.S. Tapwater: Comparison of Public-Supply and Underserved Private-Well Exposures and Associated Health Implications
This software involves files to fit the statistical models described in Smalling et al. Specifically, there are R scripts and associated stan model files (when appropriate) for comparing PFAS concentrations among public-supply and private-wells and as a function of geospatial predictor variables. There is also an R script for modeling the number of PFAS chemicals detected among water...
Science and Products
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...
Study Provides a Data Resource for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Streams Within Iowa Agricultural Watersheds
Per- and poly fl uoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in streams within agricultural areas (an often-unmeasured landscape) across Iowa. The data from this study provide one resource to understand the extent of PFAS concentrations in water resources from diverse landscapes throughout the United States.
Commonly Used Chemicals Transported to Agricultural Field through Municipal Biosolids Application
Commonly used chemicals (including fragrances, detergents, fire retardants, plasticizers, and antibacterials) transferred to wastewater treatment plants were detected in municipal wastewater biosolids applied to agricultural field plots and subsequently detected in the runoff transported from the plots during precipitation events.
Filter Total Items: 20
Concurrent Occurrence of Pesticides and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Agricultural Streams in California, USA Concurrent Occurrence of Pesticides and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Agricultural Streams in California, USA
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are frequently found in streams, with most research focusing on urban sources of PFAS to surface water (e.g., firefighting foams, industrial releases, and wastewater treatment plant discharges). Pesticide applications are an under-investigated source of PFAS to streams in both agricultural and urban areas. There are few studies that analyze the...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in water, sediment, and tissue in a stream food web contaminated by food processing facility wastewater, 2021-2022 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in water, sediment, and tissue in a stream food web contaminated by food processing facility wastewater, 2021-2022
This dataset contains chemistry results for water, sediment, and various tissue samples collected upstream and downstream of a PFAS source (treated industrial wastewater). Samples were analyzed by a USGS laboratory (National Water Quality Laboratory; Denver, CO) and SGS-AXYS (Sidney, BC, Canada). Concentration, surrogate recovery, and blank results are presented within.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) results for varying industries, 2021-2022 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) results for varying industries, 2021-2022
Samples were collected for a comparison method development study with the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Lakewood, Colorado. Widely used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods fail to capture large fractions of total organofluorine in environmental samples confounding the assessment and...
Concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from validation experiments and custom sample analysis by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) Laboratory Code 9660, December 2020 to March 2022 Concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from validation experiments and custom sample analysis by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) Laboratory Code 9660, December 2020 to March 2022
This data release contains concentration and isotope-dilution standard (IDS) recovery data from individual samples that are summarized and interpreted in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Techniques and Methods (T&M) Report "Determination of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Water by Direct Injection of Matrix-Modified Centrifuge Supernatant and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass...
Site information and compound concentrations for 15 Iowa streams, 2021 Site information and compound concentrations for 15 Iowa streams, 2021
Microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and pesticides cause unintentional environmental contamination through many pathways in multiple matrices. This statewide, multi-matrix study examined multiple contaminants of global concern (CGCs) in water, bed sediment, and fish to...
Chemical concentration results for assessment of mixed-organic/inorganic chemical exposures in the southeast United States, beginning 2022 Chemical concentration results for assessment of mixed-organic/inorganic chemical exposures in the southeast United States, beginning 2022
This data release contains the concentration and quality-assurance results for inorganic constituents, organic compounds (volatile organic compounds [VOC], per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS], pesticides, and disinfection byproducts [DBP]) collected in tapwater from locations in Alabama and Mississippi. Tapwater samples (11 public supply and 1 private well) were collected on...
Filter Total Items: 49
Bioaccumulation and transfer of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a stream and riparian food web contaminated by food processing wastewater Bioaccumulation and transfer of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a stream and riparian food web contaminated by food processing wastewater
We evaluated the bioaccumulation and transfer of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a stream food web contaminated by a food processing facility. Abiotic (i.e., water, sediment, and foam) and biotic (i.e., algae, aquatic insect larvae and adults, fish, and riparian spiders) matrices were sampled upstream and downstream of the facility’s wastewater outfall. Compared with...
Authors
Christopher James Kotalik, Laura E. Hubbard, Brittany G. Perrotta, David M. Walters, Dana W. Kolpin, James L. Gray, Alison M. Zachritz, Johanna M. Kraus, Carrie E. Givens, Gary A. Lamberti, Karen A. Kidd
Determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water by direct injection of matrix-modified centrifuge supernatant and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with isotope dilution Determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water by direct injection of matrix-modified centrifuge supernatant and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with isotope dilution
A direct-injection liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to determine 34 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including selected branched isomers, in centrifuge supernatant of matrix-modified (amended with approximately 50 percent methanol) water samples. The method has been validated in reagent water, surface water, groundwater, and wastewater...
Authors
James L. Gray, Leslie K. Kanagy, Christopher J. Kanagy, Cyrissa A. Anderson
Revealing organofluorine contamination in effluents and surface waters with complementary analytical approaches: Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F-NMR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Revealing organofluorine contamination in effluents and surface waters with complementary analytical approaches: Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F-NMR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Fluorinated organic contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and fluorinated pesticides and pharmaceuticals (FPPs), pose a persistent threat to environmental health. Widely used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods fail to capture large fractions of total organofluorine in environmental samples, confounding the assessment of...
Authors
K.A. Faber, W.C.K Pomerantz, James L. Gray, Laura E. Hubbard, Dana W. Kolpin, W.A. Arnold
Assessing microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other contaminants of global concern in wadable agricultural streams Assessing microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other contaminants of global concern in wadable agricultural streams
Microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and pesticides may lead to unintended environmental contamination through many pathways in multiple matrices. This statewide, multi-matrix study of contaminants of global concern (CGCs) in agricultural streams across Iowa (United States) is...
Authors
Shannon M. Meppelink, Dana W. Kolpin, Gregory H. LeFevre, David M. Cwiertny, Carrie E. Givens, Lee A. Green, Laura E. Hubbard, Luke Iwanowicz, Rachael F. Lane, Alyssa L. Mianecki, Padraic S. O’Shea, Clayton D. Raines, John W. Scott, Darrin A. Thompson, Michaelah C. Wilson, James L. Gray
Mixed contaminant exposure in tapwater and the potential implications for human-health in disadvantaged communities in California Mixed contaminant exposure in tapwater and the potential implications for human-health in disadvantaged communities in California
Water is an increasingly precious resource in California as years of drought, climate change, pollution, as well as an expanding population have all stressed the state's drinking water supplies. Currently, there are increasing concerns about whether regulated and unregulated contaminants in drinking water are linked to a variety of human-health outcomes particularly in socially...
Authors
Kelly Smalling, Kristin M. Romanok, Paul M. Bradley, Michelle Hladik, James L. Gray, Leslie K. Kanagy, R. Blaine McCleskey, Diana A. Stavreva, Annika K. Alexander-Ozinskas, Jesus Alonso, Wendy Avila, Sara E. Breitmeyer, Roberto Bustillo, Stephanie E. Gordon, Gordon L. Hager, Rena R. Jones, Dana W. Kolpin, Seth Newton, Peggy Reynolds, John Sloop, Andria Ventura, Julie Von Behren, Mary H. Ward, Gina M. Solomon
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Southeast Los Angeles: Industrial legacy and environmental justice Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Southeast Los Angeles: Industrial legacy and environmental justice
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals of increasing concern to human health. PFAS contamination in water systems has been linked to a variety of sources including hydrocarbon fire suppression activities, industrial and military land uses, agricultural applications of biosolids, and consumer products. To assess PFAS in California tap water, we collected 60...
Authors
Julie Von Behren, Peggy Reynolds, Paul M. Bradley, James L. Gray, Dana W. Kolpin, Kristin M. Romanok, Kelly Smalling, Catherine Carpenter, Wendy Avila, Paul B. English, Rena R. Jones, Gina Solomon
Non-USGS Publications**
Kolodziej, E. P., Gray, J. L., & Sedlak, D. L. (2003). Quantification Of Steroid Hormones With Pheromonal Properties In Municipal Wastewater Effluent. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 22(11), 2622. doi:10.1897/03-42
Sedlak, D. L., Pinkston, K. E., Gray, J. L., & Kolodziej, E. P. (2003). Approaches for Quantifying the Attenuation of Wastewater-Derived Contaminants in the Aquatic Environment. CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry, 57(9), 567-569. doi:10.2533/000942903777679055
Sedlak, D. L., Gray, J. L., & Pinkston, K. E. (2000). Peer Reviewed: Understanding Microcontaminants in Recycled Water. Environmental Science & Technology, 34(23). doi:10.1021/es003513e
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in U.S. Tapwater: Comparison of Public-Supply and Underserved Private-Well Exposures and Associated Health Implications Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in U.S. Tapwater: Comparison of Public-Supply and Underserved Private-Well Exposures and Associated Health Implications
This software involves files to fit the statistical models described in Smalling et al. Specifically, there are R scripts and associated stan model files (when appropriate) for comparing PFAS concentrations among public-supply and private-wells and as a function of geospatial predictor variables. There is also an R script for modeling the number of PFAS chemicals detected among water...