Figure obtained from USGS Circular 1133, p. 114-135 (Click image for a larger version)

Research provides a basic understanding of the biologic, chemical, and hydrologic processes that affect partitioning into various environmental media (e.g. water, sediment and tissue) and chemical and microbial transformation. These processes can have a significant effect on the potential toxicity of a contaminant.

Emerging Chemical Contaminants

• Biodegradation of Emerging Contaminants
• In-Stream Processes
• Potential Removal by Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment
• Swine Waste
• Transport Through the Unsaturated Zone
• Antibiotics in Spring Flush
• Biotransformation of Tributyltin in Freshwater River-Bed Sediments

Emerging Microbial Contaminants

• Swine Waste

Related Headlines

• Detergents in Streams May Just Disappear
• Wastewater Indicators Shown to Degrade in Streams
• Pharmaceuticals Found in Soil Irrigated with Reclaimed Water
• Are Pharmaceuticals in Your Watershed? Understanding the Fate of Pharmaceuticals and Other Contaminants in Watersheds
• Veterinary Medicines in the Environment
• Glyphosate Herbicide Found in Many Midwestern Streams, Antibiotics Not Common

More Information

• Emerging Contaminants Transport and Fate Bibliography

New Publications

Upcoming Publications

• Comparison of wastewater chemicals, bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as indicators of fecal pollution: Haack, S.K., Duris, J.W., Fogarty, L.R., Kolpin, D.W., Focazio, M.J., Meyer, M.T., and Furlong, E.T., Journal of Environmental Quality (IN PRESS).
• Fate of consumer product chemicals in the subsurface environment--25 Years of research on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA: Barber, L.B., in Hill, M.C., ed., Groundwater Quality 2007--Securing Groundwater Quality in Urban and Industrial Environments: International Association of Hydrological Sciences IAHS Redbook (IN PRESS).
• Subsurface fate and transport of 4-nonylphenol, 17Β-estradiol, and sulfamethoxazole: Barber, L.B., Meyer, M.T., LeBlanc, D.R., Kolpin, D.W., Bradley, P.M., Chapelle, F.H., and Rubio, F., in Hill, M.C., ed., Groundwater Quality 2007--Securing Groundwater Quality in Urban and Industrial Environments: International Association of Hydrological Sciences IAHS Redbook (IN PRESS).

Newly Published

• Bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals and other anthropogenic waste indicators in earthworms from agricultural soil amended with biosolid or swine manure: Kinney, C.A., Furlong, E.T., Kolpin, D.W., Burkhardt, M.R., Zaugg, S.D., Werner, S.L., Bossio, J.P., and Benotti, M.J., 2008, Environmental Science and Technology, v. 42, no. 6, p. 1863-1870, doi:10.1021/es702304c.