Home page for USGS research on the relationship of environment and health with links to fact sheets, reports, projects and programs, Human Health database and meeting and conferences.
Overview of project to develop and apply a variety of earth science methods to interpret the geologic links between mineral dusts such as silica and asbestos and human health problems with links to contacts, tasks, and products.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in rocks, soils, and the waters in contact with them. It is found in ground water as the result of minerals dissolving from weathered rocks and soils. This site links to data, maps, and more.
Report on asbestos, six types of mineral fibers belonging to two mineral groups, serpentines and amphiboles,with fiber morphology, crystal structure, analytical methods, properties, mining, milling, uses, and safety factors.(PDF file,28 pp.,4.5 MB)
Links to overview, major programs, products and publications on coal, oil & gas, environment & human health, and resource economics, and special applications (Geo-Data Explorer (GEODE) and Kidzone)
Links to USGS activities in the environment theme area, including anthropogenic and natural contaminants, ecosystems, energy, human health, global change, etc. Also includes links to environment-related fact sheets.
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--When can natural processes to reduce, or even destroy, contaminants at toxic waste sites be relied on?
Fact sheet describing the value of The National Map designed as a network of digital databases that will provide a consistent national geographic data framework in responding to natural hazards and human-induced disasters.
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--biosolids have high concentrations of household contaminants compared to treated liquid wastewater effluent.
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--highly variable conditions cause the production of toxic methyl mercury in the environment which accumulates in fish.
Fact sheet on mercury and the environment, including toxic effects, risk to people and wildlife, sources of mercury, environments where methylmercury is a problem, and mercury contamination.
Multiple studies addressing urban water-quality issues, to describe biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of urban water resources over time, and relate those characteristics to natural processes and human activities
Report giving operational guidelines that will lower the risk of coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) for individuals who work outdoors in areas where the disease is endemic.
Photos, publicatons and recordbreaking flood peaks from the flood that included 9 states, the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and completely inundated 75 towns.
Homepage for the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, which provides scientific information on contaminated sites and on human and environmental health. Links to news, topical information, investigations, meetings, publications, and photos.