Toxicology

Basic studies in the laboratory are the foundation of our understanding of contaminant exposure and effects in the field. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) determines specific contaminant effects; elucidates the mechanisms of toxicity; compares species response to toxic agents; develops biomarkers, instrumentation, or other tools to identify chemicals or effects; and develops experimental designs and methods for appropriate statistical analyses related to contaminant studies.

Toxicology research within the USGS Contaminant Biology program focuses on the following issues:

• Biomarkers and Other Methods for Toxity Assessment

• Aquatic Toxicology

• Wildlife Toxicology

• Endocrine Disruption

Biomarkers, Tools, and Methods

• Application of Biomarker Analytical Procedures to Field and Laboratory Studies Conducted by USGS, DOI and Government Clients (FISC)

• Biomarker Benchmarks: Reproductive and Endocrine Biomarkers in Largemouth Bass and Common Carp from United States Waters  (This study was conducted by several U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) programs and research centers, including: the National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends Program (BEST), the Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC), the Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC), and personnel from both the Biological and the Water Resources disciplines. )
  
  
• Comparative Developmental Toxicity Assessment of a Mosquito Larvicide (GB- 1111) on Bird Eggs (PWRC)
  
  
• Contaminant Effects on Tree Swallows: A Nationwide Indicator Species (UMESC)
  
  
• Development and Testing of Biomarkers: Suitability for Use in the Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program (CERC)
  
  
• Development of Microsomal P450 as a Bioindicator for Environmental Contaminant Exposure (PWRC)
  
  
• Fish Bioindicators of Ecosystem Condition at the Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana - assessment of fish and their biomarkers as indicators of possible adverse impacts of chemical contamination from local industrial activities, detected in the surface water, sediment, fish, and crustacea in previous studies.  (NWRC)
  
  
• Immunochemical Methods for the Determination of Environmental Contaminants and Their Biochemical Responses in Fish (CERC)
  
  
• Organic Chemical Concentrations and Reproductive Biomarkers in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Collected from Two Areas in Lake Mead, Nevada, May 1999-May 2000.
  
  
• Piscine Gonadal Morphology as a Biomarker for Environmental Contaminant Effects in Endocrine Disruption Studies (LSC)
  
  
• Reproductive and Endocrine Biomarkers in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) and Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) from United States Waters (multiple USGS science centers)

back to top

Aquatic Toxicology

• Comparative Embryotoxicity of PCB Congeners by Egg Injection (PWRC)

• Comparative Toxicity of Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, Malathion and Their Oxons to Amphibians (44 KB, PDF) (WERC) - Publication Brief for Resource Managers from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center about a study, suggesting that the oxon breakdown products of the three most commonly used Organophosphorus pesticides in California’s agricultural Central Valley — chlorpyrifos, malathion, and diazinon — are 10–100 times more toxic than the parent compounds.
  
  
• Contaminant Sensitivity of Freshwater Mussels. Download the publication brief. (542 KB, PDF) (CERC)
  
  
• Development of Methods for Assessing the Quality of Marine and Estuarine Sediments (CERC)
  
  
• Development of Microscale Toxicity Tests and Risk Assessment Strategies for Resource Contaminant Problems (CERC)
  
  
• Effects of Contaminants in Fish on the Glochidial Success and Survival of Juvenile Freshwater Mussels (FISC)
  
  
• Effects of Temephos and Methoprene on Macroinvertebrates and Amphibian Larvae in Freshwater Macrocosms (PWRC)
  
  
• Embryonic, Developmental, and Early Life Stage Toxicity of Environmental Contaminants in Fish (CERC)
  
  
• Estrogenic Activity Levels in Chemicals Sequestered by Passive Samplers from Lake Mead, NV (PWRC) (Also related to Chemistry: Passive Samplers)
  
  
• Evaluation of Potential Reproductive Effects of Papermill Effluents in Mosquito Fish (Gambusia) (FISC)
  
  
• Lake Trout Immunocompetence at Great Lakes Areas of Concern (GLSC)

back to top

Wildlife Toxicology

• Contaminant Exposure and Effects on Osprey Nesting Along the Lower Duwamish River, Washington, 2006-2007  (FRESC)
  
  
• Contaminant Exposure and Potential Reproductive Effects in Ospreys Nesting in Delaware River and Bay (PWRC)
  
  
• Contaminants as One of Possible Causes in Beak Deformities Research   (ASC) (black-capped chickadees)
  
  
• Contaminant Exposure and Potential Effects on Reproduction of Ospreys Nesting in Chesapeake Bay Regions of Concern. Download the File. (21 KB, PDF) (also related to Contaminated Habitats: Contaminants on the Department of the Interior Lands) (PWRC)
  
  
• Drainwater Contaminants in Waterbird Eggs and Hatchability at Stillwater, Malheur, Seedskadee, and Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuges (FRESC) (ducks, coots, black-necked stilts, eared grebes, and white-faced ibis)
  
  
• Ecological Risk Assessment of Toxic Substances in the South Florida Ecosystem: Wildlife Effects and Exposure Assessment (FISC)
  
  
• Effects of Chlorfenapyr on Adult Birds (PWRC)
  
  
• Effects of dietary methyl mercury exposure on American kestrels (Falco sparverius) (PWRC)
  
  
• Effects of PAHs on Marine Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles (PWRC)
  
  
• Effects of Perchlorate on Amphibian Metamorphosis (PWRC)
  
  
• Environmental Contaminant Hazards to Terrestrial Vertebrates Residing in Mid-Atlantic National Parks. Download a summary of the research at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. (469 KB, PDF) (also related to Contaminated Habitats: Contaminants on the DOI Lands) (PWRC)
  
  
• Exposure of Nontarget Birds to DRC-1339 Avicide in Fall Baited Sunflower Field (UMESC)
  
  
• Hormonal Control and the Effects of Endocrine-active Contaminants on Avian Secondary Sex Characteristics (PWRC)
  
  
• Investigation into Abnormal Beak Growth of Red-tailed Hawks in the Pacific Northwest - Pilot Study (FRESC)
  
  
• Lessons learned: Evaluating scientific sampling of oil spill effects on sea otters (Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Projects) (ASC) (Sea Otters)
  
  
• New and Ongoing Wildlife Mortality Events Nationwide - investigation of wildlife morbidity and mortality (NWHC)
  
  
• Organochlorine and Metal Residues in Eggs of Wading Birds at the Salton Sea, 2004 (FRESC)
  
  
• Role of Methoprene as Altosid in Amphibian Deformities (PWRC)
  
  
• Toxicity and Hazard of Vanadium to Ducks and Geese. Download the Science Brief for Resource Managers. (411.80 KB, PDF) (PWRC)
  
  
• Toxicity of Biologically Incorporated Contaminants(PWRC)
  
  
• Toxicity of Lead-contaminated Sediments to Juvenile Waterfowl, Including Estimation of Sediment Consumption by Waterfowl (PWRC)
  
  
• Use of the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) to assess the bioavailability and effects of contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (PWRC)
  
  

back to top

Endocrine Disruption

• Assessment of Health Reproduction in Fishes from the Potomac River and Selected Other Drainages (LSC)
  
  
• Effects of Estrogen and Related Contaminants on the Expression of Genes Involved in the Innate Immune System of Fish in Rivers of the Chesapeake Bay Drainage (LSC)
  
  
• Environmental Assessment of Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals (CERC)
  
  
• Environmental Endocrine Disrupters: Effects and Possible Mechanism(s) in Young Male River Otters (FRESC)
  
  
• Fish Health and Reproductive Studies at Lake Erie Areas of Concern (LSC)
  
  
• Hormonal Control and the Effects of Endocrine-active Contaminants on Avian Secondary Sex Characteristics (PWRC)
  
  
• Investigations of the Effects of Synthetic Chemicals on the Endocrine System of Common Carp in Lake Mead, Nevada and Arizona
  
  
• Piscine Gonadal Morphology as a Biomarker for Environmental Contaminant Effects in Endocrine Disruption Studies (LSC)
  
  
• Potential Endocrine Disruptors in the Potomac River Watershed Using Passive Samplers (PWRC) (Also related to Chemistry: Passive Samplers )
  
  
• Reproductive and Endocrine Biomarkers in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) and Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) from United States Waters (multiple USGS science centers)
  
  
• Reproductive Condition and Intersex Occurrence of Bighead Carp and Silver Carp in the Missouri River. Download the Publication Brief from Columbia Environmental Research Center. (237 KB, PDF) (CERC)
  
  
• Reproductive Performance and Associated Developmental and Endocrinological Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Aroclor 1242) on Captive American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) (PWRC)
  
  
• USGS Endocrine Disruptor Projects in Biology (CERC)
  

back to top