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

• Biodegradation of 17β-Estradiol, Estrone and Testosterone in Stream Sediments : Bradley, P.M., Barber, L.B., Chapelle, F.H., Gray, J.L., Kolpin, D.W., and McMahon, P.B., 2009, Environmental Science and Technology, doi:10.1021/es802797j (Advanced Web release).
• Comparing wastewater chemicals, indicator bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as fecal pollution indicators: Haack, S.K., Duris, J.W., Fogarty, L.R., Kolpin, D.W., Focazio, M.J., Furlong, E.T., and Meyer, M.T., 2009, Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 38, no. 1, p. 248-258, doi:10.2134/jeq2008.0173.
• Fate of consumer-product chemicals in the subsurface environment--25 years of research on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA: Barber, L.B., 2008, in Trefry, M.G., ed., Groundwater Quality 2007--Securing Groundwater Quality in Urban and Industrial Environments: International Association of Hydrological Sciences IAHS Redbook, IAHS Publ. 324, p. 126-132.
• Subsurface fate and transport of sulfamethoxazole, 4-nonylphenol, and 17Β-estradiol: Barber, L.B., Meyer, M.T., LeBlanc, D.R., Kolpin, D.W., Bradley, P.M., Chapelle, F.H., and Rubio, F., 2008, in Trefry, M.G., ed., Groundwater Quality 2007--Securing Groundwater Quality in Urban and Industrial Environments: International Association of Hydrological Sciences IAHS Redbook, IAHS Publ. 324, p. 133-139.