What's in Our Wastewaters and Where Does it Go?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has implemented a national reconnaissance to
provide baseline information on the environmental occurrence of "emerging contaminants" such as human and
veterinary pharmaceuticals (e.g., fluoxetine and lincomycin), industrial and household wastewater products (e.g.,
p-nonyphenol and triclosan), and reproductive and steroidal hormones (e.g., equilenin and progesterone) in water resources.
During 1999 and 2000, 142 streams, 55 wells, and 7 effluent samples were collected across 36 states as part of this national
reconnaissance effort. A majority of the sites sampled were those suspected to be susceptible to emerging contaminants from
animal or human wastewaters. This national reconnaissance of emerging contaminants is the first of its kind in the United
States.
Publications
Buxton, H.T., and Kolpin, D.W., 2002, Pharmaceuticals, hormones,
and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-027-02, 2 p.
Kolpin, D.W., Furlong, E.T., Meyer, M.T., Thurman, E.M., Zaugg, S.D., Barber, L.B., and Buxton, H.T.,
2002, Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater
contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000--A national reconnaissance: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 36, no. 6,
p. 1202-1211.
Barnes, K.K., Kolpin, D.W., Meyer, M.T., Thurman, E.M., Furlong, E.T., Zaugg, S.D., and Barber, L.B.,
2002, Water-quality data for pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater
contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-94.
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