USGS Newsroom

National Assessment Shows Geographic Distributions and Trends of Pesticide Use, 1992-2009

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:35:02 EDT

For the first time, national maps and trend graphs show the distribution of the agricultural use of 459 pesticides for each year during 1992-2009 for the entire conterminous U.S. The maps and supporting national database of county-level use estimates for each pesticide were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for use in national and regional water-quality assessments.

The national use analysis is based on methods developed by USGS to estimate annual county-level pesticide use for agricultural crops grown throughout the conterminous United States. Pesticide-use data compiled from proprietary surveys of farm operations were used in conjunction with annual harvested-crop acreage reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to calculate use rates for each crop and year. For California, use estimates were obtained directly from annual California Department of Pesticide Regulation Pesticide Use Reports.

"These nationally complete and consistent, county-level use estimates are vital for USGS water-quality models that estimate pesticide concentrations in streams and rivers. In addition, long-term annual data is essential for interpreting water-quality trends," said Wes Stone, an author of the reports.

The new pesticide-use estimates were tested and found to be consistent with national use estimates by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and with comparable statewide estimates for selected years and crops by the USDA. The USDA data on pesticide use, which are based on systematic regional surveys for selected years and crops, enabled vital quality assurance of the new estimates.

Gail Thelin, senior author of the report on estimation methods, noted, "When evaluated statistically, USGS estimates agree with estimates from other sources for comparable years, pesticides, and states. That consistency supports the reliability of the comprehensive and long-term assessment of use patterns and trends that is now available through this study."

Complete results of the USGS analysis of pesticide use are provided in three products:

Documentation of Methods: "Estimation of annual agricultural pesticide use for counties of the conterminous United States, 1992–2009": U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5009

National County-Level Data for 459 Pesticides: "Estimated annual agricultural pesticide use for counties of the conterminous United States, 1992–2009": U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 752

National Maps and Trend Graphs

Decades-old Nitrate Found to Affect Stream Water Quality

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 7 May 2013 8:31:59 EDT

USGS hydrologic researchers have found that the movement of nitrate through groundwater to streams can take decades to occur. This long lag time means that changes in the use of nitrogen-based fertilizer (the typical source of nitrate) — whether the change is initiation, adjustment, or cessation — may take decades to be fully observed in streams, according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Water quality experts have been noting in recent years that nitrate trends in streams and rivers do not match their expectations based on reduced regional use of nitrogen-based fertilizer. The long travel times of groundwater discharge, like those documented in this study, have previously been suggested as the likely factor responsible for these observations.

"This study provides direct evidence that nitrate can take decades to travel from recharge at the land surface to discharge in streams," said Jerad Bales, acting USGS Associate Director for Water. "This is an important finding because long travel times will delay direct observation of the full effect of nutrient management strategies on stream quality."

Rivers and streams are fed by both groundwater held in underground aquifers and surface water from precipitation runoff. In low streamflow conditions, groundwater sources take a larger role.

In this study, USGS scientists closely examined surface and ground waters at seven study sites from across the nation to determine the portion of stream nitrate derived from groundwater. They found that most of the nitrate observed in streams located in groundwater-dominated watersheds was derived from groundwater sources. To determine the time it takes groundwater to reach a stream in a groundwater-dominated watershed, an age dating tracer study was conducted in the Tomorrow River in central Wisconsin. The findings indicated that decades-old nitrate-laden water was currently discharging to this stream. Consequently, base flow nitrate concentrations in this stream may be sustained for decades to come, regardless of current and future practices.

The slow release of groundwater nitrate to streams may also affect the water quality of large rivers. For example, increases in nitrate concentrations during low and moderate flows in large rivers in the Mississippi River Basin have been observed to be greater than or comparable to increases in nitrate concentrations during high flows. (See USGS website, Nitrate in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, 1980 to 2008.) These findings also suggest that increasing nitrate concentrations in groundwater are having a substantial effect on nitrate concentrations in rivers and nitrate transport to the Gulf of Mexico. Because nitrate moves slowly through groundwater to rivers, the full effect of management strategies designed to reduce nitrate movement to these rivers may not be seen for many years.

Citation

"Vulnerability of Streams to Legacy Nitrate Sources"
Anthony J. Tesoriero, John H. Duff, David A. Saad, Norman E. Spahr, and David M. Wolock
Environmental Science & Technology; April 16, 2013

Learn more

High Arsenic Levels Found in 8 Percent of Groundwater Wells Studied in Pennsylvania

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 9:00:00 EDT

The report and maps are posted online.

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. – Eight percent of more than 5,000 wells tested across Pennsylvania contain groundwater with levels of arsenic at or above federal standards set for public drinking water, while an additional 12 percent – though not exceeding standards – show elevated levels of arsenic.

These findings, along with maps depicting areas in the state most likely to have elevated levels of arsenic in groundwater, are part of a recently released U.S. Geological Survey study done in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Environmental Protection.

The results highlight the importance of private well owners testing and potentially treating their water. While public water supplies are treated to ensure that water reaching the tap of households meets federal drinking water standards, private wells are unregulated in Pennsylvania, and owners are responsible for testing and treating their own water.

For this study, USGS scientists compiled data collected between 1969 and 2007 from industrial, public, and private wells. Arsenic levels, along with other groundwater quality and environmental factors, were used to generate statewide and regional maps that predict the probability of elevated arsenic. The study examined groundwater from carbonate, crystalline, and shale/sandstone bedrock aquifers, and from shallow glacial sediment aquifers. Similar maps have been produced for other states.

"This research is not intended to predict arsenic levels for individual wells; its purpose is to predict the probability of elevated levels of arsenic in groundwater to help public health efforts in Pennsylvania," said USGS scientist Eliza Gross, who led the study. "The study results and associated probability maps provide water-resource managers and health officials with useful data as they consider management actions in areas where groundwater is most likely to contain elevated levels of arsenic."

The Pennsylvania Department of Health plans to use the maps as an educational tool to inform health professionals and citizens of the Commonwealth about the possibility of elevated arsenic in drinking water wells and to help improve the health of residents, particularly in rural communities.

Arsenic occurs naturally and, in Pennsylvania, is most common in shallow glacial and shale/sandstone type aquifers, particularly those containing pyrite minerals. Arsenic can also result from human activities. Geologic conditions, such as fractures, and chemical factors in groundwater, such as low oxygen, extreme pH, and salinity, can cause arsenic to leach from rocks, become mobile, and contaminate wells distant from the source. Groundwater with elevated arsenic levels – more than 4 micrograms per liter -- can be found in scattered locations throughout Pennsylvania.

Arsenic in drinking water has been linked to several types of cancer, reproductive problems, diabetes, a weakened immune system, and developmental delays in children. Arsenic can be reduced or eliminated in tap water through treatment.

Private well owners can find testing and other information on Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Arsenic in Drinking Water website.

Proximity to Coal-Tar-Sealed Pavement Raises Risk of Cancer, Study Finds

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:10:00 EDT

People living near asphalt pavement sealed with coal tar have an elevated risk of cancer, according to a study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Much of this calculated excess risk results from exposures in children, age six or younger, to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the sealant.

"The increased cancer risk associated with coal-tar-sealed asphalt (CSA) likely affects a large number of people in the U.S. Our results indicate that the presence of coal-tar-based pavement sealants is associated with significant increases in estimated excess lifetime cancer risk for nearby residents," said E. Spencer Williams, Ph.D., principal author of the study and Baylor University assistant research scientist at the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research in Baylor's College of Arts & Sciences.

Researchers from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and the U.S. Geological Survey in Austin, Texas, are the first to report on the potential human health effects of PAHs in settled house dust and soil in living spaces and soil adjacent to parking lots sealed with coal-tar-based products.

"Exposure to these compounds in settled house dust is a particularly important source of risk for children younger than six years of age, as they are expected to ingest this material at higher rates," Williams said. "This indicates that the use of coal-tar-based pavement sealants magnifies aggregate exposures to PAHs in children and adults in residences adjacent to where these products are used and is associated with human health risks in excess of widely accepted standards."

Data on PAHs in settled house dust used for this analysis were published previously by the same authors. In that study, settled house dust and parking lot dust were sampled for 23 ground-floor apartments in Austin, Texas. The parking lot surfaces adjacent to the apartments were coal-tar-sealed asphalt, asphalt-based sealant over asphalt pavement, or unsealed concrete. Concentrations of PAHs were 25 times higher in house dust in residences adjacent to coal-tar-sealed pavement compared to those with other pavement types.

"This study was the first to find a strong association between a product or a behavior and PAHs in house dust," said Barbara Mahler, the USGS research hydrologist who oversaw the study.

For this study, doses and risk associated with residences adjacent to unsealed asphalt lots were considered relative to those adjacent to (CSA) parking lots. Benzo(a)pyrene concentrations in CSA-affected settled house dust were high relative to those reported in most parts of the U.S. where coal-tar-based sealcoat is not used (California and Arizona). Data for PAHs in coal-tar-sealed asphalt-affected soils and unsealed asphalt-affected soils are available from samples from New Hampshire and suburban Chicago.

The analysis did not consider exposure to the dust on the pavement itself, which has PAH concentrations 10s to 100s of times higher than those in house dust or soil, or inhalation of air over sealed pavement.

"Over time, about half of the PAHs in the sealcoat are released into the air, and concentrations in air are extremely high, particularly in the hours to days after application," said Peter Van Metre, USGS research hydrologist and author of two papers on volatilization of PAHs from sealcoat.

Sealcoat is a black, shiny substance sprayed or painted on the asphalt pavement of parking lots, driveways, and playgrounds to improve appearance and protect the underlying asphalt. An estimated 85 million gallons of coal-tar-based sealant are applied to pavement each year, primarily east of the Continental Divide in the U.S. and parts of Canada. Coal-tar-based pavement sealants are 15 to 35 percent coal-tar pitch, which has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Over time, the dried sealant is worn away from pavement surfaces, and the resulting mobile dust particles can be transported into nearby homes.

"Although the analysis presented here is based on a limited dataset, the results indicate that biomonitoring might be warranted to characterize the exposure of children and adults to PAHs associated with coal-tar-based pavement sealant," Williams said. "Further investigation is also needed into the impacts of coal-tar-based pavement sealants on PAH concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments."

To learn more about Baylor University and their nationally ranked research program, visit their website.

New Water-Quality Test May Prevent Unnecessary Beach Closures

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:31:23 EDT

A new rapid water-quality test may prevent beaches from being closed by providing accurate same day results of bacteria levels, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

With increasing outbreaks of waterborne illnesses, beaches have been at the forefront of recent research on human health risk. This new rapid water-quality test, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will help managers across the country determine whether beaches are safe for swimming in order to keep the public from getting sick. Previous tests could not provide same-day results, so managers had to decide whether to close a beach based on findings from the day before.

USGS scientists analyzed the accuracy of EPA’s rapid test by looking at past water quality data from five beaches along Lake Michigan to determine what the outcomes would have been if the rapid test was used. These findings were then compared to two older methods of testing which require 24 hours for results. Scientists discovered that results from the rapid test met EPA’s safe swimming criteria more often than the older tests. If this method had been used during the study period examined, the summers of 2009 and 2010, it may have prevented hundreds of beach closure days and possibly significantly decreased incidences of waterborne illnesses. The full report is available online.

“This study provides beach managers with a virtual “test drive” of this tool; it gives them an idea of what they can expect in terms of beach monitoring decision making,” said USGS scientist Meredith Nevers. “Our research shows that EPA’s rapid test can be an effective tool for beach managers to help keep their recreational beach goers happy and safe.”

Beach closures not only impact recreational users in the summertime, but they also create huge losses for the local economy. Studies have found that the value of a beach trip is between $20-$36 per person per day — revenue which may be lost to local economies when beaches are closed.

The new rapid test, called quantitative polymerase chain reaction for enterococci, is recommended by the EPA, but it is not a requirement. The test has been included in the 2012 EPA guidelines for safe levels of indicator bacteria, including: Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci. The test can be used at both freshwater and marine beaches. To learn more about EPA’s recreational water quality criteria, visit their webpage.

Tool Estimates Streamflow for Pennsylvania Waterways

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 7:51:22 EDT

Editors: The BaSE tool and supporting documentation can be found online.

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. -- Water resource managers can now estimate daily baseline streamflows in a matter of minutes for any location along Pennsylvania's waterways. The Baseline Streamflow Estimator, called "BaSE," provides users with estimated daily mean streamflow, minimally altered by human activities, for locations on Pennsylvania streams that don’t have streamgages. Pennsylvania is one of the first states in the nation to have such a tool.

"BaSE provides water-resource managers with nearly 50 years of daily mean streamflow for ungaged sites in a matter of minutes that they can use for their projects. These daily values can then be used to generate a number of streamflow statistics that may be needed for decision making," said Marla Stuckey, USGS hydrologist and project lead in Pennsylvania.

Water-resource managers use daily mean streamflow to evaluate withdrawal, allocation, and wastewater permit applications and to assess the health of the Commonwealth's streams. Historically, it has been difficult, costly, and time intensive to estimate daily mean streamflow for stream locations that were not gaged, or monitored. Now, BaSE allows users to estimate daily mean streamflow values and daily hydrographs by entering a few basic basin characteristics in an easy-to-use tool. The output is a summary spreadsheet, containing information about the location of interest, including daily mean streamflow for every day from 1960 to 2008.

BaSE relies on a methodology that uses flow-duration curves, which illustrate the percentage of time, or probability, that a flow value in a stream will equal or exceed a particular value. Flow-duration curves are generated for reference streamgage locations with monitored streamflow and the curves are transferred to ungaged locations to estimate daily mean streamflow.

BaSE chooses the most appropriate reference streamgage for the ungaged location and applies newly developed regression equations to convert the transferred flow duration curve to streamflow at the ungaged location.

A USGS Scientific Investigations Report describing BaSE can be found online.

Madera County Groundwater Quality: Fumigants Found More Often at High Concentrations than in Other Areas of California

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Arsenic, uranium, fumigants and nitrate were detected at high concentrations in untreated groundwater at depths in the aquifer system typically used for public water supply in the Madera County region of California’s San Joaquin Valley.

High concentrations of fumigants were detected in about 10 percent of the aquifer system. High concentrations of fumigants have been found in other parts of the San Joaquin Valley, in addition to the Madera County region; however, in other areas of California, high concentrations of fumigants were found in less than 1 percent of the aquifer system used for public water supply.

The Madera County study was part of a statewide study designed to assess groundwater quality in aquifers that may be used for public water supply and to better understand the natural and human factors affecting groundwater quality. U.S. Geological Survey scientists analyze untreated groundwater from wells, not tap water delivered to consumers. Groundwater is typically treated by water distributors prior to delivering it to customers to ensure compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s and the California Department of Public Health's water quality standards for human health. The Madera County region consists of the Madera and Chowchilla groundwater aquifer subbasins and also includes small parts of Fresno and Merced counties.

"Over a 10-year period, the USGS is characterizing groundwater quality in 120 groundwater basins and other areas that supply about 95 percent of public groundwater supplies," explained USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The new results for the Madera and Chowchilla subbasins show where, what, and how much contamination is in the groundwater, focusing attention on improving water quality where it is needed."

"High" concentrations are defined as above the California Department of Public Health"s established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) or other health-based levels for chemical constituents or elements not having state-established MCLs. The fumigant detected at highest concentrations, DBCP, was used historically to control nematodes in vineyards and orchards, but has not been used in California since 1977.

"The DBCP we detected is not new to the aquifer system. It has taken time for the DBCP to move from the land surface to the aquifer depths tapped by public supply wells," said Jennifer Shelton, a USGS hydrologist and author of the report prepared in collaboration with the California State Water Resources Control Board.

High concentrations of uranium and arsenic, above the state's maximum contaminant levels, were detected in about 17 percent and 13 percent of the aquifer system respectively. Uranium and arsenic are naturally present in rocks and soils and in the water that comes in contact with those materials. High concentrations of arsenic in the Madera and Chowchilla aquifer system can be attributed to natural processes, whereas high concentrations of uranium are due to both natural processes and human activities.

Nitrate was detected at high concentrations, above the MCL, in about 7 percent of the aquifer system, and at moderate concentrations in about 20 percent. High and moderate concentrations of nitrate generally occur as a result of human activities. Sources of nitrate include fertilizers applied to crops and landscaping, seepage from septic systems, and human and animal waste.

"Local water distributors, and regional, state, and federal agencies, as well as the USEPA, are aware of the presence of uranium, nitrate, arsenic and fumigants in groundwater in Madera, Merced, and Fresno counties, and are actively working to manage local groundwater resources," said Dr. Miranda Fram, chief of the USGS Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program.

The USGS California Water Science Center is the technical lead for the State Water Resources Control Board GAMA Program’s Priority Basin Project. The USGS is monitoring and assessing water quality in 120 priority groundwater basins, and groundwater outside of basins, across California over a 10-year period. The main goals of the State Water Board’s GAMA Program are to improve comprehensive statewide groundwater monitoring and to increase the availability of groundwater-quality information to the public.

The full report and the accompanying nontechnical Fact Sheet are available online.

Lake Mead Aquatic-Science Research Documents Substantial Improvements in Ecosystem

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:41:09 EDT

Additional Partnerships: University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Additional Contacts: Dan Balduini, USFWS, 702-515-5480, daniel_balduini@fws.gov and Peter Soeth, Reclamation, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Lake Mead National Recreation Area's water quality is good, the sport fish populations are sufficient, and the lakes provide important habitat for an increasing number of birds. This positive trend is documented in a new report published today that leads to a better understanding of the natural resources of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, and the issues that may affect natural resource management of Lake Mead NRA.

"While the Lake Mead ecosystem is generally healthy and robust, the minor problems documented in the report are all being addressed by the appropriate agencies, and are showing substantial improvement since the mid 1990's," said U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist, Michael Rosen, the lead scientist for the report. "This is thanks to proactive enhancements to wastewater treatment facilities for the Las Vegas Metropolitan area, the installation of wetlands in Las Vegas Wash, and the treatment of legacy pollutants from industrial areas near Las Vegas Wash."

Lake Mead provides significant benefits that have contributed to the modern development of the southwestern United States. The lake provides important aquatic habitat for a wide variety of wildlife including endangered species, and a diversity of world-class water-based recreational opportunities for more than 8 million visitors annually. It supplies critical storage of water supplies for more than 25 million people in three western states (California, Arizona, and Nevada). Storage within Lake Mead supplies drinking water and provides for the generation of hydropower to deliver electricity for major cities including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Tucson, and San Diego. It also provides water for irrigation of more than 2.5 million acres (almost 4000 square miles or more than twice the size of the state of Delaware) of croplands.

Major findings detailed in the report include the following:

Basic water-quality parameters are within good ranges of Nevada and Arizona standards and EPA lake criteria. Potential problems with nutrient balance, algae, and dissolved oxygen can occur at times and in some areas of Lake Mead. The Lake Mead-wide scope of monitoring provides a solid baseline to characterize water quality now and in the future.
Legacy contaminants are declining due to regulations and mitigation efforts in Las Vegas Wash. Emerging contaminants, including endocrine disrupting compounds, are present in low concentrations. While emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, or plasticizers have been documented to cause a number of health effects to individual fish, they are not seen at concentrations currently known to pose a threat to human health. In comparison to other reservoirs studied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lake Mead is well within the highest or 'good' category for recreation and aquatic health.
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave continue to provide habitat conditions that support a rich diversity of species within the water, along shorelines, and in adjacent drainage areas, including organisms that are both native and non-native to the Colorado River drainage.
Sport fish populations appear stable and have reached a balance with reservoir operations over the past 20 years and are sufficient to support important recreational fishing opportunities. Native fish populations within Lake Mohave are declining, but the small native fish populations in Lake Mead are, stable without any artificial replenishment.
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave provide important migration and wintering habitat for birds. Trends include increasing numbers of wintering bald eagles and nesting peregrine falcons. Lake Mead water-level fluctuations have produced a variety of shorebird habitats, but songbird habitats are limited. Although some contaminants have been documented in birds and eggs in Las Vegas Wash, mitigation efforts are making a positive change.
Invasive quagga mussels have become the dominant lake-bottom organism and are a significant threat to the ecosystems of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave because they have potential to alter water quality and food-web dynamics. Although they increase water clarity, they can degrade recreational settings.
Climate models developed for the Colorado River watershed indicate a high probability for longer periods of reduced snowpack and therefore water availability for the Lake Mead in the future. Federal, state and local agencies, and individuals and organizations interested the future of the water supply and demand imbalance are working together to examine strategies to mitigate future conditions.

The report was prepared cooperatively by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Southern Nevada Water Authority, BIO-WEST, University of Nevada, Reno, and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The full report, USGS Circular 1381, "A synthesis of aquatic science for management of Lakes Mead and Mohave," is available online.

Note to editors: B-roll available from USGS upon request.

Mining Waste Byproduct Capable of Helping Clean Water

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:49:17 EDT

LEETOWN, W.Va. – A byproduct resulting from the treatment of acid mine drainage may have a second life in helping clean waters coming from agricultural and wastewater discharges, according to a recent study by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey Leetown Science Center.

The report, published in the Journal Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, shows that dried acid mine drainage sludge, or residuals, that result from treating acid mine drainage discharges can be used as a low-cost adsorbent elsewhere to efficiently remove phosphorus from agricultural and municipal wastewaters. The phosphorus that has been adsorbed by the mine drainage residuals can later be stripped from the residuals and recycled into fertilizer. The mine drainage residuals can be regenerated and reused for a number of additional treatment cycles. Application of this novel, patented technology has the potential to simultaneously help to decrease acid mine drainage treatment costs, prevent degradation of aquatic ecosystems, and recycle valuable nutrients.

"This wonderful result shows the inventive application of some very sophisticated environmental chemistry to create a new life cycle for what otherwise would have been some problematic waste products," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "It sets the bar high for future studies in environmental remediation."

Acid mine drainage is produced whenever sulfide minerals associated with coal and metal deposits are exposed to air and moisture. The resulting acid and dissolved metals are toxic to most forms of aquatic life, and untreated acid mine drainage has impacted more than 5000 miles of streams in the Appalachian region, with associated economic impacts of millions of lost dollars in the tourism and sport fishing industries.

When acid mine drainage is remediated, it is neutralized with a base, such as limestone or lime, and an iron-rich sludge is formed that must be disposed of, sometimes at considerable cost. The new process of using the sludge to filter wastewaters has the potential to reduce the need to dispose of the sludge, while providing an added and previously unknown benefit of using the residuals to effectively reduce phosphorus from wastewater discharges wherever needed.

Excess phosphorus releases to the environment from agricultural and municipal wastewaters have resulted in significant impairment of aquatic ecosystems such as the Chesapeake Bay and other bodies of water worldwide. At the same time, as depletion of high-grade phosphorus-bearing deposits continues, the possibility of future shortages of fertilizer phosphorus has been suggested.

Current technology for the removal of phosphorus from wastewater consists of addition of aluminum or iron salts to precipitate and adsorb phosphorus, but this is too expensive for the low concentrations and high volumes often encountered in many wastewaters. This new technology provides a more efficient and cost effective option.

"As environmental scientists, we kind of hesitate to use this analogy, but it really is like killing two birds with one stone," says Philip Sibrell, lead author of the study. "This new technology could reduce or eliminate the need to dispose of acid mine drainage sludge, instead making that same sludge useful in addressing the urgent need to reduce the amount of phosphorus going into aquatic ecosystems; it's a win-win situation."

Study citation:

Sibrell, P. L. and Tucker, T. W. 2012. Fixed bed sorption of phosphorus from wastewater using iron oxide-based media derived from acid mine drainage. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 223:5105-5117.

Groundwater Quality Generally Good in West Virginia

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 6 Dec 2012 13:23:13 EDT

The report is posted online.

Charleston, W.Va. -- The quality of West Virginia's groundwater is generally good, according to a recent 10-year U.S. Geological Survey study, the most comprehensive assessment of West Virginia's groundwater quality to date. In the majority of cases, raw, untreated groundwater samples met primary drinking-water criteria meant for finished, supplied drinking water.

However, in more than half of the groundwater samples, naturally occurring iron and manganese exceeded secondary drinking-water criteria, which are non-enforceable guidelines, and, in the northwest portion of the state and the Eastern Panhandle, radon gas concentrations in groundwater frequently exceeded a proposed maximum concentration level, according to the report done in cooperation with West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water and Waste Management. Recent research has linked manganese and excess iron to developmental delays in children and breathing radon gas, which can also accumulate indoors from running water, increases the risk for lung cancer.

The results highlight the importance of private well owners testing and potentially treating their water. While public water supplies are treated to ensure that water reaching the tap of households meets federal requirements, there are no such requirements for private supplies.

"I want to personally thank the scientists who persisted in this monumental effort to gather an immense amount of data in a state with complex geology on a very important topic: the safety of the water we drink," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Overall, the results of this study are very good news for those who rely on ground water in West Virginia, although those with private wells would be wise to get their water tested for a few elements of possible concern."

About 42 percent of all West Virginians rely on groundwater for their domestic water supply; however, prior to 2008, the quality of the state’s groundwater was largely unknown.

"This report shows where groundwater contamination is most likely for a variety of substances," said USGS scientist Doug Chambers, who led the study. "This research is intended to help inform decisions ranging from water and land management to public health. Although this study primarily sampled public-supply wells, we would remind private well owners in West Virginia that it remains important to test their water."

Private wells are not regulated and it is the owner's responsibility to test and treat the water. Many of the contaminants identified can be reduced or eliminated through a variety of treatments. Private well owners can find more information at the WV DEP website.

For this study, scientists sampled groundwater for a wide range of natural and manmade chemical characteristics, including metals, nutrients, volatile organic compounds, fecal indicator bacteria, and radon from 1999-2008. Some samples were further analyzed for pesticides or semi-volatile organic compounds. All samples were of raw, untreated groundwater.

Organic compounds and trace elements exceeding drinking-water criteria were found at much lower frequencies than iron, manganese, and radon. Pesticides occurred most frequently and in higher concentrations in limestone areas of the state where agriculture is concentrated.

"In much of West Virginia, local geology has the strongest influence on groundwater quality," said Chambers, noting the frequency of natural contaminants. "Man-made compounds are more closely related to aquifer susceptibility, including areas of limestone geology, river valleys, and areas with high use of these compounds."

Information about water quality nationwide is found on the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program website.

Access the USGS West Virginia Water Science Center for more information about water in West Virginia.

Arsenic Likely in Nearly 40 Percent of New Hampshire's Groundwater

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 4 Dec 2012 13:26:35 EDT

The report and data are posted online.

PEMBROKE, N.H. –Nearly 40 percent of New Hampshire's bedrock groundwater likely contains at least low levels of naturally occurring arsenic, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.

Groundwater supplies likely to have high arsenic levels can be found in scattered locations throughout the state, but are more frequent in densely populated Merrimack, Rockingham, Stafford, and Hillsborough counties in the southeast, the findings and accompanying maps show.

"Arsenic is naturally occurring in the bedrock of New Hampshire, and under certain conditions more or less of it will leach from the rocks into the groundwater that people drink, making it a human health hazard if left untreated," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The contribution from this new study is that it alerts people across the state who may not previously have thought that they were at any risk that it would be wise to get their water tested."

Arsenic levels are largely controlled by bedrock type and by fractures, but are associated with other factors including groundwater chemistry, hydrology, topography, land use and demographics, according to the study done in cooperation with the New Hampshire Departments of Health and Human Services, and Environmental Services.

"We knew from previous studies that arsenic is a regional problem in New Hampshire, but we were surprised that low arsenic levels are widespread across the state," said USGS scientist Joe Ayotte, who led the study. Previous USGS studies have shown private groundwater wells in New Hampshire may have arsenic at concentrations close to or above health-based safety standards for public water supplies.

"Arsenic in ground water used for private or a public water supply is a public health concern in New Hampshire," said the state’s public health director, Dr. Jose Montero. "To protect families, the State of New Hampshire recommends that private well owners test their drinking water for arsenic every three-to-five years."

"The geology and fractures in New Hampshire's bedrock are complex, so homeowners should not rely on the results from neighboring wells to determine if their own well water is safe," Ayotte explained. "The data are intended to inform public health research and decision makers, and may be useful to medical practitioners where patients rely on private wells for drinking water."

"This mapping project is intended to help planners and health officials understand the widespread nature of certain contaminants in New Hampshire's drinking water," said Matthew Cahillane, Program Manager of the New Hampshire Environmental Public Health Tracking Program. "It provides a very useful picture of where arsenic levels might be higher or lower in groundwater. We hope the results also encourage all well owners to test their individual water supplies."

The information will become part of the collection of data assembled and housed by the Public Health Tracking Program, which was initiated and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Private wells supply drinking water for about 40 percent of the population of northern New England and bedrock aquifer wells – often known as rock, deep, or artesian wells – are the most common type of well installed for homes in the state. Bedrock groundwater is the main source for the region's drinking water supplies.

Health Information Summaries on arsenic can be found online:

White-Nose Syndrome Bat Recovery May Present Challenges Similar to Those in Some Recovering AIDS Patients

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EDT

UPDATED 11/26/2012: Phone number change for Judith Mandl, NIH

Bats recovering from white-nose syndrome show evidence of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), according to a hypothesis proposed by the U.S. Geological Survey and collaborators at National Institutes of Health. This condition was first described in HIV-AIDS patients and, if proven in bats surviving WNS, would be the first natural occurrence of IRIS ever observed.

IRIS is a syndrome in which an organism's immune system, having been suppressed for a time, reactivates and, perceiving a serious infection around it, goes into overdrive resulting in severe inflammation and tissue damage in infected areas.

In both human patients with HIV-AIDS and bats with WNS, the functioning of the immune system is severely reduced. For humans, this occurs when the HIV virus attacks the patient's white blood cells, and for bats, this occurs during normal hibernation. For both humans and bats, IRIS can be fatal.

"The potential discovery of IRIS in bats infected with white-nose syndrome is incredibly significant in terms of understanding both the reasons for bat mortality and basic immune response," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "This discovery could also prove significant for studies on treatment for AIDS."

IRIS was first described in humans with HIV-AIDS after patients with low counts of helper T lymphocytes, the type of white blood cells the HIV virus attacks, had increases in those cell numbers following treatment with antiretroviral therapy. In some patients, who had secondary bacterial or other opportunistic infections due to their suppressed immune system, their condition significantly worsened as the restoration in immune cell function resulted in an over-response to pre-existing infection and substantial damage to healthy tissue.

In bats, IRIS might be a result of changes in immune system function during hibernation. During hibernation, all internal systems for the bats enter a reduced state, including the immune system, so as to conserve resources. This reduced immunity allows Geomyces destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, to spread unchecked over the wings, muzzle, and ears of bats eroding through skin.

If they survive the fungal infection through winter, when the bats emerge in the spring, they face a new challenge—intense inflammation at sites of infection with G. destructans. This inflammation in the wings can be so severe that it contributes to death.

Scientists from the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and National Institutes of Health propose this sudden reversal of immune suppression in bats with WNS, accompanied by intense inflammation is a form of IRIS.

Although never before observed outside a clinical setting, there is strong evidence that the inflammation observed in bats with WNS is IRIS.

"We see strong similarities between human IRIS and the pathology associated with WNS , with potentially fatal outcome in bats," said USGS lead researcher Carol Meteyer. "We hope that these findings will stimulate more experimental studies that yield insight into the role of the immune response during IRIS in humans as well as hibernating bats."

Even as the G. destructans fungus spreads throughout the bat's body, there is no obvious inflammation in response to this hibernation-dependent fungal skin infection. This lack of inflammatory cell response is consistent with hibernation-induced inhibition of immune cell activity as the body temperature of hibernating bats drops to ambient temperatures 35-50 degrees Fahrenheit (2-10 degrees Centigrade).

In addition, inflammation is not seen until the bat"s body temperatures reach their active levels of 93-102 degrees Fahrenheit (34-39 degrees Centigrade). These temperature levels indicate that the bat’s internal systems have come back online, including the immune system. Only then is the inflammation observed, and only in areas where the G. destructans fungus has taken hold. This behavior is consistent with IRIS observed in human HIV-AIDS patients.

The report, entitled "Pathology in euthermic bats with white nose syndrome suggests a natural manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome," is published in the November issue of the journal Virulence.

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The Science of Good Taste - Geology, Wine, and Food

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 6 Nov 2012 13:39:54 EDT

Topic of Free Lecture Wednesday

RESTON, Va. – Why certain lands produce better food and wine than others is the topic of a free public lecture Wednesday, November 7, at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Geological Survey National Center in Reston, Va.

Titled, "The Science of Good Taste - Geology, Wine, and Food," the lecture takes place in a federal facility and a valid photo ID is required for entry by attendees 18 years of age and older. Attendees should plan to arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes early to process through security.

For this lecture, USGS scientist Larry Meinert will address how physical factors affect viticulture and food, examining some food and wine producing areas in France, California, and Washington State.

For more information and directions visit the Public Lecture Series website.

Those unable to attend the lecture in person can follow it live on Twitter @USGSLive

These evening events are free to the public and intended to familiarize a general audience with science issues that are meaningful to their daily lives. USGS speakers are selected for their ability and enthusiasm to share their expertise with an audience that may be unfamiliar with the topic.

The series provides the public an opportunity to interact with USGS scientists and ask questions about recent developments in Natural Hazards; Water; Energy Minerals and Environmental Health; Climate and Land Use Change; Ecosystems; and Core Science Systems. Ultimately, the goal is to create a better understanding of the importance and value of USGS science in action.

USGS Inducted into the 2012 URISA GIS Hall of Fame

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 1 Oct 2012 13:18:57 EDT

Owing to 50 years of cutting-edge developments and significant contributions in advancing the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial sciences, the U.S. Geological Survey has been selected to enter the Urban and Regional Information System Association GIS Hall of Fame.

The USGS is a major contributor and driver to GIS progress across the government and the private sector. USGS geospatial technologies, long term datasets, research, innovations, information, and publications, all made available at no cost to the public through the USGS Store, have enabled advancements of science techniques and methods.

These innovations have been and still are invaluable to the science community, and provide data for decision makers and the public around the world. The agency's early involvement in GIS development revolutionized the natural science research by facilitating multi-discipline data sharing and analysis especially in the areas of natural hazards (fire, earthquakes, floods, landslides, and droughts), water quality and quantity, and ecosystem development.

"The USGS is honored to join the ranks of other notable organizations who have previously been inducted into the URISA GIS Hall of Fame and who share our philosophy that supporting GIS is important because it is for the public good," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "In a world where increasingly complex problems require increasingly sophisticated solutions for organizing multi-disciplinary spatial information, advancing the frontiers of GIS facilitates advancing the frontiers of science."

The formal induction will occur October 3, 2012, during the URISA GIS-Pro Conference in Portland, Ore. URISA established the GIS Hall of Fame in 2005 to recognize and honor the most esteemed leaders in the geospatial community and this year's Conference is highlighting its 50^th annual meeting. Mark DeMulder, Director of the USGS National Geospatial Program will speak at the ceremony and receive the award on behalf of the bureau.

"The USGS is thrilled to be receiving this award from URISA", said DeMulder, "and is immensely proud of the many employees who have pioneered the applications of GIS in the programs we carry out on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the citizens of our Nation."

Other awardees inducted into the 2012 URISA GIS Hall of Fame include: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada; and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The formal nomination statement and other award details are available on the URISA Award website.

Warmer Temperatures Likely Driving Increase of Metal Concentrations in Rocky Mountain Watershed

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 7 Sep 2012 16:50:23 EDT

Warmer air temperatures since the 1980s may explain significant increases in zinc and other metal concentrations of ecological concern in a Rocky Mountain watershed, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, led by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Rising concentrations of zinc and other metals in the upper Snake River just west of the Continental Divide near Keystone, Colo., may be the result of falling water tables, melting permafrost, and accelerating mineral weathering rates, all driven by warmer air temperatures in the watershed. Researchers observed a fourfold increase in dissolved zinc over the last 30 years during the month of September.

"This study provides another fascinating, and troubling, example of a cascading impact from climate warming as the rate of temperature-dependent chemical reactions accelerate in the environment, leaching metals into streams," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The same concentration of metals in the mountains that drew prospectors to the Rockies more than a century ago are now the source of toxic trace elements that are harming the environment as the planet warms."

Increases in metals were seen in other months as well, with lesser increases seen during the high-flow snowmelt period. During the study period, local mean annual and mean summer air temperatures increased at a rate of 0.2-1.2 degrees Celsius per decade.

Generally, high concentrations of dissolved metals in the upper Snake River watershed are the result of acid rock drainage, or ARD, formed by natural weathering of pyrite and other metal-rich sulfide minerals in the bedrock. Weathering of pyrite forms sulfuric acid through a series of chemical reactions, and mobilizes metals like zinc from minerals in the rock and carries these metals into streams.

Increased sulfate and calcium concentrations observed over the study period lend weight to the hypothesis that the increased zinc concentrations are due to acceleration of pyrite weathering. The potential for comparable increases in metals in similar Western watersheds is a concern because of impacts on water resources, fisheries and stream ecosystems. Trout populations in the lower Snake River, for example, appear to be limited by the metal concentrations in the water, said USGS scientist Andrew Todd, lead researcher on the project.

"Acid rock drainage is a significant water quality problem facing much of the Western United States," Todd said. "It is now clear that we need to better understand the relationship between climate and ARD as we consider the management of these watersheds moving forward."

In cases where ARD is linked directly with past and present mining activities it is called acid mine drainage, or AMD. Another Snake River tributary, Peru Creek, is largely devoid of life due to AMD generated from the abandoned Pennsylvania Mine and smaller mines upstream, and has become a target for potential remediation efforts.

The Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, in conjunction with other local, state and federal partners, is conducting underground exploration work at the mine to investigate the sources of heavy metals-laden water draining from the adit. The study conducted by Todd and colleagues has implications in such efforts because it suggests that establishing attainable clean-up objectives could be difficult if natural background metal concentrations are a "moving target."

Collaborators include USGS, CU Boulder and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR). The data analyzed for the study came from INSTAAR, the USGS and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.