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FY25 Capabilities and Services

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By Kansas Water Science Center October 1, 2024

Organic Geochemistry Research Lab

(OGRL)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Kansas Water Science Center Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) was established in 1987. The OGRL is a multidisciplinary program that contributes knowledge about the distribution, fate, transport, and effects of new and understudied organic compounds that may affect human health and (or) ecosystems. 

The OGRL consists of two units: Algal and Other Environmental Toxins (AET) Unit and Environmental Organic Chemistry (EOC) Unit. The OGRL does independent and collaborative research, develops robust analytical methods, and provides fee-for-service analytical laboratory analyses.

Algal and Other Environmental Toxins Unit

The Algal and Environmental Toxins Unit has the capability to detect toxins that could be harmful to human health and the environment. 

OGRL Scientists standing near a dam spillway preparing to use a field Turbidimeter in the bed of a truck.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

 

  •  Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques in low and high salinity waters for the following toxins: anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin, microcystin, and saxitoxin. 

     

  • Liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry for the following: 

     

    •  Total and dissolved freshwater toxins (includes 13 analytes)

       

    •  Total and dissolved marine toxins (includes 9 analytes)

       

    • Total and dissolved freshwater and marine toxins (includes 21 analytes)

       

    •  Nontarget screening

 

Environmental Organic Chemistry Unit

Using state-of-the-art instrumentation and techniques, the Environmental Organic Chemistry Unit analyzes samples from various matrices to determine the occurrence of organic contaminants in the environment. 

OGRL scientist standing in water using a net to collect fish during a visit to a fish hatchery in Kansas.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

  •  Sample preparation, including filtering, accelerated solvent extractions, bioassay extractions, and solid-phase extractions. 

     

  •  Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry methods in water and solids (soil, sediment, and biosolids) for the following: 

     

    •  Artificial sweeteners (includes 5 analytes) 

       

    •  Atrazine

       

    •  Glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and glufosinate

       

    •  Four class antibiotic method (includes 33 analytes)

       

    • Pharmaceutical method (includes 84 compounds)

       

    • Hormones: androgens, conjugates, and estrogens (includes 32 analytes)

       

    •  Hormones: progestins (includes 11 analytes) 

       

    •  Hormones: phytoestrogens (includes 6 analytes)  

       

    •  Mycotoxins (includes 8 analytes)

       

    • Tire leachate: 6 PPD-quinone

 

FY25 OGRL Service List 

FY25 Sample Collection and Processing Directions 

 

 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
Photo of algal toxins in a creek

OGRL Algal Toxins Methods of Analysis

Algal toxins are a group of toxic compounds produced by a range of photosynthetic freshwater and marine plankton. These toxins have the ability to cause sickness in animals and humans and in severe cases lead to death. OGRL has the ability to evaluate and conduct occurrence, fate, transport, effects, and treatability studies methods.
By
Kansas Water Science Center
link

OGRL Algal Toxins Methods of Analysis

Algal toxins are a group of toxic compounds produced by a range of photosynthetic freshwater and marine plankton. These toxins have the ability to cause sickness in animals and humans and in severe cases lead to death. OGRL has the ability to evaluate and conduct occurrence, fate, transport, effects, and treatability studies methods.
Learn More

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

No results found.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 107

Occurrence of organic wastewater compounds in drinking water, wastewater effluent, and the Big Sioux River in or near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 2001-2004

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the city of Sioux Falls conducted several rounds of sampling to determine the occurrence of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) in the city of Sioux Falls drinking water and waste-water effluent, and the Big Sioux River in or near Sioux Falls during August 2001 through May 2004. Water samples were collected during both base-flow and...
Authors
Steven K. Sando, Edward T. Furlong, James L. Gray, Michael T. Meyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, National Water Quality Laboratory

Results of analyses of the fungicide Chlorothalonil, its degradation products, and other selected pesticides at 22 surface-water sites in five Southern states, 2003-04

In accordance with the mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, a pesticide study was conducted during 2003–04 to determine the occurrence of the fungicide chlorothalonil and its degradation products at 22 surface-water sites in five Southern States. Water-quality samples were collected during the peanut-growing season (June–September) in 2003...
Authors
Elisabeth A. Scribner, James L. Orlando, William A. Battaglin, Mark W. Sandstrom, Kathryn Kuivila, Michael T. Meyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center, National Water Quality Laboratory

Concentration of selected herbicides, herbicide degradation products, and nutrients in the lower Mississippi River, Louisiana, April 1991 through December 2003

No abstract available.
Authors
Elisabeth A. Scribner, Donald A. Goolsby, William A. Battaglin, Michael T. Meyer, E.M. Thurman
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center

Urban contributions of glyphosate and its degradate AMPA to streams in the United States

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, being routinely applied to control weeds in both agricultural and urban settings. Microbial degradation of glyphosate produces aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA). The high polarity and water-solubility of glyphosate and AMPA has, until recently, made their analysis in water samples problematic. Thus, compared to other herbicides...
Authors
D.W. Kolpin, E.M. Thurman, E.A. Lee, M. T. Meyer, E. T. Furlong, S.T. Glassmeyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Evaluation of the persistence of micropollutants through pure-oxygen activated sludge nitrification and denitrification

The persistence of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and household and industrial chemicals through a pure-oxygen activated sludge, nitrification, denitrification wastewater treatment facility was evaluated. Of the 125 micropollutants that were tested in this study, 55 compounds were detected in the untreated wastewater, and 27 compounds were detected in the disinfected effluent. The persistent...
Authors
A.D. Levine, M. T. Meyer, G. Kish
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Occurrence of antibiotics in wastewater treatment facilities in Wisconsin, USA

Samples from several wastewater treatment facilities in Wisconsin were screened for the presence of 21 antibiotic compounds. These facilities spanned a range of community size served (average daily flow from 0.0212 to 23.6 million gallons/day), secondary treatment processes, geographic locations across the state, and they discharged the treated effluents to both surface and ground waters...
Authors
K.G. Karthikeyan, M. T. Meyer
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals in selected north-central and northwestern Arkansas streams

Recently, our attention has focused on the low level detection of many antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other organic chemicals in water resources. The limited studies available suggest that urban or rural streams receiving wastewater effluent are more susceptible to contamination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other...
Authors
B. E. Haggard, J.M. Galloway, W. R. Green, M. T. Meyer
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center

Occurrence and transport of agricultural chemicals in Leary Weber Ditch Basin, Hancock County, Indiana, 2003-04

Leary Weber Ditch Basin, Hancock County, Indiana, is one of seven first-order basins selected from across the United States as part of the Agricultural Chemicals: Source, Transport, and Fate study conducted by the National Water-Quality Assessment Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. The nationwide study was designed to increase the understanding of the links between the sources of...
Authors
Nancy T. Baker, Wesley W. Stone, John T. Wilson, Michael T. Meyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center

Enantiomeric separation of metolachlor and its metabolites using LC-MS and CZE

The stereoisomers of metolachlor and its two polar metabolites [ethane sulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OXA)] were separated using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), respectively. The separation of metolachlor enantiomers was achieved using a LC–MS equipped with a chiral stationary phase based on cellulose tris(3,5...
Authors
C. John Klein, R.J. Schneider, M. T. Meyer, D.S. Aga
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Occurrence of pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater constituents in selected streams in northern Arkansas, 2004

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the University of Arkansas and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, collected data in 2004 to determine the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater constituents, including many constituents of emerging environmental concern, in selected streams in northern Arkansas. Samples were collected in...
Authors
Joel M. Galloway, Brian E. Haggard, Michael T. Meyers, W. Reed Green
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center

Occurrence of selected pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical compounds, and stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios, in a riverbank filtration study, Platte River, Nebraska, 2001 to 2003, Volume 1

Although studied extensively in recent years in Europe, the occurrence of endocrine disrupters and other organic wastewater compounds in the environment in the United States is not well documented. To better understand the efficiency of riverbank filtration with respect to endocrine disrupting compounds and to evaluate the use of riverbank filtration as an effective means of drinking...
Authors
J. R. Vogel, Ingrid M. Verstraeten, T. B. Coplen, E. T. Furlong, M. T. Meyer, L. B. Barber
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Summary of significant results from studies of triazine herbicides and their degradation products in surface water, ground water, and precipitation in the midwestern United States during the 1990s

Nonpoint-source contamination of water resources from triazine herbicides has been a major water-quality issue during the 1990s in the United States. To address this issue, studies of surface water, ground water, and precipitation have been carried out by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Midwestern United States. Reconnaissance studies of 147 streams were conducted to determine the...
Authors
Elisabeth A. Scribner, E.M. Thurman, Donald A. Goolsby, Michael T. Meyer, William A. Battaglin, Dana W. Kolpin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Central Midwest Water Science Center

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Kansas Water Science Center Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) was established in 1987. The OGRL is a multidisciplinary program that contributes knowledge about the distribution, fate, transport, and effects of new and understudied organic compounds that may affect human health and (or) ecosystems. 

The OGRL consists of two units: Algal and Other Environmental Toxins (AET) Unit and Environmental Organic Chemistry (EOC) Unit. The OGRL does independent and collaborative research, develops robust analytical methods, and provides fee-for-service analytical laboratory analyses.

Algal and Other Environmental Toxins Unit

The Algal and Environmental Toxins Unit has the capability to detect toxins that could be harmful to human health and the environment. 

OGRL Scientists standing near a dam spillway preparing to use a field Turbidimeter in the bed of a truck.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

 

  •  Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques in low and high salinity waters for the following toxins: anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin, microcystin, and saxitoxin. 

     

  • Liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry for the following: 

     

    •  Total and dissolved freshwater toxins (includes 13 analytes)

       

    •  Total and dissolved marine toxins (includes 9 analytes)

       

    • Total and dissolved freshwater and marine toxins (includes 21 analytes)

       

    •  Nontarget screening

 

Environmental Organic Chemistry Unit

Using state-of-the-art instrumentation and techniques, the Environmental Organic Chemistry Unit analyzes samples from various matrices to determine the occurrence of organic contaminants in the environment. 

OGRL scientist standing in water using a net to collect fish during a visit to a fish hatchery in Kansas.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

  •  Sample preparation, including filtering, accelerated solvent extractions, bioassay extractions, and solid-phase extractions. 

     

  •  Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry methods in water and solids (soil, sediment, and biosolids) for the following: 

     

    •  Artificial sweeteners (includes 5 analytes) 

       

    •  Atrazine

       

    •  Glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and glufosinate

       

    •  Four class antibiotic method (includes 33 analytes)

       

    • Pharmaceutical method (includes 84 compounds)

       

    • Hormones: androgens, conjugates, and estrogens (includes 32 analytes)

       

    •  Hormones: progestins (includes 11 analytes) 

       

    •  Hormones: phytoestrogens (includes 6 analytes)  

       

    •  Mycotoxins (includes 8 analytes)

       

    • Tire leachate: 6 PPD-quinone

 

FY25 OGRL Service List 

FY25 Sample Collection and Processing Directions 

 

 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
Photo of algal toxins in a creek

OGRL Algal Toxins Methods of Analysis

Algal toxins are a group of toxic compounds produced by a range of photosynthetic freshwater and marine plankton. These toxins have the ability to cause sickness in animals and humans and in severe cases lead to death. OGRL has the ability to evaluate and conduct occurrence, fate, transport, effects, and treatability studies methods.
By
Kansas Water Science Center
link

OGRL Algal Toxins Methods of Analysis

Algal toxins are a group of toxic compounds produced by a range of photosynthetic freshwater and marine plankton. These toxins have the ability to cause sickness in animals and humans and in severe cases lead to death. OGRL has the ability to evaluate and conduct occurrence, fate, transport, effects, and treatability studies methods.
Learn More

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

No results found.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 107

Occurrence of organic wastewater compounds in drinking water, wastewater effluent, and the Big Sioux River in or near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 2001-2004

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the city of Sioux Falls conducted several rounds of sampling to determine the occurrence of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) in the city of Sioux Falls drinking water and waste-water effluent, and the Big Sioux River in or near Sioux Falls during August 2001 through May 2004. Water samples were collected during both base-flow and...
Authors
Steven K. Sando, Edward T. Furlong, James L. Gray, Michael T. Meyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, National Water Quality Laboratory

Results of analyses of the fungicide Chlorothalonil, its degradation products, and other selected pesticides at 22 surface-water sites in five Southern states, 2003-04

In accordance with the mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, a pesticide study was conducted during 2003–04 to determine the occurrence of the fungicide chlorothalonil and its degradation products at 22 surface-water sites in five Southern States. Water-quality samples were collected during the peanut-growing season (June–September) in 2003...
Authors
Elisabeth A. Scribner, James L. Orlando, William A. Battaglin, Mark W. Sandstrom, Kathryn Kuivila, Michael T. Meyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center, National Water Quality Laboratory

Concentration of selected herbicides, herbicide degradation products, and nutrients in the lower Mississippi River, Louisiana, April 1991 through December 2003

No abstract available.
Authors
Elisabeth A. Scribner, Donald A. Goolsby, William A. Battaglin, Michael T. Meyer, E.M. Thurman
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center

Urban contributions of glyphosate and its degradate AMPA to streams in the United States

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, being routinely applied to control weeds in both agricultural and urban settings. Microbial degradation of glyphosate produces aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA). The high polarity and water-solubility of glyphosate and AMPA has, until recently, made their analysis in water samples problematic. Thus, compared to other herbicides...
Authors
D.W. Kolpin, E.M. Thurman, E.A. Lee, M. T. Meyer, E. T. Furlong, S.T. Glassmeyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Evaluation of the persistence of micropollutants through pure-oxygen activated sludge nitrification and denitrification

The persistence of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and household and industrial chemicals through a pure-oxygen activated sludge, nitrification, denitrification wastewater treatment facility was evaluated. Of the 125 micropollutants that were tested in this study, 55 compounds were detected in the untreated wastewater, and 27 compounds were detected in the disinfected effluent. The persistent...
Authors
A.D. Levine, M. T. Meyer, G. Kish
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Occurrence of antibiotics in wastewater treatment facilities in Wisconsin, USA

Samples from several wastewater treatment facilities in Wisconsin were screened for the presence of 21 antibiotic compounds. These facilities spanned a range of community size served (average daily flow from 0.0212 to 23.6 million gallons/day), secondary treatment processes, geographic locations across the state, and they discharged the treated effluents to both surface and ground waters...
Authors
K.G. Karthikeyan, M. T. Meyer
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals in selected north-central and northwestern Arkansas streams

Recently, our attention has focused on the low level detection of many antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other organic chemicals in water resources. The limited studies available suggest that urban or rural streams receiving wastewater effluent are more susceptible to contamination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other...
Authors
B. E. Haggard, J.M. Galloway, W. R. Green, M. T. Meyer
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center

Occurrence and transport of agricultural chemicals in Leary Weber Ditch Basin, Hancock County, Indiana, 2003-04

Leary Weber Ditch Basin, Hancock County, Indiana, is one of seven first-order basins selected from across the United States as part of the Agricultural Chemicals: Source, Transport, and Fate study conducted by the National Water-Quality Assessment Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. The nationwide study was designed to increase the understanding of the links between the sources of...
Authors
Nancy T. Baker, Wesley W. Stone, John T. Wilson, Michael T. Meyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center

Enantiomeric separation of metolachlor and its metabolites using LC-MS and CZE

The stereoisomers of metolachlor and its two polar metabolites [ethane sulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OXA)] were separated using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), respectively. The separation of metolachlor enantiomers was achieved using a LC–MS equipped with a chiral stationary phase based on cellulose tris(3,5...
Authors
C. John Klein, R.J. Schneider, M. T. Meyer, D.S. Aga
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Occurrence of pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater constituents in selected streams in northern Arkansas, 2004

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the University of Arkansas and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, collected data in 2004 to determine the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater constituents, including many constituents of emerging environmental concern, in selected streams in northern Arkansas. Samples were collected in...
Authors
Joel M. Galloway, Brian E. Haggard, Michael T. Meyers, W. Reed Green
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Kansas Water Science Center

Occurrence of selected pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical compounds, and stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios, in a riverbank filtration study, Platte River, Nebraska, 2001 to 2003, Volume 1

Although studied extensively in recent years in Europe, the occurrence of endocrine disrupters and other organic wastewater compounds in the environment in the United States is not well documented. To better understand the efficiency of riverbank filtration with respect to endocrine disrupting compounds and to evaluate the use of riverbank filtration as an effective means of drinking...
Authors
J. R. Vogel, Ingrid M. Verstraeten, T. B. Coplen, E. T. Furlong, M. T. Meyer, L. B. Barber
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Summary of significant results from studies of triazine herbicides and their degradation products in surface water, ground water, and precipitation in the midwestern United States during the 1990s

Nonpoint-source contamination of water resources from triazine herbicides has been a major water-quality issue during the 1990s in the United States. To address this issue, studies of surface water, ground water, and precipitation have been carried out by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Midwestern United States. Reconnaissance studies of 147 streams were conducted to determine the...
Authors
Elisabeth A. Scribner, E.M. Thurman, Donald A. Goolsby, Michael T. Meyer, William A. Battaglin, Dana W. Kolpin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Central Midwest Water Science Center
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