Laboratory Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
The labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC are clean, well-stocked, and appointed with modern equipment and a highly talented staff. The three labs analyze samples, conduct controlled-environment chemical tests with GCMS in the Water Qualty lab. Scientists and technicians work with core samples and analyze soils in the Sediment Lab.
Our labs assure reliability, reproducibility, and high quality of its data and information through adherence to USGS Fundamental Science Practices for publications. The use of comprehensive internal and external QA/QC processes to monitor method and analyst performance insure that our labs meet their commitment to publish high quality data of known and documented quality. External, independent oversight is provided by the USGS Branch of Quality Services as our labs are inspected by USGS qualified safety professionals.
There will be a lot more information specific to the labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC coming to this site very soon!
Some specialized USGS laboratories across the United States
![Pollen samples from various plants collected from hedgerows](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_hladik_pollen_samples_1024.jpg?itok=LxQl98RQ)
![Pressurized fluid extractor used to extract organic compounds from solid samples](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_ogrl_pressurized_fluid_extractor_img_6942_crop_1024.jpg?itok=INKFIkvA)
![A customized extraction system used for the collection and extraction of large volumes of water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_alvarez_ecl_high_volume_sampler_1024.jpg?itok=2NYx3aN-)
![The polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS - on the left) and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs - on the right)](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_alvarez_ps_pocis_and_spmd_1024.jpg?itok=Azt3Hksc)
![A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) microbiologist prepares a water sample for enterococci testing](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_givens_water_sample_prep_1024.jpg?itok=Q7QpKS_E)
![Primary leukocytes have been isolated from experimental fish to evaluate functional immune responses](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_iwanowicz_tissue_culture_1024.jpg?itok=7JFBSMwk)
![Attribution of storm-weighted potential contaminant hazard ranks to sampling locations in the SCoRR network](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_jones_contaminant_hazard_rank_map_1024_0.jpg?itok=BDWZD2M5)
![Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_leet_imagexpress_crop_1024.jpg?itok=ThQBqigR)
![Swimming paths of control (left) and copper (right) exposed fish demonstrate changes in swimming behavior](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_puglis_swimming_behavior_tests_puglis_l.jpg?itok=ShceCFJZ)
![Digestive gland from a freshwater snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_lankton_snail_digestive_gland_4x_control_1024.jpg?itok=717VKQrQ)
![Satellite image of a dust cloud from the Sahara Desert moving across the Atlantic Ocean](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/s2001220_1a_mlac_northatlantic_qc.jpg?itok=5QunhrQB)
![A saltwater tracer was injected into the shallow aquifer at a uranium-contaminated site in Colorado](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/geophysics_uranium_naturita_site_c_qc.jpg?itok=yoBwZEJf)
![Microscopic video imaging for computerized analysis of sperm motility](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_jenkins_microscopic_video_imaging_1024_0.jpg?itok=XG8gOIY9)
![Bacteria contained in filter chambers placed in downgradient observation wells were exposed to sulfamethoxazole for 30 days](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_harvey_capecod_filter_chamber_1024.jpg?itok=M5tp9prZ)
![USGS scientist collecting samples of aquatic species from the Pike River, Wis., for later analysis of mercury contamination](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_marvin-dipasquale_pike_r_june_2003_meb_crop_1024.jpg?itok=Ir-glkVG)
![Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an experimental aquarium](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/fathead_minnows_in_experimental_aquarium_barber_crop_1024.jpg?itok=wuNROvYb)
Below are some of the related science elements closely related to Lab Analysis in our WSC
Water Quality Sampling in NWIS: MD DE DC
Analytical Chemistry
Core Technology Team
Chemists and hydrologists develop targeted analytical methods for the quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of organisms and humans. Here are some publications about studies that were completed at the MD-DE-DC WSC with help from the scientists in our labs...
Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Processing, taxonomy, and quality control of benthic macroinvertebrate samples
Analytical properties of some commercially available nitrate reductase enzymes evaluated as replacements for cadmium in automated, semiautomated, and manual colorimetric methods for determination of nitrate plus nitrite in water
Interpreting and Reporting Radiological Water-Quality Data
Determination of human-health pharmaceuticals in filtered water by chemically modified styrene-divinylbenzene resin-based solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Determination of whole-water recoverable arsenic, boron, and vanadium using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are widely used in the manufacture of many products including refrigerants, plastics, adhesives, paints, and petroleum products, have been detected in about one-third of the wells sampled by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the USGS. Chloroform and other trihalomethanes, the most commonly detected compounds, were found in about 9...
Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality?
Pesticide use in the United States has increased because not only must we supply our exploding population with food, but crops and food are also grown for export to other countries. The United States has become the largest producer of food products in the world, partly owing to our use of modern chemicals (pesticides) to control the insects, weeds, and other organisms that attack food crops. But...
The labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC are clean, well-stocked, and appointed with modern equipment and a highly talented staff. The three labs analyze samples, conduct controlled-environment chemical tests with GCMS in the Water Qualty lab. Scientists and technicians work with core samples and analyze soils in the Sediment Lab.
Our labs assure reliability, reproducibility, and high quality of its data and information through adherence to USGS Fundamental Science Practices for publications. The use of comprehensive internal and external QA/QC processes to monitor method and analyst performance insure that our labs meet their commitment to publish high quality data of known and documented quality. External, independent oversight is provided by the USGS Branch of Quality Services as our labs are inspected by USGS qualified safety professionals.
There will be a lot more information specific to the labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC coming to this site very soon!
Some specialized USGS laboratories across the United States
![Pollen samples from various plants collected from hedgerows](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_hladik_pollen_samples_1024.jpg?itok=LxQl98RQ)
![Pressurized fluid extractor used to extract organic compounds from solid samples](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_ogrl_pressurized_fluid_extractor_img_6942_crop_1024.jpg?itok=INKFIkvA)
![A customized extraction system used for the collection and extraction of large volumes of water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_alvarez_ecl_high_volume_sampler_1024.jpg?itok=2NYx3aN-)
![The polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS - on the left) and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs - on the right)](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_alvarez_ps_pocis_and_spmd_1024.jpg?itok=Azt3Hksc)
![A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) microbiologist prepares a water sample for enterococci testing](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_givens_water_sample_prep_1024.jpg?itok=Q7QpKS_E)
![Primary leukocytes have been isolated from experimental fish to evaluate functional immune responses](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_iwanowicz_tissue_culture_1024.jpg?itok=7JFBSMwk)
![Attribution of storm-weighted potential contaminant hazard ranks to sampling locations in the SCoRR network](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_jones_contaminant_hazard_rank_map_1024_0.jpg?itok=BDWZD2M5)
![Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_leet_imagexpress_crop_1024.jpg?itok=ThQBqigR)
![Swimming paths of control (left) and copper (right) exposed fish demonstrate changes in swimming behavior](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_puglis_swimming_behavior_tests_puglis_l.jpg?itok=ShceCFJZ)
![Digestive gland from a freshwater snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_lankton_snail_digestive_gland_4x_control_1024.jpg?itok=717VKQrQ)
![Satellite image of a dust cloud from the Sahara Desert moving across the Atlantic Ocean](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/s2001220_1a_mlac_northatlantic_qc.jpg?itok=5QunhrQB)
![A saltwater tracer was injected into the shallow aquifer at a uranium-contaminated site in Colorado](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/geophysics_uranium_naturita_site_c_qc.jpg?itok=yoBwZEJf)
![Microscopic video imaging for computerized analysis of sperm motility](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_jenkins_microscopic_video_imaging_1024_0.jpg?itok=XG8gOIY9)
![Bacteria contained in filter chambers placed in downgradient observation wells were exposed to sulfamethoxazole for 30 days](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_harvey_capecod_filter_chamber_1024.jpg?itok=M5tp9prZ)
![USGS scientist collecting samples of aquatic species from the Pike River, Wis., for later analysis of mercury contamination](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_marvin-dipasquale_pike_r_june_2003_meb_crop_1024.jpg?itok=Ir-glkVG)
![Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an experimental aquarium](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/fathead_minnows_in_experimental_aquarium_barber_crop_1024.jpg?itok=wuNROvYb)
Below are some of the related science elements closely related to Lab Analysis in our WSC
Water Quality Sampling in NWIS: MD DE DC
Analytical Chemistry
Core Technology Team
Chemists and hydrologists develop targeted analytical methods for the quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of organisms and humans. Here are some publications about studies that were completed at the MD-DE-DC WSC with help from the scientists in our labs...
Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Processing, taxonomy, and quality control of benthic macroinvertebrate samples
Analytical properties of some commercially available nitrate reductase enzymes evaluated as replacements for cadmium in automated, semiautomated, and manual colorimetric methods for determination of nitrate plus nitrite in water
Interpreting and Reporting Radiological Water-Quality Data
Determination of human-health pharmaceuticals in filtered water by chemically modified styrene-divinylbenzene resin-based solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory-Determination of whole-water recoverable arsenic, boron, and vanadium using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
How frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are widely used in the manufacture of many products including refrigerants, plastics, adhesives, paints, and petroleum products, have been detected in about one-third of the wells sampled by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the USGS. Chloroform and other trihalomethanes, the most commonly detected compounds, were found in about 9...
Does the use of pesticides affect our Nation's water quality?
Pesticide use in the United States has increased because not only must we supply our exploding population with food, but crops and food are also grown for export to other countries. The United States has become the largest producer of food products in the world, partly owing to our use of modern chemicals (pesticides) to control the insects, weeds, and other organisms that attack food crops. But...