Organic Geochemistry Research Core Technology Team
Pressurized fluid extractor used to extract organic compounds
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer used for the analysis of pesticides
New (2018) instrument laboratory at the OGRL
New (2018) sample processing laboratory at the OGRL
About the Research
The Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program works to develop targeted and non-targeted analytical methods for the identification and quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of humans and other organisms, and uses bioassays to screen for receptor inhibition.
![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/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_ogrl_pressurized_fluid_extractor_img_6942_crop_1024.jpg?itok=J80faEgC)
The Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) CTT focuses on contributing new knowledge on the distribution, fate, and transport of new and understudied organic compounds.
Compounds and contaminants studied by the CTT are suspected of causing undesired effects on animal, human, and ecosystem health. Routine methods of analysis include antibiotics, artificial sweeteners, endocrine disrupting hormones, mycotoxins, and pesticides in surface water, wastewater, drinking water, manures, soils, and sediments. Capabilities include sampling logistics, sample preparation techniques (ASE, EDGE, SPE, and extractions for biological assays), and trace-level targeted analysis (LC-MS/MS). The OGRL CTT is continuously expanding capabilities and offers custom method development for new compounds and matrices, and as such is able to address emerging issues like microplastics and tire wear particles.
Key Analytical Capabilities
- Antibiotics
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Hormones and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds
- Mycotoxins
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pesticides (glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid, glufosinate, atrazine)
- Tire Related Chemicals
Key Instrumentation
- Sample preparation techniques (ASE, EDGE, SPE, and extractions for biological assays)
- Targeted analysis LC-MS/MS
- Three bioinert liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometers
- Two bioinert liquid chromatography/accurate mass spectrometers to understand complexity of chemical mixtures and for identification of unknown chemicals
- Automated bioassay plate reader and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer for measuring receptor inhibition and chemical screening
- Solid phase and pressurized fluid extraction for working with a variety of liquid and solid samples
† Hypertext links to non-USGS products and services; and the use of trade names, trademarks, company names, or other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government.
Environmental Health Integrated Science Team Collaborators
-
Food Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team
The team studies the movement of toxicants and pathogens that could originate from the growing, raising, and processing/manufacturing of plant and animal products through the environment where exposure can occur. This information is used to understand if there are adverse effects upon exposure and to develop decision tools to protect health.Energy Integrated Science Team
The Energy Lifecycle Integrated Science Team focuses on the potential for contaminant exposures in the environment that might originate from energy resource activities including, extraction, production, transportation, storage, extraction, waste management and restoration. Perceived health risks to humans and other organisms will be distinguished from actual risks, if any. If actual risks are...Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
The team studies toxicants and pathogens in water resources from their sources, through watersheds, aquifers, and infrastructure to human and wildlife exposures. That information is used to develop decision tools that protect human and wildlife health.
Science activities related to the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team can be found below.
6PPD-Quinone
Data related to the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team can be found below.
State-Wide Reconnaissance of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), and 6PPD-Quinone in Iowa Streams, 2022-2023
Antibiotic and Antibiotic Resistance Signatures in Iowa Streams, 2019
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Data for Wastewater Samples Collected at an on-Site Separator and Storage Tank at the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) 2015-2019, Morgantown Industrial Park (MIP), West Virginia
Results from U.S. Geological Survey Environmental Health Food Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team, Graton Pesticides (GRAPE) Study, in Graton, California, April–May 2021
Mortality, morphology, and water chemistry for 6PPD-quinone exposed coho embryos
Assessing cell line models for species differences in 6PPD-quinone sensitivity
Water-quality results from a wastewater reuse study: Inorganic and organic compositions of wastewater effluent and select urban and agricultural water types during rain-induced runoff, Chickasha, Oklahoma, 2018-2019
Assessment of Endocrine Disruption in the Shenandoah River Watershed - Chemical and Biological Data from Mobile Laboratory Fish Exposures and Other Experiments Conducted during 2014, 2015, and 2016
Concentrations of glyphosate and atrazine compounds in 100 Midwest United States streams in 2013
Scientific publications related to the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team can be found below.
Simultaneous stream assessment of antibiotics, bacteria, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistant genes in an agricultural region of the United States
Tire-derived transformation product 6PPD-quinone induces mortality and transcriptionally disrupts vascular permeability pathways in developing coho salmon
Establishing an in vitro model to assess the toxicity of 6PPD-quinone and other tire wear transformation products
Juxtaposition of intensive agriculture, vulnerable aquifers, and mixed chemical/microbial exposures in private-well tapwater in northeast Iowa
Contaminant exposure and transport from three potential reuse waters within a single watershed
Transcriptome signatures of wastewater effluent exposure in larval zebrafish vary with seasonal mixture composition in an effluent-dominated stream
Food, beverage, and feedstock processing facility wastewater: A unique and underappreciated source of contaminants to U.S. streams
Pilot-scale expanded assessment of inorganic and organic tapwater exposures and predicted effects in Puerto Rico, USA
Mixed organic and inorganic tapwater exposures and potential effects in greater Chicago area, USA
Polyoxyethylene tallow amine, a glyphosate formulation adjuvant: Soil adsorption characteristics, degradation profile, and occurrence on selected soils from agricultural fields in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, and Missouri
Characterization of polyoxyethylene tallow amine surfactants in technical mixtures and glyphosate formulations using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
Eleven-year trend in acetanilide pesticide degradates in the Iowa River, Iowa
News items related to the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team can be found below.
Connect with members of the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team below.
Michaelah C Wilson
Environmental Chemist
Environmental Chemist
External partners that the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team collaborates with are linked below.
About the Research
The Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program works to develop targeted and non-targeted analytical methods for the identification and quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of humans and other organisms, and uses bioassays to screen for receptor inhibition.
![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/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/ctt_ogrl_pressurized_fluid_extractor_img_6942_crop_1024.jpg?itok=J80faEgC)
The Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) CTT focuses on contributing new knowledge on the distribution, fate, and transport of new and understudied organic compounds.
Compounds and contaminants studied by the CTT are suspected of causing undesired effects on animal, human, and ecosystem health. Routine methods of analysis include antibiotics, artificial sweeteners, endocrine disrupting hormones, mycotoxins, and pesticides in surface water, wastewater, drinking water, manures, soils, and sediments. Capabilities include sampling logistics, sample preparation techniques (ASE, EDGE, SPE, and extractions for biological assays), and trace-level targeted analysis (LC-MS/MS). The OGRL CTT is continuously expanding capabilities and offers custom method development for new compounds and matrices, and as such is able to address emerging issues like microplastics and tire wear particles.
Key Analytical Capabilities
- Antibiotics
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Hormones and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds
- Mycotoxins
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pesticides (glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid, glufosinate, atrazine)
- Tire Related Chemicals
Key Instrumentation
- Sample preparation techniques (ASE, EDGE, SPE, and extractions for biological assays)
- Targeted analysis LC-MS/MS
- Three bioinert liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometers
- Two bioinert liquid chromatography/accurate mass spectrometers to understand complexity of chemical mixtures and for identification of unknown chemicals
- Automated bioassay plate reader and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer for measuring receptor inhibition and chemical screening
- Solid phase and pressurized fluid extraction for working with a variety of liquid and solid samples
† Hypertext links to non-USGS products and services; and the use of trade names, trademarks, company names, or other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government.
Environmental Health Integrated Science Team Collaborators
-
Food Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team
The team studies the movement of toxicants and pathogens that could originate from the growing, raising, and processing/manufacturing of plant and animal products through the environment where exposure can occur. This information is used to understand if there are adverse effects upon exposure and to develop decision tools to protect health.Energy Integrated Science Team
The Energy Lifecycle Integrated Science Team focuses on the potential for contaminant exposures in the environment that might originate from energy resource activities including, extraction, production, transportation, storage, extraction, waste management and restoration. Perceived health risks to humans and other organisms will be distinguished from actual risks, if any. If actual risks are...Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
The team studies toxicants and pathogens in water resources from their sources, through watersheds, aquifers, and infrastructure to human and wildlife exposures. That information is used to develop decision tools that protect human and wildlife health.
Science activities related to the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team can be found below.
6PPD-Quinone
Data related to the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team can be found below.
State-Wide Reconnaissance of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), and 6PPD-Quinone in Iowa Streams, 2022-2023
Antibiotic and Antibiotic Resistance Signatures in Iowa Streams, 2019
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Data for Wastewater Samples Collected at an on-Site Separator and Storage Tank at the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) 2015-2019, Morgantown Industrial Park (MIP), West Virginia
Results from U.S. Geological Survey Environmental Health Food Resources Lifecycle Integrated Science Team, Graton Pesticides (GRAPE) Study, in Graton, California, April–May 2021
Mortality, morphology, and water chemistry for 6PPD-quinone exposed coho embryos
Assessing cell line models for species differences in 6PPD-quinone sensitivity
Water-quality results from a wastewater reuse study: Inorganic and organic compositions of wastewater effluent and select urban and agricultural water types during rain-induced runoff, Chickasha, Oklahoma, 2018-2019
Assessment of Endocrine Disruption in the Shenandoah River Watershed - Chemical and Biological Data from Mobile Laboratory Fish Exposures and Other Experiments Conducted during 2014, 2015, and 2016
Concentrations of glyphosate and atrazine compounds in 100 Midwest United States streams in 2013
Scientific publications related to the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team can be found below.
Simultaneous stream assessment of antibiotics, bacteria, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistant genes in an agricultural region of the United States
Tire-derived transformation product 6PPD-quinone induces mortality and transcriptionally disrupts vascular permeability pathways in developing coho salmon
Establishing an in vitro model to assess the toxicity of 6PPD-quinone and other tire wear transformation products
Juxtaposition of intensive agriculture, vulnerable aquifers, and mixed chemical/microbial exposures in private-well tapwater in northeast Iowa
Contaminant exposure and transport from three potential reuse waters within a single watershed
Transcriptome signatures of wastewater effluent exposure in larval zebrafish vary with seasonal mixture composition in an effluent-dominated stream
Food, beverage, and feedstock processing facility wastewater: A unique and underappreciated source of contaminants to U.S. streams
Pilot-scale expanded assessment of inorganic and organic tapwater exposures and predicted effects in Puerto Rico, USA
Mixed organic and inorganic tapwater exposures and potential effects in greater Chicago area, USA
Polyoxyethylene tallow amine, a glyphosate formulation adjuvant: Soil adsorption characteristics, degradation profile, and occurrence on selected soils from agricultural fields in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, and Missouri
Characterization of polyoxyethylene tallow amine surfactants in technical mixtures and glyphosate formulations using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
Eleven-year trend in acetanilide pesticide degradates in the Iowa River, Iowa
News items related to the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team can be found below.
Connect with members of the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team below.
Michaelah C Wilson
Environmental Chemist
Environmental Chemist
External partners that the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team collaborates with are linked below.