Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team
Bumble bees being prepped for pesticide residue analysis.
Vial containing an egg sample that will undergo chemical extraction
A U.S. Geological Survey chemist evaporating sample extracts
Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer
U.S. Geological Survey chemist homogenizes a tissue sample
About the Research
The Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program focuses on the identification and quantitation of trace level organic contaminants (with a special focus on pesticides) in a wide array of environmental media (water, sediment/soil, plants, biota, etc.).
The Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory CTT develops targeted analytical methods for the quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of organisms and humans.
This work focuses on contaminants and emerging issues including pesticides, other agrochemicals (nitrification inhibitors, herbicide safeners), disinfection by-products, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), and multiple other anthropogenic chemicals and their transformation products.
Key Instrumentation
- Two gas chromatograph single quadrupole mass spectrometers for chemical quantitation (water, sediment, tissue)
- Gas chromatograph triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for chemical quantitation (tissue and sediments)
- Liquid chromatograph triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for chemical quantitation (water, sediment, tissue)
- Liquid chromatograph high resolution mass spectrometer for chemical quantitation and identification
- Extraction equipment for working with a variety of sample matrices
Key Analytical Capabilities
- Pesticides and pesticide degradates
- Custom method/matrix development
- Ability to measure environmentally relevant concentrations in small sample volumes.
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.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.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...
Science activities related to the Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team can be found below.
Data related to the Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team can be found below.
Multimedia items related to the Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team can be found below.
Scientific publications related to the Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team can be found below.
Toxicokinetics of imidacloprid-coated wheat seeds in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and an evaluation of hazard
Reconnaissance of mixed organic and inorganic chemicals in private and public supply tapwaters at selected residential and workplace sites in the United States
Safe drinking water at the point-of-use (tapwater, TW) is a United States public health priority. Multiple lines of evidence were used to evaluate potential human health concerns of 482 organics and 19 inorganics in TW from 13 (7 public supply, 6 private well self-supply) home and 12 (public supply) workplace locations in 11 states. Only uranium (61.9 μg L–1, private well) exceeded a National Prim
Methods used for the collection and analysis of chemical and biological data for the Tapwater Exposure Study, United States, 2016–17
Fate and transport of nitrapyrin in agroecosystems: Occurrence in agricultural soils, subsurface drains, and receiving streams in the Midwestern US
Leaching and sorption of neonicotinoid insecticides and fungicides from seed coatings
Occurrence of dichloroacetamide herbicide safeners and co-applied herbicides in midwestern U.S. streams
Highlighting the complexities of a groundwater pilot study during an avian influenza outbreak: Methods, lessons learned, and select contaminant results
Expanded target-chemical analysis reveals extensive mixed-organic-contaminant exposure in USA streams
Neonicotinoid insecticide removal by prairie strips in row-cropped watersheds with historical seed coating use
Methods used to characterize the chemical composition and biological activity of environmental waters throughout the United States, 2012-14
Nitrapyrin in streams: The first study documenting off-field transport of a nitrogen stabilizer compound
Dairy-impacted wastewater is a source of iodinated disinfection byproducts in the environment
About the Research
The Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program focuses on the identification and quantitation of trace level organic contaminants (with a special focus on pesticides) in a wide array of environmental media (water, sediment/soil, plants, biota, etc.).
The Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory CTT develops targeted analytical methods for the quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of organisms and humans.
This work focuses on contaminants and emerging issues including pesticides, other agrochemicals (nitrification inhibitors, herbicide safeners), disinfection by-products, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), and multiple other anthropogenic chemicals and their transformation products.
Key Instrumentation
- Two gas chromatograph single quadrupole mass spectrometers for chemical quantitation (water, sediment, tissue)
- Gas chromatograph triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for chemical quantitation (tissue and sediments)
- Liquid chromatograph triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for chemical quantitation (water, sediment, tissue)
- Liquid chromatograph high resolution mass spectrometer for chemical quantitation and identification
- Extraction equipment for working with a variety of sample matrices
Key Analytical Capabilities
- Pesticides and pesticide degradates
- Custom method/matrix development
- Ability to measure environmentally relevant concentrations in small sample volumes.
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.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.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...
Science activities related to the Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team can be found below.
Data related to the Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team can be found below.
Multimedia items related to the Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team can be found below.
Scientific publications related to the Organic Chemistry Research Core Technology Team can be found below.
Toxicokinetics of imidacloprid-coated wheat seeds in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and an evaluation of hazard
Reconnaissance of mixed organic and inorganic chemicals in private and public supply tapwaters at selected residential and workplace sites in the United States
Safe drinking water at the point-of-use (tapwater, TW) is a United States public health priority. Multiple lines of evidence were used to evaluate potential human health concerns of 482 organics and 19 inorganics in TW from 13 (7 public supply, 6 private well self-supply) home and 12 (public supply) workplace locations in 11 states. Only uranium (61.9 μg L–1, private well) exceeded a National Prim