USGS scientist removing the brain from a fish (a white sucker) collected from Fourmile Creek near Ankeny, Iowa. The scientists tested the fish's brain for the presence of antidepressant drugs. Traces of antidepressant drugs were found in fish and also in the water from Fourmile Creek.

USGS hydrologic technicians collecting a water sample from Hallocks Mill Brook downstream of the outfall of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The technicians collected the sample as part of an investigation of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in WWTP effluents that receive wastewater from pharmaceutical formulation facilities.

USGS scientists processing samples of combined sewer overflow (CSO) water collected after a storm. The samples were analyzed for selected wastewater-related chemicals as part of a study to determine if CSOs increase or decrease the occurrence of wastewater-related chemicals in receiving waters.

During the National Stream Reconnaissance for Emerging Contaminants Project USGS scientists collected water samples from a network of 139 streams across 30 states during 1999 and 2000.

The USGS collected water samples from 11 stream sites in the Croton Watershed (a drinking-water resource for New York City) during 2000 for the National Stream Reconnaissance for Emerging Contaminants Project.

USGS hydraulic technician collecting a water sample from the Jordan River, Utah, for the National Stream Reconnaissance for Emerging Contaminants Project.

Downstream view of the Little Arkansas River near Sedqwick, KS, where sediment and water samples were collected for an Emerging Contaminants Investigation.

This location on the North Branch Boardman River, MI, was used to represent “background” conditions (theoretical uncontaminated conditions) for the National Stream Reconnaissance for Emerging Contaminants Project.

Field technicians measuring field parameters with a multiparameter meter in a stream during a reconnaissance study of emerging contaminants in the environment.

Experienced personnel use proven methods that enable representative environmental samples to be collected from a well in the well network for the National Groundwater Reconnaissance for Emerging Contaminants Project.

View of a wellhead in Idaho that was sampled for the National Groundwater Reconnaissance for Emerging Contaminants Project.

Filling a sample bottle for analysis of emerging contaminants during the National Groundwater Reconnaissance for Emerging Contaminants Project.