Projects Related to the Emerging Contaminants

California Pesticides: A Data Visualization Tool to Link Pesticide Use and Management to Water Quality

Despite California's data-rich environment, there are still many obstacles when trying to access and understand pesticide data at the nexus of water quality, ecological effects, and human health. We recognize a need to fill data gaps, not necessarily by collecting new data, but by better leveraging information already technically in the public domain. The goal of this project is to bring pesticide reporting, occurrence, and toxicity data together in ways that yield insights and meet the expressed needs of stakeholders in clear, efficient, credible, and repeatable ways.

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

A recent analysis of PFAS in the surface waters of SF Bay was conducted to understand the occurrence, fate, and potential risks to ecological and human health. Eleven of 40 PFAS were detected at part per trillions (ppt) concentrations in ambient water collected in 2021 from 22 sites in the Bay. Seven PFAS (PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFBS, PFHxS, and PFOS), were found in at least 50% of samples. Concentrations of PFAS in the Bay were generally consistent with similar studies globally for surface water. Sustained, multi-matrix monitoring of this important class of contaminants of emerging concern is a high priority for the RMP.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern Strategy

More than 100,000 chemicals have been registered or approved for commercial use in the US. For many of these chemicals, major information gaps limit evaluations of their potential risks, and environmental monitoring of these chemicals has not been required by regulatory agencies. Nevertheless, researchers and government agencies have begun to collect occurrence, fate, and toxicity data for a number of these chemicals.

A Broad Scan of Bay Contaminants: Non-targeted Analysis of Bay Wildlife

A cutting edge analysis identifies low levels of five unmonitored compounds in wildlife of San Francisco Bay. Bay mussel and harbor seal samples were tested for previously unmonitored contaminants using a non-targeted analysis that screens mainly for long-lived, fat-soluble, chlorine and bromine-rich chemicals. The samples contained five contaminants not previously identified in Bay wildlife, and for which toxicity is largely unknown. Most of the Bay chemical contamination was from high priority contaminants that the RMP already monitors, or closely related compounds.

Publications related to the Emerging Contaminants

The Institute has collectively produced more than 1300 reports, articles, and other publications over the course of its 24-year existence. The following list represents those publications associated with this individual program and its focus areas.

Year of Publication: 2022

Jones C, Davis J, Yee D. Strategy for In-Bay Fate Modeling to Support Contaminant and Sediment Management in San Francisco Bay. Richmond, California: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2022 . Report No.: 1090.  (2.81 MB)

Year of Publication: 2021

Foley M, Sutton R, Yee D, Salop P. 2021 RMP Water Cruise Plan. Richmond, California: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2021 . Report No.: 1050.  (1.52 MB)
Moran K, Miller E, Mendez M, Moore S, Gilbreath A, Sutton R, et al.. A Synthesis of Microplastic Sources and Pathways to Urban Runoff. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2021 . Report No.: 1049.  (9.17 MB)
Mendez M, Lin D, Sutton R. Study of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Bay Area POTWs: Phase 1, Sampling and Analysis Plan. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2021 . Report No.: 1020.  (12.68 MB)

Year of Publication: 2020

Shimabuku I, Chen D, Wu Y, Sun J, Sutton R. Flame retardants and plastic additives in San Francisco Bay: Targeted monitoring of organophosphate esters and bisphenols. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 925.  (17.47 MB) (10.87 MB)
Miller E, Klasios N, Lin D, Sedlak M, Sutton R, Rochman C. Microparticles, Microplastics, and PAHs in Bivalves in San Francisco Bay. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 976.  (1.14 MB)

Where Our Emerging Contaminants Works