Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) take center stage in the 2024 Pulse of the Bay, the signature publication of the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP). In the Pulse, you’ll find the latest science on 12 key classes of contaminants, including PFAS “forever chemicals,” toxic flame retardants, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals derived from car tires. Thanks to the RMP, San Francisco Bay is one of the most thoroughly studied aquatic ecosystems in the world.
The RMP issues the Pulse of the Bay biennially. The purpose of The Pulse is to make the most important information on Bay water quality accessible to water quality managers, decision-makers, scientists, and the public. Our forward-looking science fills critical data gaps to protect the health of aquatic life and local communities.
The 2013 edition of The Pulse was the first to focus on CECs, with the goal of providing an overview of past RMP work, future plans, and a guide to the many chemicals under investigation. Scientists and decision-makers face a critical challenge: identifying which unregulated, emerging contaminants pose the greatest environmental threats to our ecosystem and Bay Area residents. Over the last decade, the RMP focus on CECs has expanded dramatically, reflecting increased resources, successful collaborations, and novel findings with far-reaching impacts. Given the wealth of information generated by the RMP since 2013, and the recent completion of a major update of the RMP CEC Strategy, it is once again an opportune time to summarize the state of San Francisco Bay CECs science and management in the 2024 edition of The Pulse.
We invite you to access the 2024 Pulse of the Bay directly or request a hard copy.
20 Years of Investigating Underregulated Chemicals
The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay has grown into a world leader in studying under-regulated and poorly understood contaminants. The efforts have led to groundbreaking studies about forever chemicals, flame retardants, microplastics, pesticides, tire chemicals, and more—and inspired policy changes.
How Stormwater Studies Can Make the Bay Cleaner
As stormwater sampling across the San Francisco Bay Area reveals more poorly regulated chemicals, those who want clean water in the Bay face a tricky question: what can be done about it? The final part of a special feature series on stormwater monitoring.
“More Science, and Better” for RMP with Historic Grant
“For a lot of years we were very budget constrained, so we were making really small steps in our progress,” says Bridgette DeShields, the Chair of the RMP’s Technical Review Committee. “By having that extra funding it'll allow us to advance at a faster rate—we can make strides in our management actions and trying to meet our long-term goals.”
Hard copies of the Pulse of the Bay disappearing fast
Hard copies of the 25th anniversary edition of the Pulse of the Bay are disappearing fast! This edition celebrates the 25th anniversary of the RMP with a look back at the history of the program, along with articles on emerging contaminants, nutrients, and the Bay margins.
Pulse of the Bay: Contaminants of Emerging Concern
The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in the San Francisco Bay is an innovative collaboration of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, the regulated discharger community, and the San Francisco Estuary Institute.