Workgroups
Projects Related to the Workgroups
![Photo: Shira Bezalel](https://www.sfei.org/sites/default/files/styles/portfolio_sm/public/projects/SBezalel-20181122-A7301974.jpg?itok=3apVjgBR&c=c0e9d9f30ca160c04443cf919702b389)
Plastics, in their various chemical composition and sizes, pose serious challenges to the vitality of California's ecosystems. Once escaped into the environment, plastic contamination persists for very long periods and breaks down into ever smaller pieces, becoming more readily available to wildlife and populations who live, work, and play in those same habitats.
![Photo credit: Shira Bezalel](https://www.sfei.org/sites/default/files/styles/portfolio_sm/public/projects/Marsh%20by%20Shira%20Bezalel%20%281%29.jpg?itok=5b7tsZER&c=f4d097581d8fe3ca6a78ba488fee8df2)
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.
![PFAS Family Tree with precursor transformation pathways identified.](https://www.sfei.org/sites/default/files/styles/portfolio_sm/public/projects/PFAS%20FIGURE.jpg?itok=xnnbQmSz&c=b0f771f4b6d3d43b67666b8a9e0328ba)
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.
![Monitoring San Francisco Bay for microplastics - photo by Plus M Productions](https://www.sfei.org/sites/default/files/styles/portfolio_sm/public/projects/SFBayMicroplastics_research1_photo4_preview.jpeg?itok=uoR8ZrBA&c=28d207b7c5a0fd337098c4f5648226f4)
Plastic pollution is gaining global recognition as a threat to the resilience and productivity of ocean ecosystems. However, we are only just beginning to understand the scope and impacts of microplastic particles (less than 5 mm) on coastal and ocean resources, and the San Francisco Bay Area is no exception. A preliminary study of nine water sites in San Francisco Bay, published in 2016, showed greater levels of microplastics than the Great Lakes or Chesapeake Bay.
![](https://www.sfei.org/sites/default/files/styles/portfolio_sm/public/projects/pulse13backcover.jpg?itok=HC2Tp3VY&c=1f64562500333563b23eaead1616fa94)
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.
Publications related to the Workgroups
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.
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Year of Publication: 2023
Hydrodynamic and sediment transport data from Whale's Tail marsh and adjacent waters in South San Francisco Bay, California 2021-2022 [Internet]. United States Geological Survey; 2023 . https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/data-releases/datarelease/10.5066-P972R6AW/ .
Optimizing Chemicals Management in the United States and Canada through the Essential-Use Approach. Environmental Science & Technology [Internet]. 2023;57(4). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c05932 .
Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and ultraviolet filters in wastewater discharges to San Francisco Bay as drivers of ecotoxicity. Environmental Pollution [Internet]. 2023;336. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749123014343 .
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: A Chemical Class of Emerging Concern. . Environmental Science & Technology [Internet]. 2023;57(20):7645-7665. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c08244 .
Re-evaluation of the Floating Percentile Method for Deriving Dredged Sediment Screening Guidelines. Richmond, California: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2023 . Report No.: 1143.
(3.4 MB) .
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San Francisco Bay Sediment Modeling and Monitoring Workplan. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2023 . Report No.: 1100.
(478.36 KB) .
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Sediment Deposition and Accretion Data from a Tidal Salt Marsh in South San Francisco Bay, California 2021-2022 [Internet]. U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center ; 2023 . https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/64ff51e4d34ed30c2057b3ae .
Sediment deposition, erosion, and bathymetric change in San Francisco Bay, California, 1971–1990 and 1999–2020 [Internet]. Santa Cruz, CA: United States Geological Survey Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center; 2023 . https://www.usgs.gov/publications/sediment-deposition-erosion-and-bathymetric-change-san-francisco-bay-california-1971 .
Sediment Deposition, Erosion, and Bathymetric Change in San Francisco Bay, California, 1971–1990 and 1999–2020. Santa Cruz, CA: United State Geological Survey; 2023 .
(8 MB) .
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Structure-from-motion derived orthomosaic imagery and digital surface models (DSMs) from the intertidal region at Whale's Tail Marsh, South San Francisco Bay, CA [Internet]. South San Francisco Bay, CA: United States Geological Survey; 2023 . https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/6308060ad34e3b967a8c15c7 .
Tire Wear: Emissions Estimates and Market Insights to Inform Monitoring Design. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2023 . Report No.: 1109. .
Where creeks meet baylands: Opportunities to re-establish freshwater and sediment delivery to the baylands of San Francisco Bay. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2023 . Report No.: 1150.
(24.29 MB) .
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Year of Publication: 2022
A living tool for the continued exploration of microplastic toxicity. . Microplastics and Nanoplastics [Internet]. 2022;2(13). https://microplastics.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43591-022-00032-4 .
Bisphenols in San Francisco Bay: Wastewater, Stormwater, and Margin Sediment Monitoring. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2022 . Report No.: 1093.
(1.22 MB) .
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