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: 2021
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) .
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Urban Stormwater Runoff: A Major Pathway for Anthropogenic Particles, Black Rubbery Fragments, and Other Types of Microplastics to Urban Receiving Waters. Environmental Science and Technology Water [Internet]. 2021;. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsestwater.1c00017# .
Year of Publication: 2020
2019-20 RMP North Bay Selenium Study. 2019-20 RMP North Bay Selenium Study. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 1051.
(4.22 MB)
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2019 RMP North Bay Selenium Monitoring Sampling and Analysis Plan. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 969.
(2.08 MB) .
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Contaminants of Emerging Concern in San Francisco Bay: A Strategy for Future Investigations 2020 Update. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 1007.
(1.94 MB) .
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Current-Use Pesticides, Fragrance Ingredients, and Other Emerging Contaminants in San Francisco Bay Margin Sediment and Water. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 934.
(2.8 MB) .
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Expert review of the sediment screening guidelines for the beneficial reuse of dredged material in San Francisco Bay. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 978.
(442.86 KB) .
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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) .
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Methods Matter: Methods for Sampling Microplastic and Other Anthropogenic Particles and Their Implications for Monitoring and Ecological Risk Assessment. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management [Internet]. 2020;16(6). https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ieam.4325 .
Microparticles, Microplastics, and PAHs in Bivalves in San Francisco Bay. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 976.
(1.14 MB) .
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Multi-box mass balance model of PFOA and PFOS in different regions of San Francisco Bay. Chemosphere [Internet]. 2020;252. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32197174 .
Neonicotinoids and Their Degradates in San Francisco Bay Water. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 1002.
(1.8 MB) .
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New San Francisco Bay Contaminants Emerge. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020.
(5.59 MB) .
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Pollutants of Concern Reconnaissance Monitoring Progress Report, Water Years 2015 - 2019. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2020 . Report No.: 987.
(1.6 MB) .
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