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: 2019
Occurrence and Sources of Pesticides to Urban Wastewater and the Environment. In Pesticides in Surface Water: Monitoring, Modeling, Risk Assessment, and Management [Internet]. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society; 2019. pp. 63-88. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bk-2019-1308.ch005 .
Optimal Selection and Placement of Green Infrastructure in Urban Watersheds for PCB Control. Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment [Internet]. 2019;5(2). https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000876 .
Pollutants of Concern Reconnaissance Monitoring Progress Report, Water Years 2015-2018. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2019 . Report No.: 942.
(3.37 MB) .
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Prioritizing Candidate Green Infrastructure Sites within the City of Ukiah: A Demonstration of the Site Locator Tool of GreenPlan-IT. Report prepared for the City of Ukiah Department of Public Works under Supplemental Environmental Project # R1-018-0024. Richmond. CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2019 .
(1.62 MB) .
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Regional Watershed Modeling and Trends Implementation Plan. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2019 . Report No.: 943.
(2.25 MB) .
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San Francisco Bay Microplastics Project: Science-Supported Solutions and Policy Recommendations. Los Angeles, CA: 5 Gyres; 2019 . Report No.: 955.
(17.53 MB) .
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Selenium in White Sturgeon from North San Francisco Bay: The 2015-2017 Sturgeon Derby Study. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2019 . Report No.: 897.
(1.17 MB) .
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Small Tributaries Pollutants of Concern Reconnaissance Monitoring: Loads and Yields-based Prioritization Methodology Pilot Study. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2019 . Report No.: 817.
(1.48 MB) .
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Small Tributaries Pollutants of Concern Reconnaissance Monitoring: Pilot Evaluation of Source Areas Using PCB Congener Data. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2019 . Report No.: 956.
(2.31 MB) .
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Understanding Microplastic Levels, Pathways, and Transport in the San Francisco Bay Region. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2019 . Report No.: 950.
(4.95 MB)
(66.14 MB) .
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Year of Publication: 2018
Alternative Flame Retardants in San Francisco Bay: Synthesis and Strategy. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute ; 2018 . Report No.: 885.
(298.68 KB) .
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Conceptual Model to Support PCB Management and Monitoring in the San Leandro Bay Priority Margin Unit: Phase Three - (Coming Soon). Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute ; 2018 . Report No.: 899. .
Contaminants of Emerging Concern in San Francisco Bay: A Strategy for Future Investigations 2018 Update. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2018 . Report No.: 873.
(3.23 MB) .
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Current Knowledge and Data Needs for Dioxins in San Francisco Bay. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute ; 2018 . Report No.: 926.
(3.06 MB) .
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