Workgroups
Projects Related to the Workgroups
Statewide Plastics Monitoring Plan & Strategy
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.
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.
Microplastic Pollution in San Francisco Bay
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.
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.
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: 2017
Sampling and Analysis Plan for Microplastic Monitoring in San Francisco Bay and Adjacent National Marine Sanctuaries. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute; 2017 . Report No.: 819. (5 MB) .
Selenium in White Sturgeon Tissues: 2015 Sturgeon Derby. 2017 . Report No.: 834. (1.85 MB) .
The effects of kaolin clay on the amphipod Eohaustorius estuarius: Part Two. 2017 . Report No.: 822. (1.43 MB) .
Water Column Selenium Concentrations in the San Francisco Bay-Delta: Recent Data and Recommendations for Future Monitoring. 2017 . Report No.: 836. (2.56 MB) .
Year of Publication: 2016
Contaminant Concentrations in Eggs of Double-crested Cormorants and Forster's Terns from San Francisco Bay: 2002-2012. 2016 . Report No.: 736. (1.42 MB) .
Effects of salinity on olfactory toxicity and behavioral responses of juvenile salmonids from copper. Aquatic Toxicology [Internet]. 2016;175. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166445X16300911 .
Microplastic Contamination in San Francisco Bay - Fact Sheet. 2015, Revised 2016. 2016. (4.05 MB) .
Microplastic contamination in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Marine Pollution Bulletin [Internet]. 2016;109. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X16303976 .
Microplastic pollution is widely detected in US municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent. Environmental Pollution [Internet]. 2016;218:1045-1054. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749116309629 .
Pollutants of concern (POC) reconnaissance monitoring final progress report, water year (WY) 2015. 2016 . Report No.: 787. (2.71 MB) .
Regional Watershed Spreadsheet Model (RWSM) Year 5 Progress Report. 2016 . Report No.: 788. (1.82 MB) .
Selenium in Sturgeon Muscle Plugs: 2014. 2016 . (460.81 KB) .
The RMP Emerging Contaminants Program - Fact Sheet. 2016. (249.12 KB) .
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