All news related to Emerging Contaminants
Study to build foundational understanding of microplastics pollution in two major rivers SCCWRP and its partners are initiating a three-year study to identify the levels, types and distribution of microplastics in two major Southern California rivers – part of a broader effort ... More |
Effort to link bioassays to biological impacts in fish expands to San Gabriel River SCCWRP and its partners have expanded their effort to understand how bioanalytical cell screening technology can be used to provide early evidence that chemical contaminants in river water are potentially ... More |
Workshop convened to develop expert consensus on microplastics health effects SCCWRP and its partners have convened a multi-part science workshop to build international expert consensus on the health-based thresholds at which microplastics of different sizes, shapes and compositions can be ... More |
New passive sampling approach developed to measure cyanotoxins in freshwater systems SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a proof-of-concept study that a newer, more experimental form of passive sampling technology known as o-DGT can be used reliably to measure levels ... More |
Initial round of bioanalytical screening completed for Bight ’18 sediment, fish samples SCCWRP and its partners have completed screening Southern California Bight sediment and fish tissue samples for chemical contaminants that activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor – the first of three bioanalytical ... More |
Panel develops recommendations for managing vegetation without glyphosate An expert advisory panel convened by SCCWRP to explore options for managing vegetation in Los Angeles County without using the herbicide glyphosate has developed a set of recommended alternative strategies. ... More |
First phase completed for study examining fate of bioactive CECs from treated wastewater effluent SCCWRP and the Orange County Sanitation District have completed the first phase of analysis for a one-year study examining whether bioactive chemical contaminants persist at detectable levels after being discharged ... More |
Non-targeted analysis to be tested in Ventura County source tracking study SCCWRP has launched a study with Ventura County exploring how the unique chemical patterns inside storm drains might be used to identify and track sources of human fecal contamination in ... More |
International study kicks off to standardize microplastics monitoring methods SCCWRP and its partners have launched an international study to develop standardized methods for measuring microplastic particles in aquatic environments, an effort that has the potential to improve the accuracy ... More |
Guidance prepared on how to use bioanalytical assays to screen for contaminants SCCWRP has partnered with the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) to co-author guidance for California’s water recycling community on how to incorporate bioanalytical screening technology into routine water-quality monitoring. The ... More |
Study to evaluate performance of film-based passive samplers for measuring microcystins SCCWRP and its partners have launched a two-year study to evaluate the performance of novel, film-based passive sampling technology for measuring a class of cyanotoxins known as microcystins. The passive ... More |
Film-based passive sampling for tracking cyanotoxins to be evaluated at L.A.-area lakes SCCWRP and its partners have identified at least two Los Angeles-area lakes where a class of cyanotoxins known as microcystins appears to be present, paving the way for researchers to ... More |
Bight ’18 sediment, fish samples to be screened using bioanalytical assays SCCWRP and its partners in June will begin screening sediment and sportfish tissue samples collected from across the Southern California Bight for bioactive chemical contaminants using bioanalytical screening assays. More ... More |
SCCWRP aiding effort to transfer bioanalytical assay technology to end users SCCWRP has been working to build the California water-quality management community’s capacity to screen for bioactive contaminants using bioanalytical cell assays, a response to a State Water Board decision to ... More |
Study to explore potentially cheaper, more precise methods for quantifying cyanotoxins in lakes, streams SCCWRP and its partners have launched a three-year study to evaluate potentially cheaper, more precise sampling and analysis methods for tracking cyanotoxin levels in streams and lakes in the Los ... More |
First large-scale CEC screening study targeting marine environment incorporated into Bight ’18 Bioanalytical cell screening assays and non-targeted chemical analysis are being used for the first time to screen for CECs across the Southern California Bight as part of an expanded Bight ... More |
Discussions underway on how to implement proposed recycled water policy Water recycling agencies and State Water Board staff have begun discussing how to implement a proposed statewide policy that would require recycled water to be monitored using bioanalytical cell screening ... More |
Effort launched to better characterize linkage between bioassays and biological impacts in fish SCCWRP and its partners are launching a new round of exploratory work on bioanalytical cell screening technology to better understand how these assays can be adapted to provide early evidence ... More |
Bight ’18 keeps focus on key issues of management concern More than 80 environmental agencies will examine new and emerging developments in water-quality science and management during the 2018 cycle of the Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program, which initiates ... More |
CEC panel informs proposed update to recycled water policy The State Water Board will consider updating California’s policy on monitoring contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in recycled water as early as this year based on the findings of an ... More |
Expert panel updates recommendations for monitoring CECs in recycled water An expert advisory panel convened by SCCWRP on behalf of the State Water Board to update recommendations for monitoring CECs in recycled water has released its final draft report. The ... More |
Laboratory-based passive-sampling method used to measure sediment contamination SCCWRP and its partners have successfully used prototype passive-sampling methods in a laboratory to measure the freely dissolved concentrations of organic contaminants in sediment. Unlike previous applications of passive-sampling technology ... More |
Initial testing completed for using bioanalytical assays to screen for CECs SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a pair of initial studies that bioanalytical screening tools have the potential to be used to screen receiving waters across California for CECs. ... More |
Passive samplers retrieved from Channel Islands for international oceanic pollutants study SCCWRP and its partners in August successfully retrieved two sets of passive sampling arrays that were deployed over a two-month period near the Channel Islands to help establish baseline concentrations ... More |
Fish exposed to flowing river water to monitor for biological changes SCCWRP and its partners exposed fish to flowing Los Angeles River water for two weeks in September as part of a pilot study examining potential biological impacts from exposure to ... More |
Preliminary testing completed for L.A. River fish flow-through study SCCWRP and its partners have completed preliminary testing for a field study that involves exposing fish to flowing river water in real time to study potential biological impacts from exposure ... More |
Bioassays show promise for CEC screening in SMC study SCCWRP and its partners have demonstrated in a proof-of-concept study that commercially available bioanalytical tools have the potential to cost-effectively screen Southern California waterways for the presence of bioactive contaminants ... More |
CEC advisory panel reconvened to update recommendations for recycled water monitoring SCCWRP has reconvened an expert advisory panel at the behest of the State Water Board to develop an updated set of recommendations for monitoring CECs in recycled water. During a ... More |
International passive sampling study to examine persistent organic pollutants in Channel Islands SCCWRP in June will deploy a series of passive sampling arrays in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to measure persistent organic pollutants (POPs), part of an international effort to ... More |
International passive sampling study to examine persistent organic pollutants in Channel Islands SCCWRP in June will deploy a series of passive sampling arrays in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to measure persistent organic pollutants (POPs), part of an international effort to ... More |
SCCWRP-developed CEC monitoring framework highlighted at State Water Board meeting State Water Board members explored multiple approaches being taken to improve CEC monitoring statewide during an informational meeting agenda item in February. Some of the presentations they heard at the ... More |
SCCWRP research featured at S.D. Regional Board workshop on monitoring technologies Next-generation environmental monitoring technologies being developed by SCCWRP and its research partners were featured at an April workshop hosted by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board that focused ... More |
Sediment samples being analyzed to test CEC monitoring framework SCCWRP and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County have begun analyzing sediment samples collected from across two regions of California for a pilot study that will test-drive a new, ... More |
Flow-through units being deployed along L.A. River to study CECs’ impacts on fish SCCWRP and its partners will expose fish to flowing Los Angeles River water in real time this spring as part of an on-site study examining potential biological impacts to fish ... More |
Promising passive sampling device developed to detect fipronil in receiving waters SCCWRP and its partners have identified a promising, cost-effective passive sampling method for detecting the ubiquitous pesticide fipronil in receiving waters. The passive sampling method for this problematic, high-priority CEC ... More |
Sampling completed for L.A.-area evaluation of bioassay effectiveness for CEC screening SCCWRP and its partners have completed sampling of river water in the Los Angeles region for a study assessing the effectiveness of cell-based bioassays to screen for CECs. Water samples ... More |
Study: Cell bioassays could be effective at screening for potential harm in fish SCCWRP and its partners at the University of Florida have demonstrated in a proof-of-concept study that biological assays built with engineered human cells have the potential to be effective at ... More |
SMC samples advance to nontargeted analysis phase of CEC monitoring framework SCCWRP and its collaborators have advanced some of the 31 water samples collected by the Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) to the nontargeted phase of chemical analysis, a recognition ... More |
SCCWRP working to adapt passive sampling technology to monitor CECs in sediment SCCWRP in January launched a two-year effort to adapt commercially available passive sampling devices to measure the freely dissolved concentration (Cfree) of CECs in sediment. Passive sampling devices consist of ... More |
Gene expression patterns of fish change in response to pollutant exposure, study shows SCCWRP has found that the gene expression patterns of the hornyhead turbot change as they are exposed to different chemical pollutants at different concentrations, a proof-of-concept finding that reveals how ... More |
Pilot study launched to test SCCWRP’s new CEC monitoring framework statewide SCCWRP has launched a three-year pilot study to evaluate its newly developed CEC monitoring framework across Southern California watersheds, an effort to understand how to effectively apply the framework to ... More |