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Chemical and Pathogenic Contaminant Exposure: Emerging Contaminants
“Emerging contaminants” can be broadly defined as any synthetic or naturally occurring chemical or any microorganism that is not commonly monitored in the environment but has the potential to enter the environment and cause known or suspected adverse ecological and(or) human health effects. In some cases, release of emerging chemical or microbial contaminants to the environment has likely occurred for a long time, but may not have been recognized until new detection methods were developed. In other cases, synthesis of new chemicals or changes in use and disposal of existing chemicals can create new sources of emerging contaminants.
Emerging contaminant research in the USGS has focused on environmental occurrence. Recently, fate, transport and other studies that have relevance to potential drinking water issues have become part of USGS research activities on emerging contaminants..
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://health.usgs.gov/dw_contaminants/emc.html
Page Contact Information: Herb Buxton
Page Last Modified: 15-Jun-2006@08:37