The first study was about monitor estrogens (estrone, 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol, and estriol) in three headwater streams within a concentrated animal feed operation (CAFO) site on a monthly base for a year. In general, estrogen concentrations in the streams are low (<1 ng/l), and appeared to increase in spring, likely due to the mobilization of estrogens from soils upon snow melting/precipitation. Estrogens were detected in the streams during dry periods, indicating the contribution of estrogens from groundwater. The low concentrations of estrogens in stream water were probably the result of the long residence time (~8 months) of the manure in the lagoons where the majority of the estrogens were degraded during storage.

The second study was designed to distinguish between unsewered areas and septic systems application as two possible sources of nitrogen to coastal groundwater by analyzing groundwater samples for pharmaceutical residuals. Groundwater samples were taken through piezometers at shoreline sites in unsewered areas in Northport Harbor and in sewered areas adjacent to Manhasset Bay, both in western Long Island Sound. The frequent detection of the anticonvulsant compound carbamazepine in groundwater samples of Northport (unsewered), together with the fact that few pesticides associated with lawn applications were detected, suggest that wastewater input and atmospheric input are the likely sources of nitrogen in Northport groundwater. High concentrations of nitrogen were also detected in Manhasset (unsewered) groundwater. The low detection frequency of carbamazepine, however suggests that the sewer system effectively intercept nitrogen from wastewater there.