OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1025″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_raw_html]JTNDZGl2JTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJjYXJvdXNlbC1jYXB0aW9uJTIwZC1tZC1ibG9jayUyMGQtc20tYmxvY2slMjIlM0UlMEElMjAlMjAlM0NoMSUzRURpdmlzaW9uJTIwb2YlMjBTY2llbmNlJTIwYW5kJTIwUmVzZWFyY2glM0MlMkZoMSUzRSUwQSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1671051904531{padding-top: 50px !important;}”]
The function of the Division of Science and Research is to help ensure that the department’s decision-making is based upon the best possible scientific and technical information. The role of this division is to provide the department with, and access to, expertise and information that supports its technical and policy needs. In addition, the division performs research to meet the information and problem-solving needs, identifies and understands emerging issues that require the department’s attention and advocates/integrates the multi-disciplinary perspective into the department’s identification, analysis and resolution of environmental issues.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”878″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://deptest.nj.gov/dsr/research-staff-expertise/”][vc_column_text]
Nicholas A. Procopio, Ph.D., Director
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1669835604186{padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][info-box-shortcode icon=”fas fa-user-circle” title=”Staff Expertise” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/dsr/research-staff-expertise/” targetlink=”true”][/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fas fa-chart-line” title=”Environmental Trends” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/dsr/environmental-trends/”][/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fas fa-info-circle” title=”Invasive Species” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/invasive-species/”][/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1669835629118{padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][info-box-shortcode icon=”fas fa-clipboard-check” title=”Environmental Standards” buttonlink=”https://www.nj.gov/dep/standards/” targetlink=”true”][/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fas fa-fish” title=”Fish Consumption Advisories” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/dsr/fish-advisories-studies/” targetlink=”true”][/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][info-box-shortcode icon=”fas fa-tint” title=”Private Wells” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/privatewells/” targetlink=”true”][/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][info-box-shortcode icon=”fas fa-microscope” title=”Research Topics” targetlink=”true”]
Air | Chromium | Climate Change | Coastal | Ecological | Environmental Health | Fish Consumption Advisories and Studies | Mercury | Nutrient Related | PFAS | Private Wells | Offshore Wind | Water Quality | Wetlands
[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1775157167089{padding-top: 25px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]
Request for Proposal
- Evaluation of treatment approaches to remove 1,4 Dioxane from domestic well water using point-of-entry or point-of-use technologies at residential homes– Deadline: April 24, 2026 12 pm EDT
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1675258147593{padding-top: 25px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]
Recent Reports
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”modern” color=”blue” spacing=”2″ gap=”10″ c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Fish Tissue Sampling and Fish Consumption Advisory Recommendations for the Musconetcong River (2026)” tab_id=”fish-tissue-musconetcong-advisory”][vc_column_text css=””]Fact Sheet
DSR collaborated with the Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring, as well as New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, to sample fish from the Musconetcong River from areas potentially impacted by a former sludge disposal site along Rt 31 in Warren County. This site is known for PFAS contaminated soil and groundwater and is adjacent to the Musconetcong River. Fish were collected and analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and total mercury (Hg). PFOS was the most detected PFAS, and concentrations in the fillet portions of a variety of fish species exceeded advisory trigger levels. PCBs, mercury, and other PFAS were also detected but did not alter PFOS advisory recommendations. Rainbow trout were a focus of this study due to their recreational value and the resources allocated to the rainbow trout stocking program by NJ F&W. Rainbow trout had significantly lower PFOS concentrations than resident fish and generally resulted in “favorable” advisories (‘unlimited’ or ‘weekly’ consumption). Rainbow trout collected directly from the hatchery had the lowest average concentration of PFOS. Fish collected from an unnamed tributary along Shurts Road had the highest PFAS concentrations for resident fish from this study, indicating increased concern for the tributaries near the Rt 31 Sludge Disposal Site.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”An Ecological and Oceanographic Baseline to Inform Offshore Wind Development Over the Continental Shelf Off the Coast of New Jersey (2025)” tab_id=”1773334569718-c959493a-7610″][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report | Fact Sheet
The purpose of this study was to provide preconstruction regional baseline oceanographic and ecological monitoring to allow for examining potential changes during future development and operational phases of offshore wind. This regional monitoring was also designed to provide valuable information for evaluating ongoing, long-term environmental and ecological changes in New Jersey’s coastal and ocean waters, as well as to support a range of ongoing and planned research and monitoring efforts supported by NJ RMI and other entities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”2025 New Jersey Scientific Report on Climate Change” tab_id=”1769023402742-50384d33-c132″][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report
DEP has an updated 2025 scientific report on climate change that summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of climate change on New Jersey’s environment. The purpose of this report is to inform state and local decision-makers, as well as the citizens they support, as they seek to understand and respond to climate change. This report identifies and presents the best available science and existing data regarding the current and anticipated environmental effects of climate change in our state. This new report updates the 2020 Scientific Report on Climate Change and incorporates the 2022 Climate Change Impacts on Human Health and Communities: Addendum to the Scientific Report on Climate Change as well as several recent New Jersey specific studies, the latest reports from federal and international sources.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Investigation of eDNA techniques to monitor the presence and effects of the right-handed mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, in the Musconetcong River (2026)” tab_id=”1768493701770-0712267d-9756″][vc_column_text css=””]Project Summary
Potamopyrgus antipodarum is a freshwater gastropod native to New Zealand and is a prolific invasive species able to rapidly colonize a wide range of aquatic systems. This right-handed mud snail is commonly known as the New Zealand mud snail (NZMS) and in its native range, can reproduce either sexually or asexually. North American populations are known to be derived from the latter, originated primarily from all female clones (Ponce et al. 2021). P. antipodarum are highly adaptable and occur in high densities in areas where they have become established. Importantly, P. antipodarum are extremely efficient, voracious grazers that can have a significant influence on primary productivity and compete with native species. P. antipodarum establishment can negatively affect community structure and ecosystem functions by reducing algal availability for other herbivorous animals and replacing native invertebrate populations (Geist et al. 2022; Tibbets et al. 2010). Once established, P. antipodarum may be incorporated into the diets of higher consumers, replacing preferred and higher quality native prey (Geist et al. 2022). For potential predator species, there is evidence that P. antipodarum are not easily digested and may lead to malnutrition of these higher consumers, which can have cascading effects on the local food web. Due to its small size, P. antipodarum can easily be transported to new systems, usually by adhering to fishing gear or boats moved between locations. This study investigated the potential presence of P. antipodarum along various tributaries of the Musconetcong and Paulins Kill rivers using traditional sampling and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and attempted to identify impacts to local biodiversity as a result of their presence. An emerging tool in environmental monitoring, qPCR has shown promise in identifying organisms in environmental samples by detecting a unique target sequence of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). This work aimed to produce a reliable procedure for which environmental DNA (eDNA) studies can be conducted and applied to existing biomonitoring frameworks. This project summary was prepared to describe the experimental design and lessons learned of an innovative research project using environmental DNA (eDNA). Study findings should be interpreted conservatively due to inconclusive results amid time and funding constraints.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”PFAS in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Occurrence, Transformation, and Removal Processes (2025)” tab_id=”1767986613526-2bcab9f1-24bd”][vc_column_text css=””]Fact Sheet
The complete details of this study can be found in two peer-reviewed publications at the links below or upon request.
- Assessing PFAS and Their Precursor Transformation in a Landfill Leachate-Impacted Wastewater Treatment Plant (2025)
- From Home to Hazard: Tracking PFAS From Residential Wastewater Through Wastewater Treatment Sludge to Sludge-Derived Ash (2025)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of manmade chemicals that are difficult to break down and remove from the environment. Currently, there is limited information on the fate and transport of PFAS along the treatment stages of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study tracked 40 types of PFAS, several PFAS precursors (chemical compounds that can transform into PFAS), and fluorine (an element found in PFAS) in four New Jersey WWTPs. One WWTP primarily received domestic wastewater and landfill leachate at 13,000 cubic meters per day (about 3.4 million gallons per day). Meanwhile, the remaining three WWTPs (A, B, and C) primarily received domestic and residential wastewater at 3, 0.8, and 13 million gallons per day, respectively. The assessment and quantification of PFAS in WWTPs is the first step for evaluating conventional wastewater treatment technologies. This study led to a better understanding of observed PFAS patterns in WWTPs, alternative analytical methods, and sampling approaches.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Synthetic Turf-A Review of the Current Science (2025)” tab_id=”synthetic-turf-2025″][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report | Fact Sheet
This report is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest peer-reviewed scientific literature and relevant technical reports regarding a number of the issues regarding synthetic turf. The following topics are covered: Users’ Exposure to Harmful Chemicals; Contribution to Stormwater Runoff and Flooding; Microplastics Migration and Environmental Contamination; User Heat Exposure Risks and Urban Heat Island Effect Impacts; Climate Change Impacts from Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Users’ Risks of Athletic Injuries; and Environmental Impacts of Synthetic Turf Disposal. The information provided in each section meets the stringent criteria of scientific rigor and scientific independence.
While the authors have attempted to synthesize a range of topics it is important to point out that there still remains a limited body of science and weight of evidence on each of the topics covered, making it difficult to point to conclusive and defensible findings. Ultimately, communities are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence to determine whether the installation of synthetic turf will fit the needs of their community. Communities contemplating installing synthetic turf should weigh potential pros and cons of synthetic turf and natural grass to identify which field type meets the community’s needs and how to best mitigate some of the identified risks.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Investigation of PFAS and other Emerging Contaminants in New Jersey Fish Tissue, Sediment, and Surface Water (2025)” tab_id=”pfas-cec-fish-tissue-sediment-surface-water”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report | Fact Sheet
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of man-made chemicals that have been extensively used in numerous products and industrial procedures since the 1940s. PFAS can enter the environment in numerous ways, including through industrial releases, or from the discharge of Class B Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF). Releases of PFAS have also been related to aggregate sources such as wastewater discharges and leaching and emissions from landfills that have accepted PFAS in waste. New Jersey’s environment has been particularly impacted by PFAS, with it being found in multiple environmental media, related to known or unknown sources. An earlier occurrence study collected single samples at eleven targeted sites in New Jersey (Goodrow et al, 2020). The current study sought to expand on the earlier study and to provide a directed investigation of several known types of sources that have not been fully characterized. The study examined five categories of potential PFAS releases that relate to AFFF, biosolid application, car washes, industrial activities, discharges of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The study was intended to only provide an initial indication of potential impact from a source, as samples were generally limited to grab samples taken at a single sample collection event. Twenty-one locations were selected for investigation, with 58 subsampling locations chosen to characterize the locations. Grab samples of surface water and sediment were collected at each site and fish were collected where available, for a total of 74 surface water, 71 sediments, and 118 fish samples evaluated for this project. Samples were also collected from a sixth category, five isolated ponds in the state with limited impact from overland migration of contaminants.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in New Jersey Soils: A Statewide Investigation (2025)” tab_id=”pfas-statewide-soil-study”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report Details
This project was co-led by the NJDEP Contaminated Site Remediation and Redevelopment (CSRR) and the Division of Science and Research (DSR). The main goal of the project was to complete a state-wide survey of PFAS in soils to determine the distribution of contamination in New Jersey and as appropriate, quantify a statewide or regional-specific value(s). A total of 157 sampling locations statewide were selected from all counties with the intent of sampling locations with no known PFAS discharges or proximity to a PFAS-contaminated site. Collected soil samples were analyzed for different PFAS compounds. Other analyses included a SPLP analysis to determine PFAS leachability, and other various soil properties including total organic carbon (TOC), particle size, metals, pH, and cation exchange capacity. Soil property information will help better understand the geochemical processes influencing PFAS adsorption by soils.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Harmful Algal Blooms in Select New Jersey Coastal Lakes 2021-2023 (2025)” tab_id=”hab-coastal-lakes”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report | Fact Sheet | Data
The objective of this project was to increase our understanding of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) in NJ lakes, addressing a core need in the state to understand the environmental conditions driving the formation of HABs. Here, the focus was on coastal lakes, principally Deal Lake (and the hydrologically linked Sunset Lake) in Monmouth County, NJ. Coastal lakes differ from other NJ lakes in that they have a connection to the ocean. Two important consequences of this are (1) coastal lakes have higher salinity and conductivity than typical inland lakes, and (2) coastal lakes discharge at ocean bathing beaches, potentially delivering cyanobacteria plumes and their toxins when HABs are present in the lake. A combination of traditional and innovative genomics-based techniques were used to examine water quality and HAB dynamics, as well as their relationship to upper trophic level community structure.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Development of a Coastal Ecological Restoration and Adaptation Plan (CERAP) Informed by Current Wetland Trends (2025)” tab_id=”cerap”][vc_column_text css=””]Fact Sheet
Site Specific Intensive Monitoring (SSIM) of a Raritan River Tidal Marsh Report
Assessment and Monitoring of Tidal Marshes along the Tuckahoe River Report
This study developed a Coastal Ecological Restoration and Adaptation Plan (CERAP) and assessed tidal wetland trends throughout New Jersey. The CERAP was developed as a GIS interface to display data related to coastal vulnerabilities, priority issues to address, implemented restoration projects, and areas of concern for local stakeholders. This project (1) identified priority areas for ecological restoration projects in the coastal zone, (2) collected tidal wetland monitoring data in the Raritan and Tuckahoe Rivers, and (3) created a publicly accessible website and database for the New Jersey Tidal Wetland Monitoring Network (NJTWMN).[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”A 30-Year Heat Wave Analysis in New Jersey (2025)” tab_id=”heat-wave-analysis”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report
This study of heat wave temperature data aimed to determine whether there has been a significant increase in the frequency and duration of heat waves in New Jersey over the 30-year period from 1994 to 2023. Trends in the range between the daily high and low temperatures during heat waves were also evaluated. Heat wave frequency and heat wave temperature range have experienced significant changes (an increase and decrease, respectively), whereas heat wave length did not experience a significant change in the 30-year period. Overall, there is a trend toward more heat waves in recent years and less daily cooling associated with each one.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Salt Marsh Ponds as Harmful Algae Reservoirs (2025)” tab_id=”salt-marsh-ponds-hab”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report | Fact Sheet
Salt marsh ponds (SMPs) make up a vital component of coastal marshes. The ponds provide unique microhabitats for diverse aquatic organisms, including algae, snails, fish, crustacea, and insects; thus, they function as year-round food sources and shelters for many birds and animals that are dependent on marshes. We carried out a two-year study from May 2022 to November 2024 to investigate the temporal and spatial changes of microalgae, with a focus on harmful algae blooms (HABs) and algal/bacterial toxins in the SMPs of the marsh on the Sheepshead Meadow peninsula in Tuckerton, New Jersey. The study is based on a one-year monthly samplings for microalgae and water quality field measurements performed between May 2022 and June 2023, and three additional samplings performed July-August 2023 for HABs toxin detection. The objective of the study was to determine the presence and extent of HABs and related toxins in the SMPs. We hypothesized that the tidal SMPs can serve as inoculants of HABs and potentially function as harmful algae reservoirs and HAB sources for coastal waters.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Plasma Based Treatment Technologies for PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane in New Jersey Drinking Water and Regional Wastewater Treatment Plants (2025)” tab_id=”plasma-treatment-pfas-1-4-dioxane”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report | Fact Sheet
This study used novel plasma-based treatment technologies to improve our understanding of mechanisms to break down PFAS and 1,4-dioxane into inert components. Further, the study sought to develop an environmentally friendly and cost-effective process for the destruction and ultimate removal of these contaminants from water, rather than simply filtering the contaminants. Plasma-based water treatment is a promising technology that uses ionized gas to break down PFAS and 1,4-dioxane in water. Plasma water treatment was tested on wastewater, leachate-impacted groundwater, and landfill leachate. It is hoped that, if successful, plasma can be used in a device to create a Point of Entry Treatment (POET) system, which would be installed at the entry point to a building or home and treat all water entering the building.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Future Projections of Phytoplankton Dynamics and Marine Harmful Algal Bloom Events Due to Climate Change: New Jersey’s Changing Coastal Shelf Ecosystem (2025)” tab_id=”phytoplankton-marine-hab-climate-change”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report
New Jersey’s coast, encompassed within the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB), is characterized by physical and seasonal dynamics that drive phytoplankton growth, abundance, and composition. Phytoplankton are generally highest in abundance during the fall bloom, when the temperature-induced stratification breaks down stimulating mixing and increasing nutrient concentrations in surface waters. The MAB is one of the fastest warming regions of the ocean, which has coincided with small decreases in primary productivity and shifts in the timing of seasonal transitions. The relative contribution of larger groups (e.g., diatoms) to the phytoplankton community has decreased, whereas the relative contribution of smaller groups (e.g., dinoflagellates, green algae) has increased. These trends, including the variation in growth patterns, are likely to continue as climate change progresses. These variations may result in the increase in the harmful overgrowth of the phytoplankton population, known as a harmful algal bloom (HABs). Harmful algal blooms have occurred in NJ marine waters for decades with the potential to negatively impact New Jersey residents and ecosystems. While there is a lack of short- and intermediate-terms studies investigating the future of HABs in the MAB, future conditions associated with climate change will likely increase the potential for marine HAB events.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Development of Electrochemical Treatment Technologies for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-Dioxane in New Jersey Drinking Water and Regional Wastewater Treatment Plants (2025)” tab_id=”electrochemical-water-treatment”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report | Fact Sheet
The study aimed to improve our understanding of mechanisms to breakdown per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane and to develop an environmentally friendly and cost-effective process for their removal in water using novel electrochemical treatment technologies. The BiOSMART Center at NJIT has created a new class of bimetallic alloy nanocatalyst materials (NcM) that show promising results for the breakdown of some PFAS. The best performing NcMs identified during this study were further characterized and tested for groundwater, drinking water, and wastewater applications. It is hoped that, if successful, such materials can be used in a device to create a point-of-use, electrochemical treatment technology for destruction and removal of PFAS and 1,4-dioxane from drinking water.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Calibration Experiments for a Novel Clam Survey Dredge and Monitoring Carbonate Chemistry of Surfclam Habitat (2025)” tab_id=”rmi-surfclam-dredge”][vc_column_text css=””]Full Report | Fact Sheet
Offshore Wind infrastructure in the region is anticipated to impact commercial clam fishing within developed lease areas and affect the federal survey vessel’s ability to assess the health of clam populations. Given the importance of the surfclam industry to New Jersey, the Research and Monitoring Initiative is funding the development and calibration of a novel clam dredge that can be employed within windfarms, which will enable the continuity of the survey and provide critical data for managing the population. For more information about offshore wind, please visit the NJDEP offshore wind site.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]Mailing Address:
PO Box 420
Mail Code: 428-01
Trenton, NJ 08625[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]Office Location:
428 East State Street
1st Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text css=””]Phone Number:
609-322-9579[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]Fax Number:
609-292-7340[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]