Barnett Rattner, Ph.D.
Dr. Barnett Rattner is an ecotoxicologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD.
He conducts hypothesis-driven laboratory and field investigations, risk assessments and scholarly evaluations on the toxicity of legacy and contemporary pollutants (industrial contaminants, metals, pesticides, petroleum crude oil) to wildlife and the environment. His current focus is on exposure and adverse effects of anticoagulant rodenticides, flame retardants and pharmaceuticals, comparative toxicology, non-target secondary poisoning associated with rodenticides, alternative testing methods, and screening-level risk assessments. Dr. Rattner actively represents the DOI as a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods, and serves as a special consultant to the Fish and Wildlife Service on issues related to nontoxic shot used in hunt nontoxic shot used in hunt waterfowl.
Active Projects:
- Development of data and models to evaluate the hazard and risk of anticoagulant rodenticides to non-target raptorial species
- Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination and toxicity of neonicotinoids in seed-eating birds
- Harmful algal blooms and bird die-offs in the Chesapeake Bay: A potential link?
- Contaminant exposure and potential reproductive effects in ospreys nesting in Chesapeake and Delaware Bay
- Contaminant-related activities and synoptic reviews in support of client agencies in the Department of the Interior
- Technical assistance to the Fish and Wildlife Service on alternative shot
Accomplishments:
- Authored over 135 publications, co-edited three books (Handbook of Ecotoxicology, Ecotoxicology of Wild Mammals, Anticoagulant Rodenticides and Wildlife), and made over 160 presentations at scientific meetings, workshops and symposia.
- Compiled two widely used internet-accessible ecotoxicological databases (Contaminant Exposure and Effects—Terrestrial Vertebrates database, Biological and Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species Residing in Estuaries).
- Serves as Terrestrial Editor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and as an Editorial Board member of the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, and Outlooks on Pest Management.
Professional Experience
Ecotoxicologist and Physiologist (research scientist, section leader, deputy branch chief) Department of the Interior, FWS, NBS, and USGS (1978-present)
Adjunct Professor University of Maryland, Department of Animal and Avian Sciences & Department of Environmental Science and Technology (1988-2022)
National Research Council Post-doctoral Research Associate, National Naval Medical Center (1978
Guest Worker, National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH (1974-1981)
Instructor and Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Maryland, Department of Zoology (1972-1977)
Education and Certifications
B.S., University of Maryland, 1972 - Zoology
M.S., University of Maryland, 1974 - Zoology, Developmental Biology
Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1977 - Zoology, Environmental Physiology
National Research Council Postdoctoral Associateship, Naval Medical Research Institute, 1978 - Hyperbaric Physiology
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Society of Toxicology
The Wildlife Society
American Physiological Society
Honors and Awards
Distinguished Service Award, Department of the Interior 2018
Fellow, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2017
President, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry World Council 2015
President, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - North America 2012
SETAC Government Service Award 2007
Science and Products
Retrospective ecotoxicological data and current information needs for terrestrial vertebrates residing in coastal habitat of the United States
Contaminant exposure and reproductive success of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Chesapeake Bay regions of concern
Concentrations of metals in feathers and blood of nestling Black-Crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays
Methodological refinements in the determination of 146 polychlorinated biphenyls, including non-ortho- and mono-ortho-substituted PCBs, and 26 organochlorine pesticides as demonstrated in heron eggs
Ranking terrestrial vertebrate species for utility in biomonitoring and vulnerability to environmental contaminants
Environmental factors affecting contaminant toxicity in aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates
Ecotoxicology of mercury
Animal species endangerment: The role of environmental pollution
A review of the role of contaminants in amphibian declines
White phosphorus at Eagle River Flats, Alaska: A case history of waterfowl mortality
Petroleum and individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
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Retrospective ecotoxicological data and current information needs for terrestrial vertebrates residing in coastal habitat of the United States
The Contaminant Exposure and Effects—Terrestrial Vertebrates (CEE-TV) database was developed to conduct simple searches for ecotoxicological information, examine exposure trends, and identify significant data gaps. The CEE-TV database contains 16,696 data records on free-ranging amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals residing in estuarine and coastal habitats of the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific cAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, K.M. Eisenreich, N. H. Golden, M.A. McKernan, R. L. Hothem, T. W. CusterContaminant exposure and reproductive success of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Chesapeake Bay regions of concern
The Chesapeake Bay osprey population has more than doubled in size since restrictions were placed on the production and use of DDT and other toxic organochlorine contaminants in the 1970s. Ospreys are now nesting in the most highly polluted portions of the Bay. In 2000 and 2001, contaminant exposure and reproduction were monitored in ospreys nesting in regions of concern, including Baltimore HarboAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, P. C. McGowan, N. H. Golden, J. S. Hatfield, P. C. Toschik, R.F. Lukei, R. C. Hale, I. Schmitz-Afonso, C.P. RiceConcentrations of metals in feathers and blood of nestling Black-Crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays
Over the past decade, destruction and degradation of wetland habitat has contributed to the decline of wading bird colonies on the Atlantic Coast. In 1998, an initial assessment of the possible contribution of metal pollution to declining heron populations in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays was conducted. Study sites included two heronries in industrialized locations (Pea Patch Island, DE and BaltiAuthorsN. H. Golden, Barnett A. Rattner, P. C. McGowan, K.C. Parsons, M. A. OttingerMethodological refinements in the determination of 146 polychlorinated biphenyls, including non-ortho- and mono-ortho-substituted PCBs, and 26 organochlorine pesticides as demonstrated in heron eggs
A method for the determination of 146 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including four non-ortho- and eight mono-ortho-substituted congeners, and 26 chlorinated pesticides is described. The method consists of ultrasonic extraction, Florisil cleanup, HPLC fractionation over porous graphitic carbon (PGC), and final determination with GC/ECD, GC/MS, or both. Two PCB congeners (PCB 30 and PCB 161) andAuthorsS. Chu, Chia-Swee Hong, Barnett A. Rattner, P. C. McGowanRanking terrestrial vertebrate species for utility in biomonitoring and vulnerability to environmental contaminants
The measurement of contaminant tissue concentrations or exposure-related effects in biota has been used extensively to monitor pollution and environmental health. Terrestrial vertebrates have historically been an important group of species in such evaluations, not only because many are excellent sentinels of environmental contamination, but also because they are valued natural resources in their oAuthorsN. H. Golden, Barnett A. RattnerEnvironmental factors affecting contaminant toxicity in aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates
Physical and natural factors have long been known to influence the toxicity of environmental contaminants to vertebrates. The majority of data that address this topic have been derived from studies on fish, highly inbred laboratory rodents, and man.' The degree to which these factors modify toxicity has principally been elucidated by controlled laboratory experiments. Until recently, the significaAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, Alan G. HeathEcotoxicology of mercury
No abstract available.AuthorsJames G. Wiener, David P. Krabbenhoft, Gary H. Heinz, Anton M. ScheuhammerAnimal species endangerment: The role of environmental pollution
Multiple factors contribute to the decline of species. Habitat destruction is the primary factor that threatens species. affecting 73 % of endangered species. The second major factor causing species decline is the introduction of nonnative species. affecting 68% of endangered species. Pollution and overharvesting were identified as impacting, respectively, 38 and 15% of endangered species. Other fAuthorsOliver H. Pattee, Valerie L. Fellows, Dixie L. BoundsA review of the role of contaminants in amphibian declines
For the past decade, there has been growing concern about worldwide declines in amphibian populations,1,2 and a general phenomenon of declining populations was recognized in the mid-1990's. Subsequent research has validated this concern.3,4 These population declines have been defined either as decreases in numbers of individuals in an area or, preferably because of greater reliability, a decreaseAuthorsDonald W. SparlingWhite phosphorus at Eagle River Flats, Alaska: A case history of waterfowl mortality
White phosphorus has a limited distribution in the environment because it only occurs where it has been directly used by humans. It is not transported aerially for any distance and, due to its density, has a limited ability to disperse through water. Therefore, it is not a contaminant of broad-scale concern. However, where it does occur, it can cause substantial mortality or critically injure popuAuthorsDonald W. SparlingPetroleum and individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
A general treatment of petroleum and PAHs including presentations on composition and characteristics, sources, environmental fate, and effects on plants, invertebrates, fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds, and mammals. A revision of the 1995 book chapter of the same title.AuthorsPeter H. Albers - Web Tools
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government