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Dale Griffin, Ph.D. (Former Employee)

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Dale Griffin

U.S. Geological Survey Microbiologist Selected as an American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer

Dale Warren Griffin, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) environmental public-health microbiologist, was selected as a Waksman Foundation Distinguished Lecturer for the 2020–22 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Lecture Series.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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U.S. Geological Survey Microbiologist Selected as an American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer

Dale Warren Griffin, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) environmental public-health microbiologist, was selected as a Waksman Foundation Distinguished Lecturer for the 2020–22 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Lecture Series.
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Photo of a long string of mostly hollow irregular green spherical cells lying diagonally in a grey environment

The Influence of Aerosols on Harmful Algal Toxin Production and Maintenance

The primary objective of this study is to determine what aerosol events (desert dust storms, volcanic eruptions, fires) or pathways contribute to the propagation of harmful algal toxins. This study provides insight into what type of aerosol events contribute to harmful algal blooms.
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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The Influence of Aerosols on Harmful Algal Toxin Production and Maintenance

The primary objective of this study is to determine what aerosol events (desert dust storms, volcanic eruptions, fires) or pathways contribute to the propagation of harmful algal toxins. This study provides insight into what type of aerosol events contribute to harmful algal blooms.
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map of Northeast US showing antibiotic resistance genes and their proximity of outfalls

USGS SCoRR Project: Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Microbial Communities in Soils and Sediments of the United States

The primary objective of the SCoRR Project is to assess the ability of wastewater sources emanating from septic tank systems, wastewater treatment plant outfalls, combined stormwater/sewer overflow outfalls and overflow events to affect genetic change in residential microbial communities that may present health risks to wildlife, livestock, pets and humans.
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St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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USGS SCoRR Project: Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Microbial Communities in Soils and Sediments of the United States

The primary objective of the SCoRR Project is to assess the ability of wastewater sources emanating from septic tank systems, wastewater treatment plant outfalls, combined stormwater/sewer overflow outfalls and overflow events to affect genetic change in residential microbial communities that may present health risks to wildlife, livestock, pets and humans.
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Map showing Calcium, Manganese, Phosphorous, and Strontium values

Joint USGS/USEPA Pathogens in Soils Geographic Information Systems Project

Studies determine background concentrations of select pathogens in soils of the contiguous U.S. and the influences of geochemistry, weather and climate on these populations.
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Environmental Health Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Joint USGS/USEPA Pathogens in Soils Geographic Information Systems Project

Studies determine background concentrations of select pathogens in soils of the contiguous U.S. and the influences of geochemistry, weather and climate on these populations.
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Colonies of the Bacteria Bacillus Globigii on a Petri Dish

Optimized Approaches Coupled with Interactive Mapping Application Provide a Tool to Visualize the Occurrence of Soil Pathogens

Scientists optimized existing methods to collect and identify microorganisms including Bacillus anthracis, a pathogenic microorganism, in 4,800 soil samples across the United States, and developed a geographic information system (GIS)-based application to visualize microorganism occurrence throughout the United States.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program
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Optimized Approaches Coupled with Interactive Mapping Application Provide a Tool to Visualize the Occurrence of Soil Pathogens

Scientists optimized existing methods to collect and identify microorganisms including Bacillus anthracis, a pathogenic microorganism, in 4,800 soil samples across the United States, and developed a geographic information system (GIS)-based application to visualize microorganism occurrence throughout the United States.
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Satellite image of a dust cloud from the Sahara Desert moving across the Atlantic Ocean

Nutrients in Dust from the Sahara Desert cause Microbial Blooms on the East Coast of the United States

Saharan dust nutrients, particularly iron, deposited episodically in tropical marine waters stimulate marine microbial bloom growth and change microbial community structure.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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Nutrients in Dust from the Sahara Desert cause Microbial Blooms on the East Coast of the United States

Saharan dust nutrients, particularly iron, deposited episodically in tropical marine waters stimulate marine microbial bloom growth and change microbial community structure.
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Southeast Florida and Florida Keys: Antibiotic Resistance in Association with Ocean Outfalls and the Antibiotic Treatment of Diseased Corals

The purpose of these datasets was to define which samples contained antibiotic resistance genes (screened antibiotic resistance gene targets) and the number of detectable targets per sample (sediment, coral mucus and water). These data were determined from samples collected in Southeast Florida and the Florida Keys, in support of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative.
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Analytical inorganic chemistry results for samples collected for the Sediment-Bound Contaminant Resiliency and Response Strategy pilot study, northeastern United States, 2015

Coastal communities are uniquely vulnerable to sea-level rise (SLR) and severe storms such as hurricanes. These events enhance the dispersion and concentration of natural and anthropogenic chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms that could adversely affect the health and resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems in coming years. The U.S. Geological Survey has developed the Sediment-Bound Co
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Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (dPCR) and Presence/Absence Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) Data From the Sediment-Bound Contaminant Resiliency and Response Strategy Pilot Study, Northeastern United States, 2015

The purpose of these data sets was to define which samples contained antibiotic resistance genes (screened antibiotic resistance gene targets) and Vibrio species, the number of detectable targets per sample and the quantity of those respective gene targets per gram of soil. These data were determined from samples collected in the NE US in support of the Sediment-bound Contaminant Resiliency and Re
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Toxic Substances Hydrology, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Experimental PCR Data on Soil DNA Extracts

Bacillus species and B. anthracis presence/absence data were determined in 4,770 soil samples collected across the contiguous United States in collaboration with the PCR data for Bacillus species and B. anthracis rpoB gene PCR amplicon detection was reported as non-detect (n), low (l), medium (m), and high (h). Results for both pag and lef genes of the pX01 plasmid were reported by the University
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Contaminant Biology, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Colonies of the Bacteria Bacillus Globigii on a Petri Dish
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Bottled water contaminant exposures and potential human effects

Bottled water (BW) consumption in the United States and globally has increased amidst heightened concern about environmental contaminant exposures and health risks in drinking water supplies, despite a paucity of directly comparable, environmentally-relevant contaminant exposure data for BW. This study provides insight into exposures and cumulative risks to human health from inorganic/organic/micr
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Paul Bradley, Kristin Romanok, Kelly Smalling, Michael J. Focazio, Nicola Evans, Suzanne C. Fitzpatrick, Carrie E Givens, Stephanie Gordon, James L. Gray, Emily M. Green, Dale W. Griffin, Michelle Hladik, Leslie K. Kanagy, John T. Lisle, Keith Loftin, R. Blaine McCleskey, Elizabeth Medlock-Kakaley, Ana Navas-Acien, David A. Roth, Paul F. South, Christopher P. Weis
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Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Abundance and distribution of large thecosome pteropods in the northern Gulf of Mexico

The ecological role of large thecosome pteropods in the pelagic ecosystem of the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) may be substantial, both in the food web and biogeochemical cycling. We analyzed species abundances, vertical and horizontal distributions of large species with calcareous shells (those collected in 3-mm mesh nets). Pteropod samples were collected following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil
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Sarah Shedler, Brad Seibel, Michael Vecchione, Dale W. Griffin, Heather Judkins
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Gulf of Mexico

Spatially integrating microbiology and geochemistry to reveal complex environmental health issues: Anthrax in the contiguous United States

Maxent models were run using the B. anthracis presence data and/or the animal outbreak presence data. Models run using the animal outbreak data alone utilized two scales: the Outbreak State scale which included only states reporting animal anthrax outbreaks from 2001 to 2013 and the National scale which included all states in the contiguous United States. Three iterations of the environmental data
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Erin Silvestri, Stephen Douglas, Vicky Luna, C.A.O. Jean-Babtiste, D. Harbin, Laura Hempel, Timothy Boe, Tonya Nichols, Dale W. Griffin
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St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Efficiency of bioaerosol samplers: A comparison study

Bioaerosols, including bacteria and fungi, are ubiquitous and have been shown to impact various organisms as well as biogeochemical cycles and human health. However, sample collection poses a challenge for aeromicrobiologists and can determine the success of a study. Establishing a standard collection procedure for bioaerosol sampling could help advance the field. We tested the efficiency (number
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Esra Mescioglu, Adina Paytan, Bailey W. Mitchell, Dale W. Griffin
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St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

The concept of evanescent microbial ecosystems in Earth's atmosphere

This essay presents the hypothesis that short-lived or evanescent microbial ecosystems exist in Earth’s lower troposphere (~ < 4 km). This hypothesis is supported by culture- and molecular-based studies that have shown diverse, viable, and metabolically active microbial communities within Earth’s atmospheric boundary layer. Surprisingly, microorganisms are routinely recovered in samples collected
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Dale W. Griffin
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Contaminant Biology, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Assessment of water quality and fecal contamination sources at Hook Pond, East Hampton, New York

SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Village of East Hampton, New York, conducted a 1-year study from August 2017 to August 2018 to provide data necessary to improve understanding of the sources of nutrients and pathogens to Hook Pond watershed to allow for possible mitigation or reduction of loads. Chronic eutrophication and recent concern over harmful cyanobacteria in Hook

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Shawn C. Fisher, Brendan A. McCarthy, Christopher M. Kephart, Dale W. Griffin
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Poultry litter as potential source of pathogens and other contaminants in groundwater and surface water proximal to large-scale confined poultry feeding operations

Manure from livestock production has been associated with the contamination of water resources. To date, research has primarily focused on runoff of these contaminants from animal operations into surface water, and the introduction of poultry-derived pathogenic zoonoses and other contaminants into groundwater is under-investigated. We characterized pathogens and other microbial and chemical contam
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Laura E. Hubbard, Carrie E. Givens, Dale W. Griffin, Luke Iwanowicz, Michael T. Meyer, Dana W. Kolpin
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Antibiotic resistance in marine microbial communities proximal to a Florida sewage outfall system

Water samples were collected at several wastewater treatment plants in southeast Florida, and water and sediment samples were collected along and around one outfall pipe, as well as along several transects extending both north and south of the respective outfall outlet. Two sets of samples were collected to address potential seasonal differences, including 38 in the wet season (June 2018) and 42 i
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Dale W. Griffin, Kenneth Banks, Kurtis Gregg, Sarah Shedler, Brian Walker
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Colony-forming unit spreadplate assay versus liquid culture enrichment-polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Bacillus Endospores in soils

A liquid culture enrichment-polymerase chain reaction (E-PCR) assay was investigated as a potential tool to overcome inhibition by chemical component, debris, and background biological impurities in soil that were affecting detection assay performance for soil samples containing Bacillus atrophaeus subsp. globigii (a surrogate for B. anthracis). To evaluate this assay, 9 g of matched sets of three
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Dale W. Griffin, John T. Lisle, David Feldhake, Erin E. Silvestri
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Contaminant Biology, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

An overview of bioaerosol load and health impacts associated with dust storms: A focus on the Middle East

Dust storms are an important environmental problem worldwide. The main sources of dust storms include the Sahara, the Middle East, and central and northeastern Asia. Dust storms originating from these regions can be dispersed across oceans and in some cases globally. They occur throughout the year and vary in frequency and intensity. The biological agents (e.g., fungi, bacteria and viruses) and th
Authors
Zahra Soleimani, Pari Teymouri, Ali Darvishi Boloorani, Alireza Mesdaghinia, Nick Middleton, Dale W. Griffin
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

An integrative GIS approach to analyzing the impacts of septic systems on the coast of Florida, USA

An estimated 2.7 million septic systems in Florida, USA are potential ground and surface water contaminant sources that may affect environmental and human health. This study examined the spatial distribution of septic systems, coastal surface water contamination, and related environmental factors of coastal Florida watersheds at the 8-digit hydrologic unit code level. Hydrology, in situ sampling d
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Kyle Flanagan, Barnali Dixon, Tess Rivenbark, Dale W. Griffin
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Contaminant Biology, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Air pollution and respiratory hospital admissions in Shiraz, Iran, 2009 to 2015

Air pollution has been identified as one of the most challenging health issues in urban areas worldwide.The aim of this study was to investigate the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and respiratory disease over a long-term period in Shiraz, one of the largest cities in Iran. Methods: hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases (asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstruc
Authors
Zahra Soleimani, Ali Darvishi Boloorani, Reza Khalifeh, Pari Teymouri, Alireza Mesdaghinia, Dale W. Griffin
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Contaminant Biology, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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SPCMSC research scientist sailed on the JOIDES Resolution to investigate microbiology and geochemistry of trans-Pacific aerosols

Dr. Dale Griffin (Environmental and Public Health Microbiologist, SPCMSC) recently participated on the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)...

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