Dr. Danielle Cleveland is a Supervisory Research Chemist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Danielle leads the Toxic Elements team within the Environmental Chemistry Branch at the Columbia Environmental Research Center. Toxic Elements and its partners use innovative methods to link concentrations of inorganic contaminants in complex environmental matrices and from multi-stressor events to biological effects. Our expertise includes analyses of low-weight mammal, fish, avian, invertebrate, vegetation, and herpetofauna tissues, as well as surface and pore waters, produced waters, and sediments and soils. Capabilities include inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, microwave digestion, ion chromatography, total mercury analysis, carbon analyses, lyophilization, cryogrinding, and passive and active pore water sampling methods for metals and dissolved organic carbon.
Professional Experience
2014-present: Supervisory Research Chemist, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT), 2007
Science and Products
Validation of Zinc and Nickel Biotic Ligand Models Based on Toxicity Testing in Natural Waters with Ceriodaphina dubia
An Evaluation the Chronic Toxicity of Metals in Water and Sediment to the Unionid Mussel, Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea), in Exposures Representing Conditions in the Tri-States Mining District
Breeding songbird tissue analysis and metal concentrations in tissues, soil and invertebrates collected near nesting sites within the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District, 2016-19
Chemistry data for assessment of the containment pond at Pinyon Plain Mine, 2021
Metal concentrations in sediment and amphibian tissues from wetlands sampled across the United States
Chemistry data for assessment of the containment sediment at Pinyon Plains Mine, 2020
Elements in elk tissues harvested in pre-uranium mining and non-mining areas, 2019
Elements in Kemp's ridley turtle egg contents collected from failed eggs laid by radio-tagged females along the Texas Gulf coast in 2010-2013
Chemical analyses and histopathology of organisms and plants collected from breccia pipe uranium mine sites in the Grand Canyon watershed, 2015-2020
Data for the assessment of the containment pond at Canyon Mine, Arizona, 2019
Data for assessment of the containment pond at Canyon Mine, 2017-2018
Chemistry data for assessment of the containment pond at Canyon Mine, Arizona 2017
Chemical analyses and histopathology of small rodents, vegetation, and soil collected from the Kanab North breccia pipe uranium mine in the Grand Canyon watershed
Results from radiochemical analyses of small rodent whole bodies collected from breccia pipe uranium mines and reference locations in the Grand Canyon watershed.
Responses of juvenile mussels to metals in sediment and water of the Tri-State Mining District
Effects of lead exposure on birds breeding in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District
Influences of water hardness on chronic toxicity of potassium chloride to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea)
The sensitivity of a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) to a permitted effluent and elevated potassium in the effluent
Modeling the bioavailability of nickel and zinc to Ceriodaphnia dubia and Neocloeon triangulifer in toxicity tests with Natural Waters
Direct and delayed mortality of Ceriodaphnia dubia and rainbow trout following time-varying acute exposures to zinc
Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians
Terrestrial ecological risk analysis via dietary exposure at uranium mine sites in the Grand Canyon watershed (Arizona, USA)
Elemental and radionuclide exposures and uptakes by small rodents, invertebrates, and vegetation at active and post-production uranium mines in the Grand Canyon watershed
Evaluation of acute and chronic toxicity of nickel and zinc to 2 sensitive freshwater benthic invertebrates using refined testing methods
Sensitivity of warm water fishes and rainbow trout to selected contaminants
Toxicity of aluminum to Ceriodaphnia dubia in low-hardness waters as affected by natural dissolved organic matter
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Science
Validation of Zinc and Nickel Biotic Ligand Models Based on Toxicity Testing in Natural Waters with Ceriodaphina dubia
Most states use outdated hardness-based criteria to regulate metals in surface waters. The slow adoption of new criteria based on biotic ligand models (BLMs) reflects uncertainty about whether these models can reliably predict toxic effects of metals on aquatic biota across the wide range of water quality conditions affecting bioavailability.An Evaluation the Chronic Toxicity of Metals in Water and Sediment to the Unionid Mussel, Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea), in Exposures Representing Conditions in the Tri-States Mining District
The Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) is a large (about 500 sq. mi.) historical lead and zinc mining area that includes portions of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The TSMD yielded about 460 million tons of ore between 1885 and 1970, resulting in contamination of surface water, groundwater, sediments, and soils in the Spring River and Neosho River basins by lead, zinc, and other heavy metals. - Data
Filter Total Items: 15
Breeding songbird tissue analysis and metal concentrations in tissues, soil and invertebrates collected near nesting sites within the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District, 2016-19
This dataset provides results for the following: (1) metals concentrations in soils surrounding breeding song bird nest sites; (2) metals concentrations in invertebrates (earthworm and grub composites) collected near nest sites; (3) metals concentrations and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in avian blood samples; and (4) metals concentrations, indicators of oxidative stress aChemistry data for assessment of the containment pond at Pinyon Plain Mine, 2021
These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.), major anions (chloride, nitrite+nitrate as nitrogen, sulfate, etc.), organic carbon, and general water quality characteristics in Pinyon Plain Mine containment pond water, invertebrate, vegetation and sediment samples, collected in calendar year 2021.Metal concentrations in sediment and amphibian tissues from wetlands sampled across the United States
The data presented include concentrations of 10 metals in sediments and composite larval amphibian tissues from 20 wetlands across the United States. Sixteen of the wetlands were sampled in 2019 and four were sampled in 2015-2016. Where possible both larval anurans (frogs and toads) and salamanders were collected from each wetland. The data also include information on metal concentrations in amphiChemistry data for assessment of the containment sediment at Pinyon Plains Mine, 2020
These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.) in Pinyon Plains Mine containment pond samples collected in calendar year 2020.Elements in elk tissues harvested in pre-uranium mining and non-mining areas, 2019
These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.) in elk tissue samples (livers and muscle) collected from tribal hunting grounds (pre-uranium mining site) and an elk farm in Wisconsin (non-mining site) in calendar year 2019.Elements in Kemp's ridley turtle egg contents collected from failed eggs laid by radio-tagged females along the Texas Gulf coast in 2010-2013
These data are comprised of measurements of elements (i.e., aluminum, iron, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, tin, antimony, barium, thallium, lead, mercury, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganese, and strontium) in Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) egg contents. The eggs were collected along the Texas Gulf coast in 2010-2013; onlChemical analyses and histopathology of organisms and plants collected from breccia pipe uranium mine sites in the Grand Canyon watershed, 2015-2020
These data are comprised of measurements of aluminum, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, silver, cadmium, thallium, lead, bismuth, thorium, uranium, and mercury in invertebrates, vegetation, and small rodents. Gross alpha activity, gross beta activity, and radionuclide activities (isotopic U, isotopic Th) are also presented for vegetation; radioactivities for smallData for the assessment of the containment pond at Canyon Mine, Arizona, 2019
These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.), major anions (chloride, nitrite+nitrate as nitrogen, sulfate, etc.), dissolved organic carbon, and general water quality characteristics in Canyon Mine containment pond water, sediment, vegetaiton and invertebrate samples collected in calendar year 2019.Data for assessment of the containment pond at Canyon Mine, 2017-2018
These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.) in Canyon Mine containment pond samples collected in calendar years 2017 and 2018.Chemistry data for assessment of the containment pond at Canyon Mine, Arizona 2017
These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.), major anions (chloride, nitrite+nitrate as nitrogen, sulfate, etc.), dissolved organic carbon, and general water quality characteristics in Canyon Mine containment pond water, sediment, vegetation and invertebrate samples collected in calendar year 2017.Chemical analyses and histopathology of small rodents, vegetation, and soil collected from the Kanab North breccia pipe uranium mine in the Grand Canyon watershed
These data are comprised of measurements of aluminum, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, silver, cadmium, thallium, lead, bismuth, thorium, uranium, and mercury in soil, vegetation, and small rodents. Gross alpha activity, gross beta activity, and radionuclide activities (isotopic U, isotopic Th) are also presented for vegetation and soil. Radioactivities for smallResults from radiochemical analyses of small rodent whole bodies collected from breccia pipe uranium mines and reference locations in the Grand Canyon watershed.
These data are comprised of measurements of gross alpha activity, gross beta activity, and radionuclide activities (isotopic U, isotopic Th, Ra-226) in small rodent bodies. Samples were collected at non-mining and U breccia pipe mining sites in various production stages, in the Grand Canyon watershed. - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 18
Responses of juvenile mussels to metals in sediment and water of the Tri-State Mining District
The U.S. Geological Survey and collaborators from EcoAnalysts, Inc., completed field and laboratory studies during 2016–19 to evaluate the toxicity of metals to freshwater mussels in streams draining the Tri-State Mining District. This project consisted of (1) sampling and analysis of metals in water and sediment, (2) surveys of mussel assemblages at sites with suitable mussel habitat, (3) toxicitAuthorsJohn M. Besser, Chris D. Ivey, James L. Kunz, Nile E. Kemble, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jeffery A. Steevens, Heidi Dunn, Ryan FoleyEffects of lead exposure on birds breeding in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District
Lead mining in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District began in the 1700s and continued for nearly 300 years; the waste piles associated with smelting, mining, and milling of lead ores have released metal residues that have contaminated soil and water in the region. Previous studies in the district have indicated potential harm to wildlife, including birds, because of elevated lead concentratiAuthorsRebecka Brasso, Danielle M. Cleveland, Frank R. Thompson, David E. Mosby, Kathy Hixson, Melissa Roach, Barnett A. Rattner, Natalie K. Karouna-Renier, Julia S. LanktonInfluences of water hardness on chronic toxicity of potassium chloride to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea)
Elevated concentrations of potassium (K) often occur in effluents from wastewater treatment plants, oil and gas production operations, mineral extraction processes, and from other anthropogenic sources. Previous studies have demonstrated that freshwater mussels are highly sensitive to K in acute and chronic exposures, and acute toxicity of K decreases with increasing water hardness. However, littlAuthorsNing Wang, Rebecca A. Dorman, James L. Kunz, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jeffery A. Steevens, Suzanne Dunn, David MartinezThe sensitivity of a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) to a permitted effluent and elevated potassium in the effluent
Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled groups of animals in the world and are among the most sensitive species to a variety of chemicals. However, little is known about the sensitivity of freshwater mussels to wastewater effluents. The objectives of the present study were to (1) assess the toxicity of a permitted effluent, which entered the Deep Fork River, Oklahoma (USA), to a unionid mAuthorsJames L. Kunz, Ning Wang, David Martinez, Suzanne Dunn, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jeffery A. SteevensModeling the bioavailability of nickel and zinc to Ceriodaphnia dubia and Neocloeon triangulifer in toxicity tests with Natural Waters
We studied biotic ligand model (BLM) predictions of toxicity of nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) in natural waters from Illinois and Minnesota USA which had combinations of pH, hardness, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) more extreme than 99.7% of waters in a nationwide database. We conducted 7-d chronic tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia, and 96-hr acute test and 14-d chronic tests with Neocloeon triangulifAuthorsJohn M. Besser, Chris D. Ivey, Jeffery A. Steevens, Danielle M. Cleveland, David J. Soucek, Amy Dickinson, Eric J. Van Genderen, Adam C. Ryan, Chris E. Schlekat, Emily R. Garman, Elizabeth Middleton, Robert C. SantoreDirect and delayed mortality of Ceriodaphnia dubia and rainbow trout following time-varying acute exposures to zinc
The potential for delayed mortality following short-term episodic pollution events was evaluated by exposing cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia dubia) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to zinc (Zn) in various 1- to 48-h and 1- to 96-h exposures, respectively, followed by transferring the exposed organisms to clean water for up to 47 h for C. dubia and up to 95 h for trout for additional observation.AuthorsChristopher A. Mebane, Chris D. Ivey, Ning Wang, Jeffery A. Steevens, Danielle M. Cleveland, Michael C Elias, James R Justice, Kathryn Gallagher, Robert N. BrentMetal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians
Amphibian larvae are commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health because they are susceptible to contaminants. However, there is limited information on how species characteristics and trophic position influence contaminant loads in larval amphibians. Importantly, there remains a need to understand whether grazers (frogs and toads [anurans]) and predators (salamanders) provide comparablAuthorsKelly Smalling, Emily Bea Oja, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jon D Davenport, Collin Eagles-Smith, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Patrick M. Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Kenzi M Stemp, Brian J. Tornabene, Zachary J Bunnell, Blake R. HossackTerrestrial ecological risk analysis via dietary exposure at uranium mine sites in the Grand Canyon watershed (Arizona, USA)
The U.S. Department of the Interior recently included uranium (U) on a list of mineral commodities that are considered critical to economic and national security. The uses of U for commercial and residential energy production, defense applications, medical device technologies, and energy generation for space vehicles and satellites are known, but the environmental impacts of uranium extraction areAuthorsJo Ellen Hinck, Danielle M. Cleveland, Bradley E. SampleElemental and radionuclide exposures and uptakes by small rodents, invertebrates, and vegetation at active and post-production uranium mines in the Grand Canyon watershed
The effects of breccia pipe uranium mining in the Grand Canyon watershed (Arizona) on ecological and cultural resources are largely unknown. We characterized the exposure of biota to uranium and co-occurring ore body elements during active ore production and at a site where ore production had recently concluded. Our results indicate that biota have taken up uranium and other elements (e.g., arseniAuthorsDanielle M. Cleveland, Jo Ellen Hinck, Julia S. LanktonEvaluation of acute and chronic toxicity of nickel and zinc to 2 sensitive freshwater benthic invertebrates using refined testing methods
The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is reviewing the protectiveness of the national ambient water quality criteria (WQC) for nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) and compiling toxicity databases to update the WQC. An amphipod (Hyalella azteca) and a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) have shown high sensitivity to Ni and Zn in previous studies. However, there remained uncertainties regarding tAuthorsNing Wang, James L. Kunz, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jeffery A. Steevens, Edward J. Hammer, Eric Van Genderen, Adam C. Ryan, Christian E. SchlekatSensitivity of warm water fishes and rainbow trout to selected contaminants
Guidelines for developing water quality standards allow U.S. states to exclude toxicity data for the family Salmonidae (trout and salmon) when deriving guidelines for warm-water habitats. This practice reflects the belief that standards based on salmonid data may be overprotective of toxic effects on other fish taxa. In acute tests with six chemicals and eight fish species, the salmonid, Rainbow TAuthorsJohn M. Besser, Rebecca A. Dorman, Chris D. Ivey, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jeffery A. SteevensToxicity of aluminum to Ceriodaphnia dubia in low-hardness waters as affected by natural dissolved organic matter
We conducted a series of 7‐d toxicity tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia in dilutions of low‐hardness natural waters, which contained dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations up to 10 mg/L. Stream waters were mixed with well water to achieve 2 target hardness levels (20 and 35 mg/L) and 4 DOC concentrations. Tests with aluminum (Al)‐spiked waters were conducted in a controlled CO2 atmosphere to maAuthorsJohn M. Besser, Danielle M. Cleveland, Chris D. Ivey, Laura BlakeNon-USGS Publications**
Schantz, M.M., Cleveland, D., Heckert, N.A., Kucklick, J.R., Leigh, S.D., Long, S.E., Lynch, J.M., Murphy, K.E., Olfaz, R., Pintar, A.L., Porter, B.J., Rabb, S.A., Vander Pol, S.S., Wise, S.A., and Zeisler, R., 2016, Development of two fine particulate matter standard reference materials (<4 μm and <10 μm) for the determination of organic and inorganic constituents: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, v. 408, no. 16, p. 4257-4266.Atha, D.H., Wang, H., Petersen, E.J., Cleveland, D., Holbrook, R.D., Jaruga, P., Dizdaroglu, M., Xing, B., and Nelson, B.C., 2014, Correction to Copper Oxide Nanoparticle Mediated DNA Damage in Terrestrial Plant Models: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 48, no. 20, p. 12473-12473Turk, G.C., Sharpless, K.E., Cleveland, D., Jongsma, C., Mackey, E.A., Marlow, A.F., Oflaz, R., Paul, R.L., Sieber, J.R., Thompson, R.Q., Wood, L.J., Yu, L.L., Zeisler, R., Wise, S.A., Yen, J.H., Christopher, S.J., Day, R.D., Long, S.E., Greene, E., Harnly, J., Ho, I.P., and Betz, J.M., 2013, Certification of Elements in and Use of Standard Reference Material 3280 Multivitamin/Multielement Tablets: Journal of AOAC International, v. 96, no. 6, p. 1281-1287Zook, J.M., Halter, M.D., Cleveland, D., and Long, S.E., 2012, Disentangling the effects of polymer coatings on silver nanoparticle agglomeration, dissolution, and toxicity to determine mechanisms of nanotoxicity: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 14, no. 10, p. 1165Cleveland, D., Long, S.E., Pennington, P.L., Cooper, E., Fulton, M.H., Scott, G.I., Brewer, T., Davis, J., Petersen, E.J., and Wood, L., 2012, Pilot estuarine mesocosm study on the environmental fate of Silver nanomaterials leached from consumer products: Science of The Total Environment, v. 421, p. 267-272Atha, D.H., Wang, H., Petersen, E.J., Cleveland, D., Holbrook, R.D., Jaruga, P., Dizdaroglu, M., Xing, B., and Nelson, B.C., 2012, Copper Oxide Nanoparticle Mediated DNA Damage in Terrestrial Plant Models: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 46, no. 3, p. 1819-1827Nelson, B.C., Petersen, E.J., Marquis, B.J., Atha, D.H., Elliott, J.T., Cleveland, D., Watson, S.S., Tseng, I.H., Dillon, A., Theodore, M., and Jackman, J., 2013, NIST gold nanoparticle reference materials do not induce oxidative DNA damage: Nanotoxicology, v. 7, no. 1, p. 21-29Zook, J.M., Long, S.E., Cleveland, D., Geronimo, C.L.A., and MacCuspie, R.I., 2011, Measuring silver nanoparticle dissolution in complex biological and environmental matrices using UV–visible absorbance: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, v. 401, no. 6, p. 1993
Cleveland, D., Long, S.E., Sander, L.C., Davis, W.C., Murphy, K.E., Case, R.J., Rimmer, C.A., Francini, L., and Patri, A.K., 2010, Chromatographic methods for the quantification of free and chelated gadolinium species in MRI contrast agent formulations: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, v. 398, no. 7, p. 2987-2995Cleveland, D., and Michel, R.G., 2010, Quantitative analysis by resonant laser ablation with optical emission detection: Resonant laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: Microchemical Journal, v. 95, no. 1, p. 120-123
Cleveland, D., and Michel, R.G., 2008, A Review of Near‐Field Laser Ablation for High‐Resolution Nanoscale Surface Analysis: Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, v. 43, no. 2, p. 93-110
Cleveland, D., Carlson, M., Hudspeth, E.D., Quattrochi, L.E., Batchler, K.L., Balram, S.A., Hong, S., and Michel, R.G., 2007, Raman Spectroscopy for the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory: Quantification of Ethanol Concentration in Consumer Alcoholic Beverages and Qualitative Identification of Marine Diesels Using a Miniature Raman Spectrometer: Spectroscopy Letters, v. 40, no. 6, p. 903-924
Cleveland, D., Stchur, P., and Michel, R.G., 2007, Effect of background gas, sample angle and laser polarization on the enhancement effect of resonant laser ablation: Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, v. 22, no. 7, p. 745-753
Hudspeth, E.D., Cleveland, D., Batchler, K.L., Nguyen, P.A., Feaser, T.L., Quattrochi, L.E., Morenz, J., Balram, S.A., Michel, R.G., Zhou, J.X., and Lombardi, D., 2006, Teaching Raman Spectroscopy in Both the Undergraduate Classroom and the Laboratory with a Portable Raman Instrument: Spectroscopy Letters, v. 39, no. 1, p. 99-115
Cleveland, D., Stchur, P., Hou, X., Yang, K.X., Zhou, J., and Michel, R.G., 2005, Resonant Laser Ablation of Metals Detected by Atomic Emission in a Microwave Plasma and by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry: Applied Spectroscopy, v. 59, no. 12, p. 1427-1444
Stchur, P., Cleveland, D., Zhou, J., and Michel, R.G., 2002, A review of recent applications of near infrared spectroscopy, and of the characteristics of a novel PbS CCD array-based near-infrared spectrometer: Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, v. 37, no. 4, p. 383-428
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.