David Alvarez, PhD
Dr. Dave Alvarez is a Supervisory Research Chemist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
His focus is on the development of innovative methodologies for passive sampler design and complex mixture analysis of various environmental matrices. Research is conducted on emerging and historic contaminants; assessment of the exposure of aquatic and terrestrial organisms and humans to anthropogenic chemicals; and identification of chemicals and their potential sources. The link between chemical occurrence and biological effects are investigated using passive samplers as surrogate biological organisms and screening sampler extracts with in vitro and in vivo tests for estrogenicity, acute toxicity, reproductive and developmental abnormalities. The research is designed to expand the understanding of the roles of physicochemical parameters and environmental factors on the uptake mechanisms of passive samplers. Through our experience and expertise, this research group is recognized as an international leader in the field of passive sampling technologies.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental/Analytical Chemistry, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999
B.S. Chemistry, Missouri Western State College, 1995
Affiliations and Memberships*
2005-present Member, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
1993-present Member, American Chemical Society Environmental Division
1992-present Member, American Chemical Society
Science and Products
Passive Sampling Using SPMDs and POCIS
The application of passive sampling technologies for the monitoring of legacy and emerging organic chemicals in the environment is becoming widely accepted worldwide.
Filter Total Items: 18
Filter Total Items: 17
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 85
Multiple approaches to surface water quality assessment provide insight for small streams experiencing oil and natural gas development Multiple approaches to surface water quality assessment provide insight for small streams experiencing oil and natural gas development
Historic, current, and future oil and natural gas development can affect water quality in streams flowing through developed areas. We compared small stream drainages in a semi-arid landscape with varying amounts of disturbance from oil and natural gas development to examine potential effects of this development on surface water quality. We used physical, chemical, and biological...
Authors
Annika W. Walters, Carlin Girard, Richard H. Walker, Aida Farag, David A. Alvarez
Chronic toxicity of 4-nonylphenol to two unionid mussels in water-only exposures Chronic toxicity of 4-nonylphenol to two unionid mussels in water-only exposures
Limited studies indicate that mussels are generally insensitive to organic chemicals; however, these studies were conducted in acute or short-term exposures, and little is known about the chronic sensitivity of mussels to organic chemicals. We evaluated the chronic (28 days) toxicity of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) to two commonly tested species of mussels: fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) and...
Authors
Chris D. Ivey, Ning Wang, David A. Alvarez, Edward J. Hammer, Candice R. Bauer
Temporal evaluation of estrogenic endocrine disruption markers in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) reveals seasonal variability in intersex Temporal evaluation of estrogenic endocrine disruption markers in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) reveals seasonal variability in intersex
A reconnaissance project completed in 2009 identified intersex and elevated plasma vitellogenin in male smallmouth bass inhabiting the Missisquoi River, VT. In an attempt to identify the presence and seasonality of putative endocrine disrupting chemicals or other factors associated with these observations, a comprehensive reevaluation was conducted between September 2012 and June 2014...
Authors
Luke R. Iwanowicz, A.E. Pinkney, C.P. Guy, A.M. Major, K. Munney, Vicki S. Blazer, David A. Alvarez, Heather L. Walsh, Adam J. Sperry, Lakyn R. Sanders, D. R. Smith
Risk factors associated with mortality of age-0 Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania Risk factors associated with mortality of age-0 Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania
Evidence of disease and mortalities of young of the year (age‐0) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu has occurred during the late spring and summer in many parts of the Susquehanna River watershed since 2005. To better understand contributing factors, fish collected from multiple areas throughout the watershed as well as out‐of‐basin reference populations (Allegheny and Delaware River...
Authors
Heather L. Walsh, Vicki S. Blazer, Geoffrey Smith, Michael Lookenbill, David A. Alvarez, Kelly L. Smalling
Contaminants of emerging concern presence and adverse effects in fish: A case study in the Laurentian Great Lakes Contaminants of emerging concern presence and adverse effects in fish: A case study in the Laurentian Great Lakes
The Laurentian Great Lakes are a valuable natural resource that is affected by contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including sex steroid hormones, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and new generation pesticides. However, little is known about the fate and biological effects of CECs in tributaries to the Great Lakes. In the current study, 16 sites on...
Authors
Zachary G. Jorgenson, Linnea M. Thomas, Sarah M. Elliott, Jenna E. Cavallin, Eric C. Randolph, Steven J. Choy, David A. Alvarez, Jo A. Banda, Daniel J. Gefell, Kathy Lee, Edward T. Furlong, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
Complex mixtures of Pesticides in Midwest U.S. streams indicated by POCIS time-integrating samplers Complex mixtures of Pesticides in Midwest U.S. streams indicated by POCIS time-integrating samplers
The Midwest United States is an intensely agricultural region where pesticides in streams pose risks to aquatic biota, but temporal variability in pesticide concentrations makes characterization of their exposure to organisms challenging. To compensate for the effects of temporal variability, we deployed polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) in 100 small streams across the...
Authors
Peter C. Van Metre, David A. Alvarez, Barbara Mahler, Lisa H. Nowell, Mark W. Sandstrom, Patrick W. Moran
Acute sensitivity of a broad range of freshwater mussels to chemicals with different modes of toxic action Acute sensitivity of a broad range of freshwater mussels to chemicals with different modes of toxic action
Freshwater mussels, one of the most imperiled groups of animals in the world, are generally underrepresented in toxicity databases used for the development of ambient water quality criteria and other environmental guidance values. Acute 96-h toxicity tests were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of 5 species of juvenile mussels from 2 families and 4 tribes to 10 chemicals (ammonia...
Authors
Ning Wang, Chris D. Ivey, Christopher G. Ingersoll, William G. Brumbaugh, David A. Alvarez, Edward J. Hammer, Candice R. Bauer, Tom Augspurger, Sandy Raimondo, M.Christopher Barnhart
Baseline aquatic contamination and endocrine status in a resident fish of Biscayne National Park Baseline aquatic contamination and endocrine status in a resident fish of Biscayne National Park
Surface water, sediment, and fish from Biscayne Bay, coastal wetlands adjacent to the Bay, and canals discharging into the Bay were sampled for determination of baseline contamination in Biscayne National Park. While the number of contaminants detected in canal waters was greater during the wet season than the dry season, no seasonal difference was evident for Biscayne Bay or coastal...
Authors
Timothy A. Bargar, Kevin R.T. Whelan, David A. Alvarez, Kathy R. Echols, Paul H. Peterman
Exposure to the contraceptive progestin, gestodene, alters reproductive behavior, arrests egg deposition, and masculinizes development in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) Exposure to the contraceptive progestin, gestodene, alters reproductive behavior, arrests egg deposition, and masculinizes development in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
Endogenous progestogens and pharmaceutical progestins enter the environment through wastewater treatment plant effluent and agricultural field runoff. Lab studies demonstrate strong, negative exposure effects of these chemicals on aquatic vertebrate reproduction. Behavior can be a sensitive, early indicator of exposure to environmental contaminants associated with altered reproduction...
Authors
Tyler E. Frankel, Michael T. Meyer, Dana W. Kolpin, Amanda B. Gillis, David A. Alvarez, Edward F. Orlando
Year-round monitoring of contaminants in Neal and Rogers Creeks, Hood River Basin, Oregon, 2011-12, and assessment of risks to salmonids Year-round monitoring of contaminants in Neal and Rogers Creeks, Hood River Basin, Oregon, 2011-12, and assessment of risks to salmonids
Pesticide presence in streams is a potential threat to Endangered Species Act listed salmonids in the Hood River basin, Oregon, a primarily forested and agricultural basin. Two types of passive samplers, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), were simultaneously deployed at four sites in the basin during Mar. 2011–Mar. 2012 to...
Authors
Whitney B. Temple, Jennifer L. Morace, Elena B. Nilsen, David A. Alvarez, Kevin Masterson
Synthetic ultraviolet light filtering chemical contamination of coastal waters of Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands Synthetic ultraviolet light filtering chemical contamination of coastal waters of Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Contamination of surface waters by synthetic ultraviolet light (UV) filtering chemicals is a concern for the Virgin Islands National Park (VINP). Discrete water samples were collected from VINP bays to determine UV filter chemical presence in the coastal waters. Spatial distribution and the potential for partitioning between subsurface waters and the sea surface microlayer (SML) were...
Authors
Timothy A. Bargar, David A. Alvarez, Virginia H. Garrison
Developing analytical approaches to explore the connection between endocrine-active pharmaceuticals in water to effects in fish Developing analytical approaches to explore the connection between endocrine-active pharmaceuticals in water to effects in fish
The emphasis of this research project was to develop and optimize a solid-phase extraction method and highperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry method, such that a linkage between the detection of endocrine-active pharmaceuticals (EAPs) in the aquatic environment and subsequent effects on fish populations could eventually be studied. Four EAPs were...
Authors
Tammy L. Jones-Lepp, Randi L. Taniguchi-Fu, Jade Morgan, Trevor Nance, Matthew Ward, David A. Alvarez, Lesley Mills
Science and Products
Passive Sampling Using SPMDs and POCIS
The application of passive sampling technologies for the monitoring of legacy and emerging organic chemicals in the environment is becoming widely accepted worldwide.
Filter Total Items: 18
Filter Total Items: 17
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 85
Multiple approaches to surface water quality assessment provide insight for small streams experiencing oil and natural gas development Multiple approaches to surface water quality assessment provide insight for small streams experiencing oil and natural gas development
Historic, current, and future oil and natural gas development can affect water quality in streams flowing through developed areas. We compared small stream drainages in a semi-arid landscape with varying amounts of disturbance from oil and natural gas development to examine potential effects of this development on surface water quality. We used physical, chemical, and biological...
Authors
Annika W. Walters, Carlin Girard, Richard H. Walker, Aida Farag, David A. Alvarez
Chronic toxicity of 4-nonylphenol to two unionid mussels in water-only exposures Chronic toxicity of 4-nonylphenol to two unionid mussels in water-only exposures
Limited studies indicate that mussels are generally insensitive to organic chemicals; however, these studies were conducted in acute or short-term exposures, and little is known about the chronic sensitivity of mussels to organic chemicals. We evaluated the chronic (28 days) toxicity of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) to two commonly tested species of mussels: fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) and...
Authors
Chris D. Ivey, Ning Wang, David A. Alvarez, Edward J. Hammer, Candice R. Bauer
Temporal evaluation of estrogenic endocrine disruption markers in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) reveals seasonal variability in intersex Temporal evaluation of estrogenic endocrine disruption markers in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) reveals seasonal variability in intersex
A reconnaissance project completed in 2009 identified intersex and elevated plasma vitellogenin in male smallmouth bass inhabiting the Missisquoi River, VT. In an attempt to identify the presence and seasonality of putative endocrine disrupting chemicals or other factors associated with these observations, a comprehensive reevaluation was conducted between September 2012 and June 2014...
Authors
Luke R. Iwanowicz, A.E. Pinkney, C.P. Guy, A.M. Major, K. Munney, Vicki S. Blazer, David A. Alvarez, Heather L. Walsh, Adam J. Sperry, Lakyn R. Sanders, D. R. Smith
Risk factors associated with mortality of age-0 Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania Risk factors associated with mortality of age-0 Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania
Evidence of disease and mortalities of young of the year (age‐0) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu has occurred during the late spring and summer in many parts of the Susquehanna River watershed since 2005. To better understand contributing factors, fish collected from multiple areas throughout the watershed as well as out‐of‐basin reference populations (Allegheny and Delaware River...
Authors
Heather L. Walsh, Vicki S. Blazer, Geoffrey Smith, Michael Lookenbill, David A. Alvarez, Kelly L. Smalling
Contaminants of emerging concern presence and adverse effects in fish: A case study in the Laurentian Great Lakes Contaminants of emerging concern presence and adverse effects in fish: A case study in the Laurentian Great Lakes
The Laurentian Great Lakes are a valuable natural resource that is affected by contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including sex steroid hormones, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and new generation pesticides. However, little is known about the fate and biological effects of CECs in tributaries to the Great Lakes. In the current study, 16 sites on...
Authors
Zachary G. Jorgenson, Linnea M. Thomas, Sarah M. Elliott, Jenna E. Cavallin, Eric C. Randolph, Steven J. Choy, David A. Alvarez, Jo A. Banda, Daniel J. Gefell, Kathy Lee, Edward T. Furlong, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
Complex mixtures of Pesticides in Midwest U.S. streams indicated by POCIS time-integrating samplers Complex mixtures of Pesticides in Midwest U.S. streams indicated by POCIS time-integrating samplers
The Midwest United States is an intensely agricultural region where pesticides in streams pose risks to aquatic biota, but temporal variability in pesticide concentrations makes characterization of their exposure to organisms challenging. To compensate for the effects of temporal variability, we deployed polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) in 100 small streams across the...
Authors
Peter C. Van Metre, David A. Alvarez, Barbara Mahler, Lisa H. Nowell, Mark W. Sandstrom, Patrick W. Moran
Acute sensitivity of a broad range of freshwater mussels to chemicals with different modes of toxic action Acute sensitivity of a broad range of freshwater mussels to chemicals with different modes of toxic action
Freshwater mussels, one of the most imperiled groups of animals in the world, are generally underrepresented in toxicity databases used for the development of ambient water quality criteria and other environmental guidance values. Acute 96-h toxicity tests were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of 5 species of juvenile mussels from 2 families and 4 tribes to 10 chemicals (ammonia...
Authors
Ning Wang, Chris D. Ivey, Christopher G. Ingersoll, William G. Brumbaugh, David A. Alvarez, Edward J. Hammer, Candice R. Bauer, Tom Augspurger, Sandy Raimondo, M.Christopher Barnhart
Baseline aquatic contamination and endocrine status in a resident fish of Biscayne National Park Baseline aquatic contamination and endocrine status in a resident fish of Biscayne National Park
Surface water, sediment, and fish from Biscayne Bay, coastal wetlands adjacent to the Bay, and canals discharging into the Bay were sampled for determination of baseline contamination in Biscayne National Park. While the number of contaminants detected in canal waters was greater during the wet season than the dry season, no seasonal difference was evident for Biscayne Bay or coastal...
Authors
Timothy A. Bargar, Kevin R.T. Whelan, David A. Alvarez, Kathy R. Echols, Paul H. Peterman
Exposure to the contraceptive progestin, gestodene, alters reproductive behavior, arrests egg deposition, and masculinizes development in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) Exposure to the contraceptive progestin, gestodene, alters reproductive behavior, arrests egg deposition, and masculinizes development in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
Endogenous progestogens and pharmaceutical progestins enter the environment through wastewater treatment plant effluent and agricultural field runoff. Lab studies demonstrate strong, negative exposure effects of these chemicals on aquatic vertebrate reproduction. Behavior can be a sensitive, early indicator of exposure to environmental contaminants associated with altered reproduction...
Authors
Tyler E. Frankel, Michael T. Meyer, Dana W. Kolpin, Amanda B. Gillis, David A. Alvarez, Edward F. Orlando
Year-round monitoring of contaminants in Neal and Rogers Creeks, Hood River Basin, Oregon, 2011-12, and assessment of risks to salmonids Year-round monitoring of contaminants in Neal and Rogers Creeks, Hood River Basin, Oregon, 2011-12, and assessment of risks to salmonids
Pesticide presence in streams is a potential threat to Endangered Species Act listed salmonids in the Hood River basin, Oregon, a primarily forested and agricultural basin. Two types of passive samplers, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), were simultaneously deployed at four sites in the basin during Mar. 2011–Mar. 2012 to...
Authors
Whitney B. Temple, Jennifer L. Morace, Elena B. Nilsen, David A. Alvarez, Kevin Masterson
Synthetic ultraviolet light filtering chemical contamination of coastal waters of Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands Synthetic ultraviolet light filtering chemical contamination of coastal waters of Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Contamination of surface waters by synthetic ultraviolet light (UV) filtering chemicals is a concern for the Virgin Islands National Park (VINP). Discrete water samples were collected from VINP bays to determine UV filter chemical presence in the coastal waters. Spatial distribution and the potential for partitioning between subsurface waters and the sea surface microlayer (SML) were...
Authors
Timothy A. Bargar, David A. Alvarez, Virginia H. Garrison
Developing analytical approaches to explore the connection between endocrine-active pharmaceuticals in water to effects in fish Developing analytical approaches to explore the connection between endocrine-active pharmaceuticals in water to effects in fish
The emphasis of this research project was to develop and optimize a solid-phase extraction method and highperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry method, such that a linkage between the detection of endocrine-active pharmaceuticals (EAPs) in the aquatic environment and subsequent effects on fish populations could eventually be studied. Four EAPs were...
Authors
Tammy L. Jones-Lepp, Randi L. Taniguchi-Fu, Jade Morgan, Trevor Nance, Matthew Ward, David A. Alvarez, Lesley Mills
*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