Donald Tillitt, PhD
Dr. Don Tillitt is a Research Toxicologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Don has been at the Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) since 1989, then part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He leads research on the effects of chemicals on fish and wildlife, with an emphasis on reproduction and development in fish. His research interests focus on developmental effects of persistent chemicals in fish. Multiple levels of biological organization are generally evaluated in his research efforts, with endpoints consisting of molecular, biochemical, histology, and behavioral-level effects. Recent research projects in his laboratory include: 1) effects of PCBs and dioxins on development in sturgeon species; 2) causes and effects of thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiencies on Great Lakes salmonines; 3) effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on sexual differentiation and gonad development in fish; and 4) transgenerational epigenetic effects on endocrine disrupting chemicals across vertebrate taxa. Don has served in a variety of capacities for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, currently serves as an Editor for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Don has adjunct professor appointments in the Biological Sciences and the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. He serves on graduate student advisory committees, offers guest lectures, and has taught Environmental Toxicology since 1992.
Professional Experience
2013-present Senior Scientist, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO
1989-2012 Research Chemist, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO
1983-1989 Graduate Assistant, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University, 1989
M.S. Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 1986
B.S. Ag. Biochemistry, Michigan State University, 1981
B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 1981
Affiliations and Memberships*
2010-present Adjunct Professor, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
1991-present Adjunct Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
1991-2010 Adjunct Professor, Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
1983-present Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
American Fisheries Society (lifetime member)
International Association of Great Lakes Research (lifetime member)
Science and Products
Use of the semipermeable membrane device as an in situ sampler of waterborne bioavailable PCDD and PCDF residues at sub-parts-per-quadrillion concentrations
Deformities in birds of the Great Lakes region. Assigning causality
Accumulation of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents by double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus, Pelicaniformes) chicks in the North American Great Lakes
A toxic equivalency factor scale for polychlorinated dibenzofurans
Large-scale dialysis of sample lipids
Dioxin-like toxic potency in Forster's tern eggs from Green Bay, Lake Michigan, North America
Determination of mono- and non-o,o′-chlorine substituted polychlorinated biphenyls in Aroclors and environmental samples
A comparison of water quality criteria for the Great Lakes based on human and wildlife health
Caspian tern reproduction in the Saginaw Bay ecosystem following a 100-year flood event
Uptake of planar polychlorinated biphenyls and 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dibenzo-p-dioxins by birds nesting in the lower Fox River and Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Biomagnification of bioassay derived 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents in tissues of birds at Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 193
Use of the semipermeable membrane device as an in situ sampler of waterborne bioavailable PCDD and PCDF residues at sub-parts-per-quadrillion concentrations
Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were used to passively sample aqueous polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in Bayou Meto, AR. The two sites were upstream and downstream from the confluence with a tributary that delivers PCDDs and PCDFs to the Bayou. Following dialysis, cleanup, and fractionation, four replicate 17-9 SPMD samples from each siteAuthorsJon A. Lebo, Robert W. Gale, Jimmie D. Petty, Donald E. Tillitt, James N. Huckins, John C. Meadows, Carl E. Orazio, Kathy R. Echols, Dennis J. Schroeder, Lloyd E. InmonDeformities in birds of the Great Lakes region. Assigning causality
No abstract available.AuthorsJohn P. Giesy, James P. Ludwig, Donald E. TillittAccumulation of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents by double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus, Pelicaniformes) chicks in the North American Great Lakes
Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TCDD-EQ) were determined in eggs and chicks of double-crested cormorants (DCC) which were collected in 1989 from eight locations in the Laurentian Great Lakes. The mean biomagnification factor (BMF) from forage fish to eggs was found to be 31.3. Absolute and relative concentrations as well as raAuthorsP. D. Jones, J. P. Giesy, J.L. Newsted, D. A. Verbrugge, J.P. Ludwig, M. E. Ludwig, H. J. Auman, R. Crawford, D. E. Tillitt, T.J. Kubiak, D. A. BestA toxic equivalency factor scale for polychlorinated dibenzofurans
The ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) induction of 20 polychiorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) was examined in the H4IIE rat hepatoma cell bioassay. The selection of the compounds tested was based on a multivariate chemical characterization laying the groundwork for covering the whole chemical series of PCDFs. The EROD induction potency was found to vary in ED50 values from 25 to 100,000,000 pg/mg,AuthorsM. Tysklind, D. Tillitt, L. Eriksson, K. Lundgren, C. RappeLarge-scale dialysis of sample lipids
The use of a semipermeable membrane device (SPMD) for dialysis in an organic solvent phase is an efficient alternative approach to separation of contaminants from large amounts of lipid (up to 50 grams or more) prior to organic chemical analysis. Passive separation of contaminants can be accomplished with a minimum of equipment and a comparatively small volume of solvent. This study examines the eAuthorsJill Meadows, Donald E. Tillitt, James Huckins, D. SchroederDioxin-like toxic potency in Forster's tern eggs from Green Bay, Lake Michigan, North America
The endangered Forster's tern (Sternaforsteri) population on Green Bay, Wisconsin has exhibited symptoms of embryotoxicity, congenital deformities, and poor hatching success. The putative causal agents are planar halogenated hydrocarbons (PHH). The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate the toxic potency of PHHs in extracts of Forster's tern eggs taken from Green Bay, Lake Michigan and a reAuthorsD. E. Tillitt, T.J. Kubiak, G.T. Ankley, J. P. GiesyDetermination of mono- and non-o,o′-chlorine substituted polychlorinated biphenyls in Aroclors and environmental samples
High resolution capillary gas chromatography (GC) is the best known technique for the separation of complex mixtures; however, no single GC column has yet separated all 209 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A number of coeluting PCB congener pairs exist, and even under favorable separation conditions such as with multidimensional GC, assignment of peak identities to known PCB structurAuthorsTed R. Schwartz, Donald E. Tillitt, Kevin P. Feltz, Paul H. PetermanA comparison of water quality criteria for the Great Lakes based on human and wildlife health
Water quality criteria (WQC) can be derived in several ways. The usual techniques involve hazard and risk assessment procedures. For non-persistent, non-biomagnified compounds and elements, WQC are experimentally derived from their acute and chronic toxicity to aquatic organisms. For those persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons (PCHs) that are bioaccumulated and biomagnified, these traditional techniAuthorsJames P. Ludwig, John P. Giesy, Cheryl L. Summer, William Bowerman, Richard J. Aulerich, Steven J. Bursian, Heidi J. Auman, Paul D. Jones, Lisa L. Williams, Donald E. Tillitt, Michael GilbertsonCaspian tern reproduction in the Saginaw Bay ecosystem following a 100-year flood event
In the 2 years that followed the 100-year flood incident of September 1986 in the Saginaw River/Bay ecosystem, the reproduction of Caspian terns collapsed and then slowly recovered. Egg viability and fledging rates of hatched chicks were drastically depressed in 1987 and 1988. Eggs from clutches laid later in the year were less viable and chicks hatched from these eggs displayed wasting syndromesAuthorsJames P. Ludwig, Heidi J. Auman, Hiroko Kurita, Matthew E. Ludwig, Loraine M. Campbell, John P. Giesy, Donald E. Tillitt, Paul Jones, Nobu Yamashita, Shinsuke Tanabe, Ryo TatsukawaUptake of planar polychlorinated biphenyls and 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dibenzo-p-dioxins by birds nesting in the lower Fox River and Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
The uptake of persistent polychlorinated hydrocarbons (PCHs) by four avian species was investigated at upper trophic levels of two aquatic food chains of the lower Fox River and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Accumulation of total and specific planar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDDs), and H411E rat hepatoma cell bioassay-deriveAuthorsGerald T. Ankley, Gerald J. Niemi, Keith B. Lodge, Hallett J. Harris, Donald L. Beaver, Donald E. Tillitt, Ted R. Schwartz, John P. Giesy, Paul D. Jones, Cynthia HagleyBiomagnification of bioassay derived 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents
In recent years contamination of the Great Lakes ecosystem with planar chlorinated hydrocarbons (PCHs) has attracted considerable concern due to their known reproductive and teratogenic effects. The H4IIE bioassay has been standardized as a means of measuring the biological potency of a PCH mixture as 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-p-dibenzodioxin equivalents (TCDD-EQ). Using this bioassay we have investigatAuthorsP. D. Jones, G.T. Ankley, D. A. Best, R. Crawford, N. DeGalan, J. P. Giesy, T.J. Kubiak, J. P. Ludwig, J.L. Newsted, D. E. Tillitt, D. A. Verbrugge2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents in tissues of birds at Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
The environment has become contaminated with complex mixtures of planar, chlorinated hydrocarbons (PCHs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and structurally similar compounds. Because the potencies of individual congeners to cause the same adverse effects vary greatly and the relative as well as absolute concenAuthorsPaul D. Jones, John P. Giesy, John L. Newsted, David A. Verbrugge, Donald L. Beaver, Gerald T. Ankley, Donald E. Tillitt, Keith B. Lodge, Gerald J. Niemi - News
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