Arini, A., Cavallin, J.E., Berninger, J.P., Marfil-Vega, R., Mills, M., Villeneuve, D.L., and Basu, N., 2016, In vivo and In vitro neurochemical-based assessments of wastewater effluents from the Maumee River area of concern: Environmental Pollution, v. 211, p. 9-19.
Jason Berninger, Ph.D.
Biography
Jason Berninger is a research toxicologist within the Biochemistry and Physiology branch of USGS-CERC. His current research involves developing chemical-gene interaction networks to connect genomics data with potential chemical exposures and analytical chemical analyses to potential biological responses. He is also developing a comprehensive review of the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls exposure on birds and fish, as it relates to injury as defined by the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration statutes. He previously worked on prioritization of chemicals of emerging concern and the development of effects-based monitoring.
Education
Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology, Baylor University 2011
M.S. Environmental Science - Biology, University of Houston - Clear Lake 2002
B.S. Biology, Saint Louis University 1997
Professional Experience
2014 – present Research Toxicologist, US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri
2011 – 2014 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, US Environmental Protection Agency, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN
2007 – 2011 Research Assistant. Baylor University Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Waco, Texas
2003 – 2007 Aquatic Toxicologist, Field Biologist, Ichthyologist –US Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory Contractor, Cincinnati, Ohio
1999-2002 Research Assistant University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, Texas
Science and Products
Year Published: 2019
Polychlorinated biphenyl tissue‐concentration thresholds for survival, growth, and reproduction in fish
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have left a legacy of environmental contamination. Even though they were banned from production and active use in the 1970s, they persist in the environment and still have the potential to impact aquatic life. Our objective was to identify data from controlled laboratory studies of PCB‐related adverse effects in...
Berninger, Jason P.; Tillitt, Donald E.
Year Published: 2019
Mixed-chemical exposure and predicted effects potential in wadeable southeastern USA streams
Complex chemical mixtures have been widely reported in larger streams but relatively little work has been done to characterize them and assess their potential effects in headwaterstreams. In 2014, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) sampled 54 Piedmont streams over ten weeks and measured 475 unique organic compounds...
Bradley, Paul M.; Journey, Celeste A.; Berninger, Jason P.; Button, Daniel T.; Clark, Jimmy M.; Corsi, Steven R.; DeCicco, Laura A.; Hopkins, Kristina G.; Huffman, Bradley J.; Nakagaki, Naomi; Norman, Julia E.; Nowell, Lisa H.; Qi, Sharon L.; Van Metre, Peter C.; Waite, Ian R.
Year Published: 2016
Linking field-based metabolomics and chemical analyses to prioritize contaminants of emerging concern in the Great Lakes basin
The ability to focus on the most biologically relevant contaminants affecting aquatic ecosystems can be challenging because toxicity-assessment programs have not kept pace with the growing number of contaminants requiring testing. Because it has proven effective at assessing the biological impacts of potentially toxic contaminants, profiling of...
Davis, John M.; Ekman, Drew R.; Teng, Quincy; Ankley, Gerald T.; Berninger, Jason P.; Cavallin, Jenna E.; Jensen, Kathleen M.; Kahl, Michael D.; Schroeder, Anthony L.; Villeneuve, Daniel L.; Jorgenson, Zachary G.; Lee, Kathy E.; Collette, Timothy W.Attribution: Minnesota Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources, Environmental Health, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
View Citation
Davis, J.M., Ekman, D.R., Teng, Q., Ankley, G.T., Berninger, J.P., Cavallin, J.E., Jensen, K.M., Kahl, M.D., Schroeder, A.L., Villeneuve, D.L., Jorgenson, Z.G., Lee, K.E. and Collette, T.W., 2016, Linking field-based metabolomics and chemical analyses to prioritize contaminants of emerging concern in the Great Lakes basin: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 35, no. 10, p. 2493–2502, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.3409.
Year Published: 2016
Pathway-based approaches for assessment of real-time exposure to an estrogenic wastewater treatment plant effluent on fathead minnow reproduction
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are known contributors of chemical mixtures into the environment. Of particular concern are endocrine-disrupting compounds, such as estrogens, which can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function in exposed organisms. The present study examined reproductive effects in fathead minnows exposed...
Cavallin, Jenna E.; Jensen, Kathleen M.; Kahl, Michael D.; Villeneuve, Daniel L.; Lee, Kathy E.; Schroeder, Anthony L.; Mayasich, Joe; Eid, Evan P.; Nelson, Krysta R.; Milsk, Rebecca Y.; Blackwell, Brett R.; Berninger, Jason P.; LaLone, Carlie A.; Blanskma, Chad; Jicha, Terri M.; Elonen, Colleen M.; Johnson, Rodney C.; Ankley, Gerald T.Attribution: Minnesota Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Cavallin, J.E., Jensen, K.M., Kahl, M.D., Villeneuve, D.L., Lee, K.E., Schroeder, A.L., Mayasich, J., Eid, E.P., Nelson, K.R., Milsk, R.Y., Blackwell, B.R., Berninger, J.P., LaLone, C.A., Blanksma, C., Jicha, T., Elonen, C., Johnson, R. and Ankley, G.T., 2016, Pathway-based approaches for assessment of real-time exposure to an estrogenic wastewater treatment plant effluent on fathead minnow reproduction: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 35, no. 3, p. 702–716, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.3228.
Pre-USGS Publications
Berninger, J.P., LaLone, C.A., Villeneuve, D.L., and Ankley, G.T., 2016, Prioritization of pharmaceuticals for potential environmental hazard through leveraging a large-scale mammalian pharmacological dataset: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 35, no. 4, p. 1007-1020.
Kristofco, L.A., Du, B., Chambliss, C.K., Berninger, J.P., and Brooks, B.W., 2015, Comparative pharmacology and toxicology of pharmaceuticals in the environment: Diphenhydramine protection of diazinon toxicity in Danio rerio but not Daphnia magna: The AAPS Journal, v. 17, no. 1, p. 175-183.
Nichols, J.W., Du, B., Berninger, J.P., Connors, K.A., Chambliss, C.K., Erickson, R.J., Hoffman, A.D., and Brooks, B.W., 2015, Observed and modeled effects of pH on bioconcentration of diphenhydramine, a weakly basic pharmaceutical, in fathead minnows: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 34, no. 6, p. 1425-1435.
Kahl, M.D., Villeneuve, D.L., Stevens, K., Schroeder, A., Makynen, E.A., LaLone, C.A., Jensen, K.M., Hughes, M., Holmen, B.A., Eid, E., Durhan, E.J., Cavallin, J.E., Berninger, J., and Ankley, G.T., 2014, An inexpensive, temporally integrated system for monitoring occurrence and biological effects of aquatic contaminants in the field: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 33, no. 7, p. 1584-1595.
LaLone, C.A., Berninger, J.P., Villeneuve, D.L., and Ankley, G.T., 2014, Leveraging existing data for prioritization of the ecological risks of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals to aquatic organisms: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, v. 369, no. 1656.
Berninger, J.P., Martinović-Weigelt, D., Garcia-Reyero, N., Escalon, L., Perkins, E.J., Ankley, G.T., and Villeneuve, D.L., 2014, Using transcriptomic tools to evaluate biological effects across effluent gradients at a diverse set of study sites in Minnesota, USA: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 48, no. 4, p. 2404-2412.
LaLone, C.A., Villeneuve, D.L., Cavallin, J.E., Kahl, M.D., Durhan, E.J., Makynen, E.A., Jensen, K.M., Stevens, K.E., Severson, M.N., Blanksma, C.A., Flynn, K.M., Hartig, P.C., Woodard, J.S., Berninger, J.P., Norberg-King, T.J., Johnson, R.D., and Ankley, G.T., 2013, Cross-species sensitivity to a novel androgen receptor agonist of potential environmental concern, spironolactone: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 32, no. 11, p. 2528-2541.
LaLone, C.A., Villeneuve, D.L., Burgoon, L.D., Russom, C.L., Helgen, H.W., Berninger, J.P., Tietge, J.E., Severson, M.N., Cavallin, J.E., and Ankley, G.T., 2013, Molecular target sequence similarity as a basis for species extrapolation to assess the ecological risk of chemicals with known modes of action: Aquatic Toxicology, v. 144, p. 141-154.
Bian, J., Berninger, J.P., Fulton, B.A., and Brooks, B.W., 2013, Nutrient stoichiometry and concentrations influence silver toxicity in the aquatic macrophyte Lemna gibba: Science of The Total Environment, v. 449, p. 229-236.
Valenti, T.W., Gould, G.G., Berninger, J.P., Connors, K.A., Keele, N.B., Prosser, K.N., and Brooks, B.W., 2012, Human therapeutic plasma levels of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline decrease serotonin reuptake transporter binding and shelter-seeking behavior in adult male fathead minnows: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 46, no. 4, p. 2427-2435.
Boxall, A.B., Rudd, M.A., Brooks, B.W., Caldwell, D.J., Choi, K., Hickmann, S., Innes, E., Ostapyk, K., Staveley, J.P., Verslycke, T., Ankley, G.T., Beazley, K.F., Belanger, S.E., Berninger, J.P., Carriquiriborde, P., Coors, A., Deleo, P.C., Dyer, S.D., Ericson, J.F., Gagne, F., Giesy, J.P., Gouin, T., Hallstrom, L., Karlsson, M.V., Larsson, D.G., Lazorchak, J.M., Mastrocco, F., McLaughlin, A., McMaster, M.E., Meyerhoff, R.D., Moore, R., Parrott, J.L., Snape, J.R., Murray-Smith, R., Servos, M.R., Sibley, P.K., Straub, J.O., Szabo, N.D., Topp, E., Tetreault, G.R., Trudeau, V.L., and Van Der Kraak, G., 2012, Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: What are the big questions?: Environmental Health Perspectives, v. 120, no. 9, p. 1221-1229.
Brooks, B.W., Berninger, J.P., Kristofco, L.A., Ramirez, A.J., Stanley, J.K., and Valenti, T.W., 2012, Pharmaceuticals in the environment: Lessons learned for reducing uncertainties in environmental risk assessment: Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, v. 112, p. 231-258.
Berninger, J.P., Williams, E.S., and Brooks, B.W., 2011, An initial probabilistic hazard assessment of oil dispersants approved by the United States National Contingency Plan: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 30, no. 7, p. 1704-1708.
Williams, E.S., Berninger, J.P., and Brooks, B.W., 2011, Application of chemical toxicity distributions to ecotoxicology data requirements under REACH: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 30, no. 8, p. 1943-1954.
Berninger, J.P., Du, B., Connors, K.A., Eytcheson, S.A., Kolkmeier, M.A., Prosser, K.N., Valenti, T.W., Chambliss, C.K., and Brooks, B.W., 2011, Effects of the antihistamine diphenhydramine on selected aquatic organisms: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 30, no. 9, p. 2065-2072.
Brooks, B.W., James, S.V., Valenti, J.T.W., Urena-Boeck, F., Serrano, C., Berninger, J.P., Schwierzke, L., Mydlarz, L.D., Grover, J.P., and Roelke, D.L., 2010, Comparative toxicity of Prymnesium parvum in inland waters: JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, v. 46, no. 1, p. 45-62.
Berninger, J.P., and Brooks, B.W., 2010, Leveraging mammalian pharmaceutical toxicology and pharmacology data to predict chronic fish responses to pharmaceuticals: Toxicology Letters, v. 193, no. 1, p. 69-78.