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Jeff Steevens, PhD

Dr. Jeff Steevens is a Research Toxicologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.

His broad research interests include the bioavailability and toxicity of environmental contaminants in water and sediments. One of his current responsibilities is leading a multi-disciplinary team to determine the toxicity of contaminants of interest to the Department of Interior including algal toxins, metals, major ions, and emerging contaminants. 

Current Projects

  • Bioaccumulation and Toxicity of PFAS within Aquatic Systems.  Jeff co-leads the USGS PFAS Integrated Science Team.  He is actively doing research on the bioaccumulation and effects of PFAS in underrepresented aquatic taxa. Studies include the fate of PFAS within lower levels of aquatic food webs (biofilms and invertebrates). He is currently determining the toxicity of PFAS in freshwater mussels and mayflies. 
  • Development of Toxicity Bioassay Methods.  His research is currently focusing on the effects of contaminants on freshwater mussels, mayflies, and other invertebrates. These methods include acute and chronic bioassays as well as field methods to determine in situ effects from nutrients and contaminants. 
  • Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Expertise.  Jeff provides technical expertise for injury assessment at several sites including the Upper Columbia River, Tri-State Mining District, Little Calumet, IN and Sauget Creek, IL. 

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, 1999

  • B.S. in Biochemistry (Minor in Geology), University of Missouri, Columbia, 1994

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1993 – present

  • Mid-South Chapter, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1996 – present

  • Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society, 2020-present

  • American Chemical Society, 2013-present

  • Editorial Board Member, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

  • Adjunct Professor, Arkansas State University, Biology Department, 2020-present

  • Associate Editor, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

  • Editorial Board Member, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

  • Adjunct Professor, University of Missouri, College of Engineering, 2019-present

  • Adjunct Professor, University of Mississippi, Environmental Toxicology Research Program, School of Pharmacy and National Center for Natural Pharmaceutical Research, 2007-present

Science and Products

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Diagram showing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) movement in the environment.

Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team

Increasing scientific and public awareness of the widespread distribution of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. drinking-water supplies, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, wildlife, and humans has raised many public health and resource management questions that U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) science can inform. The USGS Environmental Health Program's PFAS Integrated Science Team...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team

Increasing scientific and public awareness of the widespread distribution of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. drinking-water supplies, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, wildlife, and humans has raised many public health and resource management questions that U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) science can inform. The USGS Environmental Health Program's PFAS Integrated Science Team...
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Two small birds at a bird house

PFAS Transport, Exposure, and Effects

The team is determining the movement and behavior of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from their sources in the environment, as they move through exposure pathways in ecosystems including watersheds and aquifers, their incorporation into food webs, and molecular to population scale effects on fish and wildlife. These studies are accomplished at a variety of spatial scales from regional...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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PFAS Transport, Exposure, and Effects

The team is determining the movement and behavior of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from their sources in the environment, as they move through exposure pathways in ecosystems including watersheds and aquifers, their incorporation into food webs, and molecular to population scale effects on fish and wildlife. These studies are accomplished at a variety of spatial scales from regional...
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Image: Bald Eagle with Prey

Ecotoxicology and Ecological Risks of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Ecotoxicology and ecological risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are summarized to highlight critical gaps and uncertainties, and to provide potential approaches to fill those gaps, including the development of targeted monitoring programs and cross-disciplinary approaches.
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Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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Ecotoxicology and Ecological Risks of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Ecotoxicology and ecological risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are summarized to highlight critical gaps and uncertainties, and to provide potential approaches to fill those gaps, including the development of targeted monitoring programs and cross-disciplinary approaches.
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Canyon Mine Sampling

Minerals Science Team

The Minerals Integrated Science Team focuses on contaminant exposures in the environment that might originate from mineral resource activities including, transportation, storage, extraction and waste management. Perceived health risks to humans and other organisms will be distinguished from actual risks, if any. If actual risks are identified the science produced by this team can inform how to...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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Minerals Science Team

The Minerals Integrated Science Team focuses on contaminant exposures in the environment that might originate from mineral resource activities including, transportation, storage, extraction and waste management. Perceived health risks to humans and other organisms will be distinguished from actual risks, if any. If actual risks are identified the science produced by this team can inform how to...
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Acute and chronic toxicity of two perfluoroalkyl substances to Neocloeon triangulifer

Dataset consists of 4-day, 14-day, and full life responses of laboratory cultured mayflies (Neocloeon triangulifer) to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).  Responses were measured as survival at 4 days, 14 days, pre-emergent nymph (PEN) stage, and emergence; 14-day length; number of days to PEN stage, and imago live weight.  Water quality and analytical chemistry re
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Survival of grass carp and black carp gavaged with an oral dose of antimycin A in two carriers, corn oil and ethanol

The data consists of survival, length and weight of grass carp and black carp gavaged with an oral dose of antimycin A in two carriers, corn oil and ethanol.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

A quantitative survey of freshwater mussels of the Buffalo National River, Arkansas from 2019 to 2021

Results from a quantitative survey of mussel assemblages from 12 long-term monitoring sites over 153 river kilometers of the Buffalo National River 2019-2021.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Chemical and biological exposure bioassay data from sediment collected within the Grand Calumet River, Indiana, USA

The Grand Calumet River (GCR), located in northern Indiana, is contaminated due to a wide range of historical industrial activities. Short-term and long-term sediment exposure bioassays with the amphipod Hyalella azteca, the midge Chironomus dilutus, and the mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea were conducted with samples collected in 2013, 2015, and 2017, from up to 26 sites, including both remediated, n
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Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Burrowing behavior of freshwater mussels

Data include burrowing behavior of juvenile freshwater mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea); Villosa constricta; Megalonaias nervosa; Villosa iris; Lampsilis powellii; and Anodonta oregonensis) in three types of sediment [a sand/silt/clay mixture (49 percent sand) with a total organic carbon (TOC) content of about 3 percent obtained from northeastern Minnesota, a predominantly fine sand (82 percent san
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Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Evaluating chronic toxicity of sodium chloride or potassium chloride to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) in water exposures using standard and refined toxicity test methods

Individual measurements of toxicity and water quality data used to calculate means reported in the associated publication. The objectives of the present study were to (1) refine test conditions for improving mussel survival and growth in a long-term feeding study, (2) evaluate chronic toxicity of NaCl and KCl to fatmucket under traditional test conditions outlined in ASTM (ASTM 2017) and the refin
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Columbia Environmental Research Center
Filter Total Items: 27

Perfluorooctanesulfonate adversely affects a mayfly (Neocloeon triangulifer) at environmentally realistic concentrations

Of the emerging contaminant types thought to threaten freshwater biota, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances appear to be particularly widespread, and limited studies conducted with these compounds thus far indicate insects may be particularly sensitive to them. This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of two commonly detected compounds on the laboratory-reared mayfly Neocloeon tria
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Influences 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, littl
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Guide for benthic invertebrate studies in support of Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

This guide is intended to assist with characterizing injury to freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs) in Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) cases. The contents are narrowly focused on insects, crustaceans, snails, and other invertebrate fauna that are typically considered part of BMI communities and are not intended to address studies of injury to larger benthic taxa
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Ingested toxicity of antimycin A to grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus in two carriers

Toxic baits are a potential control mechanism for nuisance carps, but rotenone-based baits for grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella have been ineffective. Failures have been attributed to the palatability of rotenone because innocuous training pellets are readily consumed prior to provision of piscicide baits. Several studies suggest antimycin A, a common alternative piscicide, typically applied dir
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Interlaboratory comparison of three sediment bioaccumulation tests

Standard bioaccumulation tests are commonly conducted using Macoma nasuta (clam), and Alitta virens (polychaete) for marine tests, and Lumbriculus variegatus (an oligochaete) for freshwater tests. Because the interlaboratory variability associated with these tests is unknown, four experienced laboratories conducted standard 28-day bioaccumulation tests with the above species using sediments contam
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Integrated science for the study of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment—A strategic science vision for the U.S. Geological Survey

Concerns related to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sources of drinking water and in natural and engineered environments have captured national attention over the last few decades. This report provides an overview of the science gaps that exist in the fields of study related to PFAS that are relevant to the U.S. Geological Survey mission and identifies opportunities where t
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Method development for a short-term 7-day toxicity test with unionid mussels

The US Environmental Protection Agency's short-term freshwater effluent test methods include a fish (Pimephales promelas), a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia), and a green alga (Raphidocelis subcapitata). There is a recognized need for additional taxa to accompany the three standard species for effluent testing. An appropriate additional taxon is unionid mussels because mussels are widely distribute
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

The 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 m
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Modeling 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 triangulif
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Direct 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.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Idaho Water Science Center

The role of behavioral ecotoxicology in environmental protection

For decades, we have known that chemicals affect human and wildlife behavior. Moreover, due to recent technological and computational advances, scientists are now increasingly aware that a wide variety of contaminants and other environmental stressors adversely affect organismal behavior and subsequent ecological outcomes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. There is also a groundswell of concer
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Assessment of burrowing behavior of freshwater juvenile mussels in sediment

Standard laboratory sediment toxicity methods have been adapted for conducting toxicity tests with juvenile freshwater mussels. However, studies looking at juvenile mussel burrowing behavior at the water-sediment interface are limited. Juvenile mussels burrow in sediment for the first 0 to 4 yr of life but also may inhabit the sediment-water interface. The objective of this study was to evaluate b
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Johnson, D.R., Boyd, R.E., Bednar, A.J., Weiss, C.A., Hull, M.S., Coleman, J.G., Kennedy, A.J., Banks, C.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2018, Effects of soot by-product from the synthesis of engineered metallofullerene nanomaterials on terrestrial invertebrates: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 37, no. 6, p. 1594-1605.
Brooks, B.W., Lazorchak, J.M., Howard, M.D.A., Johnson, M.-V.V., Morton, S.L., Perkins, D.A.K., Reavie, E.D., Scott, G.I., Smith, S.A., and Steevens, J.A., 2016, Are harmful algal blooms becoming the greatest inland water quality threat to public health and aquatic ecosystems?: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 35, no. 1, p. 6-13
Stanley, J.K., Laird, J.G., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2016, Sublethal effects of multiwalled carbon nanotube exposure in the invertebrate Daphnia magna: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 35, no. 1, p. 200-204
Kennedy, A.J., Hull, M.S., Diamond, S., Chappell, M., Bednar, A.J., Laird, J.G., Melby, N.L., and Steevens, J.A., 2015, Gaining a critical mass: A dose metric conversion case study using silver nanoparticles: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 49, no. 20, p. 12490-12499
Brame, J.A., Poda, A.R., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2015, EHS testing of products containing nanomaterials: What is nano release?: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 49, no. 19, p. 11245-11246
Cuddy, M.F., Poda, A.R., Moser, R.D., Weiss, C.A., Cairns, C., and Steevens, J.A., 2016, A weight-of-evidence approach to identify nanomaterials in consumer products: a case study of nanoparticles in commercial sunscreens: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, v. 26, no. 1, p. 26-34
Garcia-Reyero, N., Thornton, C., Hawkins, A.D., Escalon, L., Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., and Willett, K.L., 2015, Assessing the exposure to nanosilver and silver nitrate on fathead minnow gill gene expression and mucus production: Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, v. 4, no. Supplement C, p. 58-66
Fadel, T.R., Steevens, J.A., Thomas, T.A., and Linkov, I., 2015, The challenges of nanotechnology risk management: Nano Today, v. 10, no. 1, p. 6-10
Collier, Z.A., Kennedy, A.J., Poda, A.R., Cuddy, M.F., Moser, R.D., MacCuspie, R.I., Harmon, A., Plourde, K., Haines, C.D., and Steevens, J.A., 2015, Tiered guidance for risk-informed environmental health and safety testing of nanotechnologies: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 17, no. 3, p. 155
Steevens, J., Chappell, M., Janzen, D., Edwards, D., and Shih, W., 2014, Outwitting the uncertainty of nanotechnology risks through environmental life cycle assessment: Nanotechnology, v. 3, p. 113-114
Hawkins, A.D., Thornton, C., Kennedy, A.J., Bu, K., Cizdziel, J., Jones, B.W., Steevens, J.A., and Willett, K.L., 2015, Gill histopathologies following exposure to nanosilver or silver nitrate: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, v. 78, no. 5, p. 301-315
Hawkins, A.D., Thornton, C., Steevens, J.A., and Willett, K.L., 2014, Alteration in Pimephales promelas mucus production after exposure to nanosilver or silver nitrate: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 33, no. 12, p. 2869-2872
Hawkins, A.D., Bednar, A.J., Cizdziel, J.V., Bu, K., Steevens, J.A., and Willett, K.L., 2014, Identification of silver nanoparticles in Pimephales promelas gastrointestinal tract and gill tissues using flow field flow fractionation ICP-MS: RSC Advances, v. 4, no. 78, p. 41277-41280
Garcia-Reyero, N., Kennedy, A.J., Escalon, B.L., Habib, T., Laird, J.G., Rawat, A., Wiseman, S., Hecker, M., Denslow, N., Steevens, J.A., and Perkins, E.J., 2014, Differential effects and potential adverse outcomes of ionic silver and silver nanoparticles in vivo and in vitro: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 48, no. 8, p. 4546-4555
Palmqvist, A., Baker, L., Forbes, V.E., Gergs, A., von der Kammer, F., Luoma, S., Lützhøft, H.C.H., Salinas, E., Sorensen, M., and Steevens, J., 2015, Nanomaterial environmental risk assessment: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 11, no. 2, p. 333-335
Harmon, A.R., Kennedy, A.J., Poda, A.R., Bednar, A.J., Chappell, M.A., and Steevens, J.A., 2014, Determination of nanosilver dissolution kinetics and toxicity in an environmentally relevant aqueous medium: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 33, no. 8, p. 1783-1791
Chappell, M.A., Seiter, J.M., Bednar, A.J., Price, C.L., Averett, D., Lafferty, B., Tappero, R., Stanley, J.S., Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., Zhou, P., Morikawa, E., Merchan, G., and Roy, A., 2014, Stability of solid-phase selenium species in fly ash after prolonged submersion in a natural river system: Chemosphere, v. 95, no. Supplement C, p. 174-181
Kennedy, A.J., Melby, N.L., Moser, R.D., Bednar, A.J., Son, S.F., Lounds, C.D., Laird, J.G., Nellums, R.R., Johnson, D.R., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Fate and toxicity of CuO nanospheres and nanorods used in Al/CuO nanothermites before and after combustion: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 47, no. 19, p. 11258-11267
Coleman, J.G., Kennedy, A.J., Bednar, A.J., Ranville, J.F., Laird, J.G., Harmon, A.R., Hayes, C.A., Gray, E.P., Higgins, C.P., Lotufo, G., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Comparing the effects of nanosilver size and coating variations on bioavailability, internalization, and elimination, using Lumbriculus variegatus: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 32, no. 9, p. 2069-2077
Bednar, A.J., Averett, D.E., Seiter, J.M., Lafferty, B., Jones, W.T., Hayes, C.A., Chappell, M.A., Clarke, J.U., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Characterization of metals released from coal fly ash during dredging at the Kingston ash recovery project: Chemosphere, v. 92, no. 11, p. 1563-1570
Tang, K., Liu, X., Harper, S.L., Steevens, J.A., and Xu, R., 2013, NEIMiner: nanomaterial environmental impact data miner: International Journal of Nanomedicine, v. 8, no. Suppl 1, p. 15-29.
Liu, X., Tang, K., Harper, S., Harper, B., Steevens, J.A., and Xu, R., 2013, Predictive modeling of nanomaterial exposure effects in biological systems: International Journal of Nanomedicine, v. 8, no. Suppl 1, p. 31-43
Poda, A.R., Moser, R.D., Cuddy, M.F., Doorenbos, Z., Lafferty, B.J., Weiss, C.A., Harmon, A., Chappell, M.A., and Steevens, J. A., 2013, Nano-aluminum thermite formulations: Characterizing the fate properties of a nanotechnology during use: Journal of Nanomaterials & Molecular Nanotechnology, v. 2, no. 1, p. 1-9
Bednar, A.J., Poda, A.R., Mitrano, D.M., Kennedy, A.J., Gray, E.P., Ranville, J.F., Hayes, C.A., Crocker, F.H., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Comparison of on-line detectors for field flow fractionation analysis of nanomaterials: Talanta, v. 104, no. Supplement C, p. 140-148
Stanley, J.K., Kennedy, A.J., Bednar, A.J., Chappell, M.A., Seiter, J.M., Averett, D.E., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Impact assessment of dredging to remove coal fly ash at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil plant using fathead minnow elutriate exposures: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 32, no. 4, p. 822-830
Handy, R.D., Cornelis, G., Fernandes, T., Tsyusko, O., Decho, A., Sabo-Attwood, T., Metcalfe, C., Steevens, J.A., Klaine, S.J., Koelmans, A.A., and Horne, N., 2012, Ecotoxicity test methods for engineered nanomaterials: Practical experiences and recommendations from the bench: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 31, no. 1, p. 15-31
Xu, R., Tang, K., Liu, X., Harper, S., and Steevens, J.A., 2012, NEIMiner: A model driven data mining system for studying environmental impact of nanomaterials, Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine Workshops (BIBMW), IEEE Computer Society, p. 895-902
Harper, B., Tang, K., Liu, X., Harper, S., Xu, R., and Steevens, J.A., 2012, Predictive modeling of nanomaterial biological effects, Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine Workshops (BIBMW), IEEE Computer Society, p. 859-863
Chappell, M.A., Miller, L.F., George, A.J., Pettway, B.A., Price, C.L., Porter, B.E., Bednar, A.J., Seiter, J.M., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2011, Simultaneous dispersion–dissolution behavior of concentrated silver nanoparticle suspensions in the presence of model organic solutes: Chemosphere, v. 84, no. 8, p. 1108-1116
Bennett, E.R., Steevens, J.A., Lotufo, G.R., Paterson, G., and Drouillard, K.G., 2011, Novel control and steady-state correction method for standard 28-day bioaccumulation tests using Nereis virens: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 30, no. 6, p. 1366-1375
Poda, A.R., Bednar, A.J., Kennedy, A.J., Harmon, A., Hull, M., Mitrano, D.M., Ranville, J.F., and Steevens, J., 2011, Characterization of silver nanoparticles using flow-field flow fractionation interfaced to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: Journal of Chromatography A, v. 1218, no. 27, p. 4219-4225
Kennedy, A.J., Hull, M.S., Bednar, A.J., Goss, J.D., Gunter, J.C., Bouldin, J.L., Vikesland, P.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Fractionating nanosilver: Importance for determining toxicity to aquatic test organisms: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 44, no. 24, p. 9571-9577
Bednar, A.J., Chappell, M.A., Seiter, J.M., Stanley, J.K., Averett, D.E., Jones, W.T., Pettway, B.A., Kennedy, A.J., Hendrix, S.H., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Geochemical investigations of metals release from submerged coal fly ash using extended elutriate tests: Chemosphere, v. 81, no. 11, p. 1393-1400
McElroy, A.E., Barron, M.G., Beckvar, N., Driscoll, S.B.K., Meador, J.P., Parkerton, T.F., Preuss, T.G., and Steevens, J.A., 2011, A review of the tissue residue approach for organic and organometallic compounds in aquatic organisms: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 7, no. 1, p. 50-74
Stanley, J.K., Kennedy, A.J., Farrar, J.D., Mount, D.R., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Evaluation of reduced sediment volume procedures for acute toxicity tests using the estuarine amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 29, no. 12, p. 2769-2776
Coleman, J.G., Johnson, D.R., Stanley, J.K., Bednar, A.J., Weiss, C.A., Boyd, R.E., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Assessing the fate and effects of nano aluminum oxide in the terrestrial earthworm, Eisenia fetida: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 29, no. 7, p. 1575-1580
Stanley, J.K., Coleman, J.G., Weiss, C.A., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation of nano and micron-sized aluminum oxide: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 29, no. 2, p. 422-429
Johnson, D.R., Methner, M.M., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Potential for occupational exposure to engineered carbon-based nanomaterials in environmental laboratory studies: Environmental Health Perspectives, v. 118, no. 1, p. 49-54
Kane Driscoll, S.B., McArdle, M.E., Menzie, C.A., Reiss, M., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, A framework for using dose as a metric to assess toxicity of fish to PAHs: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 73, no. 4, p. 486-490
Kennedy, A.J., Gunter, J.C., Chappell, M.A., Goss, J.D., Hull, M.S., Kirgan, R.A., and Steevens, J.A., 2009, Influence of nanotube preparation in aquatic bioassays: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 28, no. 9, p. 1930-1938. .
Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., Lotufo, G.R., Farrar, J.D., Reiss, M.R., Kropp, R.K., Doi, J., and Bridges, T.S., 2009, A comparison of acute and chronic toxicity methods for marine sediments: Marine Environmental Research, v. 68, no. 3, p. 118-127
Hull, M.S., Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., Bednar, A.J., Weiss, J.C.A., and Vikesland, P.J., 2009, Release of metal impurities from carbon nanomaterials influences aquatic toxicity: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 43, no. 11, p. 4169-4174
Chappell, M.A., George, A.J., Dontsova, K.M., Porter, B.E., Price, C.L., Zhou, P., Morikawa, E., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2009, Surfactive stabilization of multi-walled carbon nanotube dispersions with dissolved humic substances: Environmental Pollution, v. 157, no. 4, p. 1081-1087
Tervonen, T., Linkov, I., Figueira, J.R., Steevens, J., Chappell, M., and Merad, M., 2009, Risk-based classification system of nanomaterials: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 11, no. 4, p. 757-766
Linkov, I., Steevens, J., Adlakha-Hutcheon, G., Bennett, E., Chappell, M., Colvin, V., Davis, J.M., Davis, T., Elder, A., Foss Hansen, S., Hakkinen, P.B., Hussain, S.M., Karkan, D., Korenstein, R., Lynch, I., Metcalfe, C., Ramadan, A.B., and Satterstrom, F.K., 2009, Emerging methods and tools for environmental risk assessment, decision-making, and policy for nanomaterials: summary of NATO Advanced Research Workshop: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 11, no. 3, p. 513-527
Kennedy, A.J., Hull, M.S., Steevens, J.A., Dontsova, K.M., Chappell, M.A., Gunter, J.C., and Weiss, C.A., 2008, Factors influencing the partitioning and toxicity of nanotubes in the aquatic environment: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 27, no. 9, p. 1932-1941
Sims, J.G., and Steevens, J.A., 2008, The role of metabolism in the toxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and its degradation products to the aquatic amphipod Hyalella azteca: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 70, no. 1, p. 38-46
Dortch, M.S., Zakikhani, M., Kim, S.-C., and Steevens, J.A., 2008, Modeling water and sediment contamination of Lake Pontchartrain following pump-out of Hurricane Katrina floodwater: Journal of Environmental Management, v. 87, no. 3, p. 429-442
Linkov, I., Satterstrom, F.K., Steevens, J., Ferguson, E., and Pleus, R.C., 2007, Multi-criteria decision analysis and environmental risk assessment for nanomaterials: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 9, no. 4, p. 543-554
Inouye, L.S., Yoo, L.J., Talent, L.G., Clarke, J.U., Jones, R.P., Steevens, J.A., and Boyd, R.E., 2007, Assessment of lead uptake in reptilian prey species: Chemosphere, v. 68, no. 8, p. 1591-1596
Fristachi, A., Rice, G., Steevens, J., and Linkov, I., 2007, A preliminary exposure assessment of microcystins from consumption of drinking water in the United States: Lake and Reservoir Management, v. 23, no. 2, p. 203-210
Suedel, B.C., Steevens, J.A., Kennedy, A.J., Brasfield, S.M., and Ray, G.L., 2007, Environmental consequences of water pumped from greater New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina:  Chemical, toxicological, and infaunal analysis: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 41, no. 7, p. 2594-2601
Perkins, E.J., Gust, K.A., and Steevens, J., 2007, Toxicogenomic assessment of the population level impacts of contaminants: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 3, no. 4, p. 562-564
Yoo, L.J., Lotufo, G.R., Gibson, A.B., Steevens, J.A., and Sims, J.G., 2006, Toxicity and bioaccumulation of 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas): Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 25, no. 12, p. 3253-3260
Kennedy, A.J., Millward, R.N., Steevens, J.A., Lynn, J.W., and Perry, K.D., 2006, Relative Sensitivity of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) life-stages to two copper sources: Journal of Great Lakes Research, v. 32, no. 3, p. 596-606
Steevens, J.A., Reiss, M.R., and Pawlisz, A.V., 2005, A methodology for deriving tissue residue benchmarks for aquatic biota: A case study for fish exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and equivalents: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 1, no. 2, p. 142-151
Landrum, P.F., Steevens, J.A., McElroy, M., Gossiaux, D.C., Lewis, J.S., and Robinson, S.D., 2005, Time-dependent toxicity of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene to Hyalella azteca: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 24, no. 1, p. 211-218
Conder, J.M., La Point, T.W., Steevens, J.A., and Lotufo, G.R., 2004, Recommendations for the assessment of TNT toxicity in sediment: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 23, no. 1, p. 141-149
Conder, J.M., Lotufo, G.R., Bowen, A.T., Turner, P.K., La Point, T.W., and Steevens, J.A., 2004, Solid phase microextraction fibers for estimating the toxicity of nitroaromatic compounds: Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, v. 7, no. 3, p. 387-397
Conder, J.M., La Point, T.W., Lotufo, G.R., and Steevens, J.A., 2003, Nondestructive, minimal-disturbance, direct-burial solid-phase microextraction fiber technique for measuring TNT in sediment: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 37, no. 8, p. 1625-1632
Steevens, J.A., Duke, B.M., Lotufo, G.R., and Bridges, T.S., 2002, Toxicity of the explosives 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine in sediments to Chironomus tentans and Hyalella azteca: Low-dose hormesis and high-dose mortality: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 21, no. 7, p. 1475-1482
Steevens, J.A., Summers, J.K., and Benson, W.H., 2001, Assessing stressors in coastal ecosystems: An approach to the patient: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, v. 7, no. 5, p. 1447-1455
Huggett, D.B., Steevens, J.A., Allgood, J.C., Lutken, C.B., Grace, C.A., and Benson, W.H., 2001, Mercury in sediment and fish from North Mississippi Lakes: Chemosphere, v. 42, no. 8, p. 923-929
Steevens, J.A., and Benson, W.H., 2001, Toxicokinetic interactions and survival of Hyalella azteca exposed to binary mixtures of chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, and methyl mercury: Aquatic Toxicology, v. 51, no. 4, p. 377-388
Steevens, J.A., and Benson, W.H., 2000, Interactions of chlorpyrifos and methyl mercury: A mechanistic approach to assess chemical mixtures: Marine Environmental Research, v. 50, no. 1, p. 113-117
Steevens, J.A., and Benson, W.H., 1999, Toxicological interactions of chlorpyrifos and methyl mercury in the amphipod, Hyalella azteca: Toxicological Sciences, v. 52, no. 2, p. 168-177
Steevens, J.A., Slattery, M., Schlenk, D., Aryl, A., and Benson, W.H., 1999, Effects of ultraviolet-B light and polyaromatic hydrocarbon exposure on sea urchin development and bacterial bioluminescence: Marine Environmental Research, v. 48, no. 4, p. 439-457
Steevens, J.A., Vansal, S.S., Kallies, K.W., Knight, S.S., Cooper, C.M., and Benson, W.H., 1998, Toxicological evaluation of constructed wetland habitat sediments utilizing Hyalella azteca 10-day sediment toxicity test and bacterial bioluminescence: Chemosphere, v. 36, no. 15, p. 3167-3180
Steevens, J.A., and Benson, W.H., 1998, Hyalella azteca 10-day sediment toxicity test: Comparison of growth measurement endpoints: Environmental Toxicology and Water Quality, v. 13, no. 3, p. 243-248
Schlenk, D., Wolford, L., Chelius, M., Steevens, J., and Chan, K.M., 1997, Effect of arsenite, arsenate, and the herbicide monosodium methyl arsonate (MSMA) on hepatic metallothionein expression and lipid peroxidation in channel catfish: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Endocrinology, v. 118, no. 2, p. 177-183

**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.

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CERC’s Research Supporting Conservation of Endangered Mussels Featured in the Columbia Missourian

CERC scientist James Kunz is featured in the Columbia Missourian on USGS research related to endangered mussels.

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Science and Products

  • Science
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    Diagram showing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) movement in the environment.

    Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team

    Increasing scientific and public awareness of the widespread distribution of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. drinking-water supplies, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, wildlife, and humans has raised many public health and resource management questions that U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) science can inform. The USGS Environmental Health Program's PFAS Integrated Science Team...
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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    Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team

    Increasing scientific and public awareness of the widespread distribution of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. drinking-water supplies, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, wildlife, and humans has raised many public health and resource management questions that U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) science can inform. The USGS Environmental Health Program's PFAS Integrated Science Team...
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    Two small birds at a bird house

    PFAS Transport, Exposure, and Effects

    The team is determining the movement and behavior of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from their sources in the environment, as they move through exposure pathways in ecosystems including watersheds and aquifers, their incorporation into food webs, and molecular to population scale effects on fish and wildlife. These studies are accomplished at a variety of spatial scales from regional...
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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    PFAS Transport, Exposure, and Effects

    The team is determining the movement and behavior of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from their sources in the environment, as they move through exposure pathways in ecosystems including watersheds and aquifers, their incorporation into food webs, and molecular to population scale effects on fish and wildlife. These studies are accomplished at a variety of spatial scales from regional...
    Learn More
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    Image: Bald Eagle with Prey

    Ecotoxicology and Ecological Risks of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

    Ecotoxicology and ecological risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are summarized to highlight critical gaps and uncertainties, and to provide potential approaches to fill those gaps, including the development of targeted monitoring programs and cross-disciplinary approaches.
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    Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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    Ecotoxicology and Ecological Risks of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

    Ecotoxicology and ecological risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are summarized to highlight critical gaps and uncertainties, and to provide potential approaches to fill those gaps, including the development of targeted monitoring programs and cross-disciplinary approaches.
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    Canyon Mine Sampling

    Minerals Science Team

    The Minerals Integrated Science Team focuses on contaminant exposures in the environment that might originate from mineral resource activities including, transportation, storage, extraction and waste management. Perceived health risks to humans and other organisms will be distinguished from actual risks, if any. If actual risks are identified the science produced by this team can inform how to...
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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    Minerals Science Team

    The Minerals Integrated Science Team focuses on contaminant exposures in the environment that might originate from mineral resource activities including, transportation, storage, extraction and waste management. Perceived health risks to humans and other organisms will be distinguished from actual risks, if any. If actual risks are identified the science produced by this team can inform how to...
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  • Data

    Acute and chronic toxicity of two perfluoroalkyl substances to Neocloeon triangulifer

    Dataset consists of 4-day, 14-day, and full life responses of laboratory cultured mayflies (Neocloeon triangulifer) to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).  Responses were measured as survival at 4 days, 14 days, pre-emergent nymph (PEN) stage, and emergence; 14-day length; number of days to PEN stage, and imago live weight.  Water quality and analytical chemistry re
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    Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Survival of grass carp and black carp gavaged with an oral dose of antimycin A in two carriers, corn oil and ethanol

    The data consists of survival, length and weight of grass carp and black carp gavaged with an oral dose of antimycin A in two carriers, corn oil and ethanol.
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    Columbia Environmental Research Center

    A quantitative survey of freshwater mussels of the Buffalo National River, Arkansas from 2019 to 2021

    Results from a quantitative survey of mussel assemblages from 12 long-term monitoring sites over 153 river kilometers of the Buffalo National River 2019-2021.
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    Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Chemical and biological exposure bioassay data from sediment collected within the Grand Calumet River, Indiana, USA

    The Grand Calumet River (GCR), located in northern Indiana, is contaminated due to a wide range of historical industrial activities. Short-term and long-term sediment exposure bioassays with the amphipod Hyalella azteca, the midge Chironomus dilutus, and the mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea were conducted with samples collected in 2013, 2015, and 2017, from up to 26 sites, including both remediated, n
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    Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Burrowing behavior of freshwater mussels

    Data include burrowing behavior of juvenile freshwater mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea); Villosa constricta; Megalonaias nervosa; Villosa iris; Lampsilis powellii; and Anodonta oregonensis) in three types of sediment [a sand/silt/clay mixture (49 percent sand) with a total organic carbon (TOC) content of about 3 percent obtained from northeastern Minnesota, a predominantly fine sand (82 percent san
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    Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Evaluating chronic toxicity of sodium chloride or potassium chloride to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) in water exposures using standard and refined toxicity test methods

    Individual measurements of toxicity and water quality data used to calculate means reported in the associated publication. The objectives of the present study were to (1) refine test conditions for improving mussel survival and growth in a long-term feeding study, (2) evaluate chronic toxicity of NaCl and KCl to fatmucket under traditional test conditions outlined in ASTM (ASTM 2017) and the refin
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    Columbia Environmental Research Center
  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 27

    Perfluorooctanesulfonate adversely affects a mayfly (Neocloeon triangulifer) at environmentally realistic concentrations

    Of the emerging contaminant types thought to threaten freshwater biota, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances appear to be particularly widespread, and limited studies conducted with these compounds thus far indicate insects may be particularly sensitive to them. This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of two commonly detected compounds on the laboratory-reared mayfly Neocloeon tria
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Influences 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, littl
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Guide for benthic invertebrate studies in support of Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

    This guide is intended to assist with characterizing injury to freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs) in Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) cases. The contents are narrowly focused on insects, crustaceans, snails, and other invertebrate fauna that are typically considered part of BMI communities and are not intended to address studies of injury to larger benthic taxa
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    Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Ingested toxicity of antimycin A to grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus in two carriers

    Toxic baits are a potential control mechanism for nuisance carps, but rotenone-based baits for grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella have been ineffective. Failures have been attributed to the palatability of rotenone because innocuous training pellets are readily consumed prior to provision of piscicide baits. Several studies suggest antimycin A, a common alternative piscicide, typically applied dir
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Interlaboratory comparison of three sediment bioaccumulation tests

    Standard bioaccumulation tests are commonly conducted using Macoma nasuta (clam), and Alitta virens (polychaete) for marine tests, and Lumbriculus variegatus (an oligochaete) for freshwater tests. Because the interlaboratory variability associated with these tests is unknown, four experienced laboratories conducted standard 28-day bioaccumulation tests with the above species using sediments contam
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Integrated science for the study of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment—A strategic science vision for the U.S. Geological Survey

    Concerns related to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sources of drinking water and in natural and engineered environments have captured national attention over the last few decades. This report provides an overview of the science gaps that exist in the fields of study related to PFAS that are relevant to the U.S. Geological Survey mission and identifies opportunities where t
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

    Method development for a short-term 7-day toxicity test with unionid mussels

    The US Environmental Protection Agency's short-term freshwater effluent test methods include a fish (Pimephales promelas), a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia), and a green alga (Raphidocelis subcapitata). There is a recognized need for additional taxa to accompany the three standard species for effluent testing. An appropriate additional taxon is unionid mussels because mussels are widely distribute
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    The 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 m
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Modeling 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 triangulif
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Direct 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.
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Idaho Water Science Center

    The role of behavioral ecotoxicology in environmental protection

    For decades, we have known that chemicals affect human and wildlife behavior. Moreover, due to recent technological and computational advances, scientists are now increasingly aware that a wide variety of contaminants and other environmental stressors adversely affect organismal behavior and subsequent ecological outcomes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. There is also a groundswell of concer
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Assessment of burrowing behavior of freshwater juvenile mussels in sediment

    Standard laboratory sediment toxicity methods have been adapted for conducting toxicity tests with juvenile freshwater mussels. However, studies looking at juvenile mussel burrowing behavior at the water-sediment interface are limited. Juvenile mussels burrow in sediment for the first 0 to 4 yr of life but also may inhabit the sediment-water interface. The objective of this study was to evaluate b
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Johnson, D.R., Boyd, R.E., Bednar, A.J., Weiss, C.A., Hull, M.S., Coleman, J.G., Kennedy, A.J., Banks, C.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2018, Effects of soot by-product from the synthesis of engineered metallofullerene nanomaterials on terrestrial invertebrates: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 37, no. 6, p. 1594-1605.
    Brooks, B.W., Lazorchak, J.M., Howard, M.D.A., Johnson, M.-V.V., Morton, S.L., Perkins, D.A.K., Reavie, E.D., Scott, G.I., Smith, S.A., and Steevens, J.A., 2016, Are harmful algal blooms becoming the greatest inland water quality threat to public health and aquatic ecosystems?: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 35, no. 1, p. 6-13
    Stanley, J.K., Laird, J.G., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2016, Sublethal effects of multiwalled carbon nanotube exposure in the invertebrate Daphnia magna: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 35, no. 1, p. 200-204
    Kennedy, A.J., Hull, M.S., Diamond, S., Chappell, M., Bednar, A.J., Laird, J.G., Melby, N.L., and Steevens, J.A., 2015, Gaining a critical mass: A dose metric conversion case study using silver nanoparticles: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 49, no. 20, p. 12490-12499
    Brame, J.A., Poda, A.R., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2015, EHS testing of products containing nanomaterials: What is nano release?: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 49, no. 19, p. 11245-11246
    Cuddy, M.F., Poda, A.R., Moser, R.D., Weiss, C.A., Cairns, C., and Steevens, J.A., 2016, A weight-of-evidence approach to identify nanomaterials in consumer products: a case study of nanoparticles in commercial sunscreens: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, v. 26, no. 1, p. 26-34
    Garcia-Reyero, N., Thornton, C., Hawkins, A.D., Escalon, L., Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., and Willett, K.L., 2015, Assessing the exposure to nanosilver and silver nitrate on fathead minnow gill gene expression and mucus production: Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, v. 4, no. Supplement C, p. 58-66
    Fadel, T.R., Steevens, J.A., Thomas, T.A., and Linkov, I., 2015, The challenges of nanotechnology risk management: Nano Today, v. 10, no. 1, p. 6-10
    Collier, Z.A., Kennedy, A.J., Poda, A.R., Cuddy, M.F., Moser, R.D., MacCuspie, R.I., Harmon, A., Plourde, K., Haines, C.D., and Steevens, J.A., 2015, Tiered guidance for risk-informed environmental health and safety testing of nanotechnologies: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 17, no. 3, p. 155
    Steevens, J., Chappell, M., Janzen, D., Edwards, D., and Shih, W., 2014, Outwitting the uncertainty of nanotechnology risks through environmental life cycle assessment: Nanotechnology, v. 3, p. 113-114
    Hawkins, A.D., Thornton, C., Kennedy, A.J., Bu, K., Cizdziel, J., Jones, B.W., Steevens, J.A., and Willett, K.L., 2015, Gill histopathologies following exposure to nanosilver or silver nitrate: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, v. 78, no. 5, p. 301-315
    Hawkins, A.D., Thornton, C., Steevens, J.A., and Willett, K.L., 2014, Alteration in Pimephales promelas mucus production after exposure to nanosilver or silver nitrate: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 33, no. 12, p. 2869-2872
    Hawkins, A.D., Bednar, A.J., Cizdziel, J.V., Bu, K., Steevens, J.A., and Willett, K.L., 2014, Identification of silver nanoparticles in Pimephales promelas gastrointestinal tract and gill tissues using flow field flow fractionation ICP-MS: RSC Advances, v. 4, no. 78, p. 41277-41280
    Garcia-Reyero, N., Kennedy, A.J., Escalon, B.L., Habib, T., Laird, J.G., Rawat, A., Wiseman, S., Hecker, M., Denslow, N., Steevens, J.A., and Perkins, E.J., 2014, Differential effects and potential adverse outcomes of ionic silver and silver nanoparticles in vivo and in vitro: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 48, no. 8, p. 4546-4555
    Palmqvist, A., Baker, L., Forbes, V.E., Gergs, A., von der Kammer, F., Luoma, S., Lützhøft, H.C.H., Salinas, E., Sorensen, M., and Steevens, J., 2015, Nanomaterial environmental risk assessment: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 11, no. 2, p. 333-335
    Harmon, A.R., Kennedy, A.J., Poda, A.R., Bednar, A.J., Chappell, M.A., and Steevens, J.A., 2014, Determination of nanosilver dissolution kinetics and toxicity in an environmentally relevant aqueous medium: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 33, no. 8, p. 1783-1791
    Chappell, M.A., Seiter, J.M., Bednar, A.J., Price, C.L., Averett, D., Lafferty, B., Tappero, R., Stanley, J.S., Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., Zhou, P., Morikawa, E., Merchan, G., and Roy, A., 2014, Stability of solid-phase selenium species in fly ash after prolonged submersion in a natural river system: Chemosphere, v. 95, no. Supplement C, p. 174-181
    Kennedy, A.J., Melby, N.L., Moser, R.D., Bednar, A.J., Son, S.F., Lounds, C.D., Laird, J.G., Nellums, R.R., Johnson, D.R., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Fate and toxicity of CuO nanospheres and nanorods used in Al/CuO nanothermites before and after combustion: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 47, no. 19, p. 11258-11267
    Coleman, J.G., Kennedy, A.J., Bednar, A.J., Ranville, J.F., Laird, J.G., Harmon, A.R., Hayes, C.A., Gray, E.P., Higgins, C.P., Lotufo, G., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Comparing the effects of nanosilver size and coating variations on bioavailability, internalization, and elimination, using Lumbriculus variegatus: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 32, no. 9, p. 2069-2077
    Bednar, A.J., Averett, D.E., Seiter, J.M., Lafferty, B., Jones, W.T., Hayes, C.A., Chappell, M.A., Clarke, J.U., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Characterization of metals released from coal fly ash during dredging at the Kingston ash recovery project: Chemosphere, v. 92, no. 11, p. 1563-1570
    Tang, K., Liu, X., Harper, S.L., Steevens, J.A., and Xu, R., 2013, NEIMiner: nanomaterial environmental impact data miner: International Journal of Nanomedicine, v. 8, no. Suppl 1, p. 15-29.
    Liu, X., Tang, K., Harper, S., Harper, B., Steevens, J.A., and Xu, R., 2013, Predictive modeling of nanomaterial exposure effects in biological systems: International Journal of Nanomedicine, v. 8, no. Suppl 1, p. 31-43
    Poda, A.R., Moser, R.D., Cuddy, M.F., Doorenbos, Z., Lafferty, B.J., Weiss, C.A., Harmon, A., Chappell, M.A., and Steevens, J. A., 2013, Nano-aluminum thermite formulations: Characterizing the fate properties of a nanotechnology during use: Journal of Nanomaterials & Molecular Nanotechnology, v. 2, no. 1, p. 1-9
    Bednar, A.J., Poda, A.R., Mitrano, D.M., Kennedy, A.J., Gray, E.P., Ranville, J.F., Hayes, C.A., Crocker, F.H., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Comparison of on-line detectors for field flow fractionation analysis of nanomaterials: Talanta, v. 104, no. Supplement C, p. 140-148
    Stanley, J.K., Kennedy, A.J., Bednar, A.J., Chappell, M.A., Seiter, J.M., Averett, D.E., and Steevens, J.A., 2013, Impact assessment of dredging to remove coal fly ash at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil plant using fathead minnow elutriate exposures: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 32, no. 4, p. 822-830
    Handy, R.D., Cornelis, G., Fernandes, T., Tsyusko, O., Decho, A., Sabo-Attwood, T., Metcalfe, C., Steevens, J.A., Klaine, S.J., Koelmans, A.A., and Horne, N., 2012, Ecotoxicity test methods for engineered nanomaterials: Practical experiences and recommendations from the bench: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 31, no. 1, p. 15-31
    Xu, R., Tang, K., Liu, X., Harper, S., and Steevens, J.A., 2012, NEIMiner: A model driven data mining system for studying environmental impact of nanomaterials, Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine Workshops (BIBMW), IEEE Computer Society, p. 895-902
    Harper, B., Tang, K., Liu, X., Harper, S., Xu, R., and Steevens, J.A., 2012, Predictive modeling of nanomaterial biological effects, Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine Workshops (BIBMW), IEEE Computer Society, p. 859-863
    Chappell, M.A., Miller, L.F., George, A.J., Pettway, B.A., Price, C.L., Porter, B.E., Bednar, A.J., Seiter, J.M., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2011, Simultaneous dispersion–dissolution behavior of concentrated silver nanoparticle suspensions in the presence of model organic solutes: Chemosphere, v. 84, no. 8, p. 1108-1116
    Bennett, E.R., Steevens, J.A., Lotufo, G.R., Paterson, G., and Drouillard, K.G., 2011, Novel control and steady-state correction method for standard 28-day bioaccumulation tests using Nereis virens: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 30, no. 6, p. 1366-1375
    Poda, A.R., Bednar, A.J., Kennedy, A.J., Harmon, A., Hull, M., Mitrano, D.M., Ranville, J.F., and Steevens, J., 2011, Characterization of silver nanoparticles using flow-field flow fractionation interfaced to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: Journal of Chromatography A, v. 1218, no. 27, p. 4219-4225
    Kennedy, A.J., Hull, M.S., Bednar, A.J., Goss, J.D., Gunter, J.C., Bouldin, J.L., Vikesland, P.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Fractionating nanosilver: Importance for determining toxicity to aquatic test organisms: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 44, no. 24, p. 9571-9577
    Bednar, A.J., Chappell, M.A., Seiter, J.M., Stanley, J.K., Averett, D.E., Jones, W.T., Pettway, B.A., Kennedy, A.J., Hendrix, S.H., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Geochemical investigations of metals release from submerged coal fly ash using extended elutriate tests: Chemosphere, v. 81, no. 11, p. 1393-1400
    McElroy, A.E., Barron, M.G., Beckvar, N., Driscoll, S.B.K., Meador, J.P., Parkerton, T.F., Preuss, T.G., and Steevens, J.A., 2011, A review of the tissue residue approach for organic and organometallic compounds in aquatic organisms: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 7, no. 1, p. 50-74
    Stanley, J.K., Kennedy, A.J., Farrar, J.D., Mount, D.R., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Evaluation of reduced sediment volume procedures for acute toxicity tests using the estuarine amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 29, no. 12, p. 2769-2776
    Coleman, J.G., Johnson, D.R., Stanley, J.K., Bednar, A.J., Weiss, C.A., Boyd, R.E., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Assessing the fate and effects of nano aluminum oxide in the terrestrial earthworm, Eisenia fetida: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 29, no. 7, p. 1575-1580
    Stanley, J.K., Coleman, J.G., Weiss, C.A., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation of nano and micron-sized aluminum oxide: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 29, no. 2, p. 422-429
    Johnson, D.R., Methner, M.M., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, Potential for occupational exposure to engineered carbon-based nanomaterials in environmental laboratory studies: Environmental Health Perspectives, v. 118, no. 1, p. 49-54
    Kane Driscoll, S.B., McArdle, M.E., Menzie, C.A., Reiss, M., and Steevens, J.A., 2010, A framework for using dose as a metric to assess toxicity of fish to PAHs: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 73, no. 4, p. 486-490
    Kennedy, A.J., Gunter, J.C., Chappell, M.A., Goss, J.D., Hull, M.S., Kirgan, R.A., and Steevens, J.A., 2009, Influence of nanotube preparation in aquatic bioassays: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 28, no. 9, p. 1930-1938. .
    Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., Lotufo, G.R., Farrar, J.D., Reiss, M.R., Kropp, R.K., Doi, J., and Bridges, T.S., 2009, A comparison of acute and chronic toxicity methods for marine sediments: Marine Environmental Research, v. 68, no. 3, p. 118-127
    Hull, M.S., Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., Bednar, A.J., Weiss, J.C.A., and Vikesland, P.J., 2009, Release of metal impurities from carbon nanomaterials influences aquatic toxicity: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 43, no. 11, p. 4169-4174
    Chappell, M.A., George, A.J., Dontsova, K.M., Porter, B.E., Price, C.L., Zhou, P., Morikawa, E., Kennedy, A.J., and Steevens, J.A., 2009, Surfactive stabilization of multi-walled carbon nanotube dispersions with dissolved humic substances: Environmental Pollution, v. 157, no. 4, p. 1081-1087
    Tervonen, T., Linkov, I., Figueira, J.R., Steevens, J., Chappell, M., and Merad, M., 2009, Risk-based classification system of nanomaterials: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 11, no. 4, p. 757-766
    Linkov, I., Steevens, J., Adlakha-Hutcheon, G., Bennett, E., Chappell, M., Colvin, V., Davis, J.M., Davis, T., Elder, A., Foss Hansen, S., Hakkinen, P.B., Hussain, S.M., Karkan, D., Korenstein, R., Lynch, I., Metcalfe, C., Ramadan, A.B., and Satterstrom, F.K., 2009, Emerging methods and tools for environmental risk assessment, decision-making, and policy for nanomaterials: summary of NATO Advanced Research Workshop: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 11, no. 3, p. 513-527
    Kennedy, A.J., Hull, M.S., Steevens, J.A., Dontsova, K.M., Chappell, M.A., Gunter, J.C., and Weiss, C.A., 2008, Factors influencing the partitioning and toxicity of nanotubes in the aquatic environment: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 27, no. 9, p. 1932-1941
    Sims, J.G., and Steevens, J.A., 2008, The role of metabolism in the toxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and its degradation products to the aquatic amphipod Hyalella azteca: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 70, no. 1, p. 38-46
    Dortch, M.S., Zakikhani, M., Kim, S.-C., and Steevens, J.A., 2008, Modeling water and sediment contamination of Lake Pontchartrain following pump-out of Hurricane Katrina floodwater: Journal of Environmental Management, v. 87, no. 3, p. 429-442
    Linkov, I., Satterstrom, F.K., Steevens, J., Ferguson, E., and Pleus, R.C., 2007, Multi-criteria decision analysis and environmental risk assessment for nanomaterials: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, v. 9, no. 4, p. 543-554
    Inouye, L.S., Yoo, L.J., Talent, L.G., Clarke, J.U., Jones, R.P., Steevens, J.A., and Boyd, R.E., 2007, Assessment of lead uptake in reptilian prey species: Chemosphere, v. 68, no. 8, p. 1591-1596
    Fristachi, A., Rice, G., Steevens, J., and Linkov, I., 2007, A preliminary exposure assessment of microcystins from consumption of drinking water in the United States: Lake and Reservoir Management, v. 23, no. 2, p. 203-210
    Suedel, B.C., Steevens, J.A., Kennedy, A.J., Brasfield, S.M., and Ray, G.L., 2007, Environmental consequences of water pumped from greater New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina:  Chemical, toxicological, and infaunal analysis: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 41, no. 7, p. 2594-2601
    Perkins, E.J., Gust, K.A., and Steevens, J., 2007, Toxicogenomic assessment of the population level impacts of contaminants: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 3, no. 4, p. 562-564
    Yoo, L.J., Lotufo, G.R., Gibson, A.B., Steevens, J.A., and Sims, J.G., 2006, Toxicity and bioaccumulation of 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas): Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 25, no. 12, p. 3253-3260
    Kennedy, A.J., Millward, R.N., Steevens, J.A., Lynn, J.W., and Perry, K.D., 2006, Relative Sensitivity of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) life-stages to two copper sources: Journal of Great Lakes Research, v. 32, no. 3, p. 596-606
    Steevens, J.A., Reiss, M.R., and Pawlisz, A.V., 2005, A methodology for deriving tissue residue benchmarks for aquatic biota: A case study for fish exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and equivalents: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 1, no. 2, p. 142-151
    Landrum, P.F., Steevens, J.A., McElroy, M., Gossiaux, D.C., Lewis, J.S., and Robinson, S.D., 2005, Time-dependent toxicity of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene to Hyalella azteca: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 24, no. 1, p. 211-218
    Conder, J.M., La Point, T.W., Steevens, J.A., and Lotufo, G.R., 2004, Recommendations for the assessment of TNT toxicity in sediment: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 23, no. 1, p. 141-149
    Conder, J.M., Lotufo, G.R., Bowen, A.T., Turner, P.K., La Point, T.W., and Steevens, J.A., 2004, Solid phase microextraction fibers for estimating the toxicity of nitroaromatic compounds: Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, v. 7, no. 3, p. 387-397
    Conder, J.M., La Point, T.W., Lotufo, G.R., and Steevens, J.A., 2003, Nondestructive, minimal-disturbance, direct-burial solid-phase microextraction fiber technique for measuring TNT in sediment: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 37, no. 8, p. 1625-1632
    Steevens, J.A., Duke, B.M., Lotufo, G.R., and Bridges, T.S., 2002, Toxicity of the explosives 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine in sediments to Chironomus tentans and Hyalella azteca: Low-dose hormesis and high-dose mortality: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 21, no. 7, p. 1475-1482
    Steevens, J.A., Summers, J.K., and Benson, W.H., 2001, Assessing stressors in coastal ecosystems: An approach to the patient: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, v. 7, no. 5, p. 1447-1455
    Huggett, D.B., Steevens, J.A., Allgood, J.C., Lutken, C.B., Grace, C.A., and Benson, W.H., 2001, Mercury in sediment and fish from North Mississippi Lakes: Chemosphere, v. 42, no. 8, p. 923-929
    Steevens, J.A., and Benson, W.H., 2001, Toxicokinetic interactions and survival of Hyalella azteca exposed to binary mixtures of chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, and methyl mercury: Aquatic Toxicology, v. 51, no. 4, p. 377-388
    Steevens, J.A., and Benson, W.H., 2000, Interactions of chlorpyrifos and methyl mercury: A mechanistic approach to assess chemical mixtures: Marine Environmental Research, v. 50, no. 1, p. 113-117
    Steevens, J.A., and Benson, W.H., 1999, Toxicological interactions of chlorpyrifos and methyl mercury in the amphipod, Hyalella azteca: Toxicological Sciences, v. 52, no. 2, p. 168-177
    Steevens, J.A., Slattery, M., Schlenk, D., Aryl, A., and Benson, W.H., 1999, Effects of ultraviolet-B light and polyaromatic hydrocarbon exposure on sea urchin development and bacterial bioluminescence: Marine Environmental Research, v. 48, no. 4, p. 439-457
    Steevens, J.A., Vansal, S.S., Kallies, K.W., Knight, S.S., Cooper, C.M., and Benson, W.H., 1998, Toxicological evaluation of constructed wetland habitat sediments utilizing Hyalella azteca 10-day sediment toxicity test and bacterial bioluminescence: Chemosphere, v. 36, no. 15, p. 3167-3180
    Steevens, J.A., and Benson, W.H., 1998, Hyalella azteca 10-day sediment toxicity test: Comparison of growth measurement endpoints: Environmental Toxicology and Water Quality, v. 13, no. 3, p. 243-248
    Schlenk, D., Wolford, L., Chelius, M., Steevens, J., and Chan, K.M., 1997, Effect of arsenite, arsenate, and the herbicide monosodium methyl arsonate (MSMA) on hepatic metallothionein expression and lipid peroxidation in channel catfish: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Endocrinology, v. 118, no. 2, p. 177-183

    **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.

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    CERC’s Research Supporting Conservation of Endangered Mussels Featured in the Columbia Missourian

    CERC scientist James Kunz is featured in the Columbia Missourian on USGS research related to endangered mussels.

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*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