Sarah Janssen presents at Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Sarah E Janssen
Sarah Janssen is an isotope geochemist working in the Mercury Research Lab (MRL) located within the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.
She has a PhD in environmental chemistry from Rutgers University and a bachelor’s in chemistry from
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Her work focuses on the application of stable isotope techniques for understanding sources and transformations of mercury (Hg) in the environment. Her research interests include Hg cycling in contaminated ecosystems, the investigation of microbial Hg transformations using stable isotopes, and development of analytical methods to improve Hg isotope measurements.
Current Projects
- Mercury Cycling and Source Identification in the St Louis River Estuary MN/WI (collaboration with US EPA and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)
- Mercury Isotope Fractionation during Microbial Uptake and Transformations of Hg (collaboration with Rutgers University and University of Ottawa)
- Method Development for the Pre-concentration of Waters and Low Concentration Environmental Samples for Mercury Isotopic Analysis
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2016, Environmental Chemistry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
B.S. 2011, Chemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
Science and Products
Mercury Isotope Ratios used to Determine Sources of Mercury to Fish in Northeast U.S. Streams
Mercury studies
Mercury Methylation Assay Along a Salinity Gradient in Coastal Peat Soils in the Florida Everglades
Mercury in soil, water, sediment, and biota in headwater streams associated with wildfires in the northwestern U.S., 2021-2022
Mercury Stable Isotope Assessment of Dragonflies and Fish Tissues across United States National Parks
Walleye (Sander vitreus), Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) and Surface Water Mercury Concentrations in Minnesota Lakes
Great Lakes Sediment Surveillance Program: Mercury Concentrations and Mercury Stable Isotopes in Sediments of the Laurentian Great Lakes
Measurements of mercury stable isotopes during planktonic uptake and photochemical demethylation of methylmercury
Mercury Stable Isotope Measurements in Water and Suspended Particulate Matter from Snake River Tributaries in Idaho and Oregon, USA
Hydrological, Chemical, and Biological Characterization of the Snake River and Associated Tributaries and Irrigation Drains from River Mile 448 to 346, 2022
Mercury stable isotopes in biota, sediment, groundwater, and waste piles, Clear Lake area, Lake County, California, 2019-2022
Mercury Stable Isotope Assessment of Global Food Webs
Assessment of Mercury and Mercury Stable Isotopes in Sediments and Biota from Reservoirs and Remedial Zones within the Saint Louis River, Minnesota
Particulate mercury isotope results, fiber optic thermal survey data, and nearshore surface sediment results at the Bremerton Naval Complex, Washington, USA, 2020-21
Sarah Janssen presents at Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Nippon mercury analyzer for sediments and fish.
Nippon mercury analyzer for sediments and fish.
MC-ICP-MS used for mercury stable isotope analyses.
MC-ICP-MS used for mercury stable isotope analyses.
Graduate student, Grace Armstrong, performing mercury uptake studies in plankton at Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, Wisconsin.
Graduate student, Grace Armstrong, performing mercury uptake studies in plankton at Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, Wisconsin.
Internal look at the MC-ICP-MS flight tube when magnet is removed.
Internal look at the MC-ICP-MS flight tube when magnet is removed.
Scientist in field assessing soil sampling locations at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant site in Sauk County, WI.
Scientist in field assessing soil sampling locations at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant site in Sauk County, WI.
Scientists collecting water samples for mercury isotope analysis in the Mobile River, Alabama.
Scientists collecting water samples for mercury isotope analysis in the Mobile River, Alabama.
Simulated sea level rise in coastal peat oils stimulates mercury methylation
Wildfires influence mercury transport, methylation, and bioaccumulation in headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest
Connecting tributary mercury loads to nearshore and offshore sediments in Lake Superior
Geographic drivers of mercury entry into aquatic food webs revealed by mercury stable isotopes in dragonfly larvae
Integrated science for the study of microplastics in the environment—A strategic science vision for the U.S. Geological Survey
A conceptual site model of contaminant transport pathways from the Bremerton Naval Complex to Sinclair Inlet, Washington, 2011–21
Competition between dissolved organic matter and freshwater plankton control methylmercury isotope fractionation during uptake and photochemical demethylation
Mercury sources and budget for the Snake River above a hydroelectric reservoir complex
Mercury isotope values in shoreline spiders reveal transfer of aquatic mercury sources to terrestrial food webs
Contrasting mercury contamination scenarios and site susceptibilities confound fish mercury burdens in Suriname, South America
National-scale assessment of total gaseous mercury isotopes across the United States
Using mercury stable isotope fractionation to identify the contribution of historical mercury mining sources present in downstream water, sediment and fish
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Great Lakes Mercury Sources Revealed
A new "fingerprinting" tool, developed by USGS and collaborators at University of Wisconsin-Madison, can now indicate sources of mercury in the environment.
Science and Products
Mercury Isotope Ratios used to Determine Sources of Mercury to Fish in Northeast U.S. Streams
Mercury studies
Mercury Methylation Assay Along a Salinity Gradient in Coastal Peat Soils in the Florida Everglades
Mercury in soil, water, sediment, and biota in headwater streams associated with wildfires in the northwestern U.S., 2021-2022
Mercury Stable Isotope Assessment of Dragonflies and Fish Tissues across United States National Parks
Walleye (Sander vitreus), Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) and Surface Water Mercury Concentrations in Minnesota Lakes
Great Lakes Sediment Surveillance Program: Mercury Concentrations and Mercury Stable Isotopes in Sediments of the Laurentian Great Lakes
Measurements of mercury stable isotopes during planktonic uptake and photochemical demethylation of methylmercury
Mercury Stable Isotope Measurements in Water and Suspended Particulate Matter from Snake River Tributaries in Idaho and Oregon, USA
Hydrological, Chemical, and Biological Characterization of the Snake River and Associated Tributaries and Irrigation Drains from River Mile 448 to 346, 2022
Mercury stable isotopes in biota, sediment, groundwater, and waste piles, Clear Lake area, Lake County, California, 2019-2022
Mercury Stable Isotope Assessment of Global Food Webs
Assessment of Mercury and Mercury Stable Isotopes in Sediments and Biota from Reservoirs and Remedial Zones within the Saint Louis River, Minnesota
Particulate mercury isotope results, fiber optic thermal survey data, and nearshore surface sediment results at the Bremerton Naval Complex, Washington, USA, 2020-21
Sarah Janssen presents at Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Sarah Janssen presents at Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Nippon mercury analyzer for sediments and fish.
Nippon mercury analyzer for sediments and fish.
MC-ICP-MS used for mercury stable isotope analyses.
MC-ICP-MS used for mercury stable isotope analyses.
Graduate student, Grace Armstrong, performing mercury uptake studies in plankton at Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, Wisconsin.
Graduate student, Grace Armstrong, performing mercury uptake studies in plankton at Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, Wisconsin.
Internal look at the MC-ICP-MS flight tube when magnet is removed.
Internal look at the MC-ICP-MS flight tube when magnet is removed.
Scientist in field assessing soil sampling locations at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant site in Sauk County, WI.
Scientist in field assessing soil sampling locations at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant site in Sauk County, WI.
Scientists collecting water samples for mercury isotope analysis in the Mobile River, Alabama.
Scientists collecting water samples for mercury isotope analysis in the Mobile River, Alabama.
Simulated sea level rise in coastal peat oils stimulates mercury methylation
Wildfires influence mercury transport, methylation, and bioaccumulation in headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest
Connecting tributary mercury loads to nearshore and offshore sediments in Lake Superior
Geographic drivers of mercury entry into aquatic food webs revealed by mercury stable isotopes in dragonfly larvae
Integrated science for the study of microplastics in the environment—A strategic science vision for the U.S. Geological Survey
A conceptual site model of contaminant transport pathways from the Bremerton Naval Complex to Sinclair Inlet, Washington, 2011–21
Competition between dissolved organic matter and freshwater plankton control methylmercury isotope fractionation during uptake and photochemical demethylation
Mercury sources and budget for the Snake River above a hydroelectric reservoir complex
Mercury isotope values in shoreline spiders reveal transfer of aquatic mercury sources to terrestrial food webs
Contrasting mercury contamination scenarios and site susceptibilities confound fish mercury burdens in Suriname, South America
National-scale assessment of total gaseous mercury isotopes across the United States
Using mercury stable isotope fractionation to identify the contribution of historical mercury mining sources present in downstream water, sediment and fish
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Great Lakes Mercury Sources Revealed
A new "fingerprinting" tool, developed by USGS and collaborators at University of Wisconsin-Madison, can now indicate sources of mercury in the environment.