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Sarah J. Stetson, PhD

Sarah is the Regional Quality Management Systems Manager for the USGS Midcontinent Region

Sarah is the Regional Quality Management Systems Manager for the USGS Midcontinent Region and leads the implementation and management of the USGS Quality Management System (QMS). She works with the Science Centers in the region to determine the appropriate level of QMS support needed and performs assessments of QMS in the region. She also evaluates and reports on the effectiveness of the QMS to incorporate lab and center management’s feedback into the QMS.  

Sarah started her career with the U.S. Geological Survey as a volunteer/contactor/graduate student in the Geologic Division studying mercury stable isotopes in mine waste. After completing a post-doc in soil chemistry with the USDA in South Dakota, she returned to the USGS in 2012 to work at the National Water Quality Laboratory in the production lab environment as a lead. She then moved to the Methods Research and Development Program within the NWQL (later Strategic Laboratory Science Branch) as a Research Chemist where she developed and maintained methods in support of the Nutrients and Metals Analytical Services Sections. 

Education and Certifications

  • Colorado School of Mines, Applied Chemistry, Ph.D., 2009

    Kettering University, Environmental Chemistry, B.S., 2003

Science and Products

Comparison of detection limits estimated using single- and multi-concentration spike-based and blank-based procedures

Spike- and blank-based procedures were applied to estimate the detection limits (DLs) for example analytes from inorganic and organic methods for water samples to compare with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Method Detection Limit (MDL) procedures (revisions 1.11 and 2.0). The multi-concentration spike-based procedures ASTM Within-laboratory Critical Level (DQCALC) and EPA's Lowes
Authors
William T. Foreman, Teresa Lynne Williams, Edward Furlong, Dawn Hemmerle, Sarah Stetson, Virendra K. Jha, Mary C Noriega, Jessica A Decess, Carmen Reed-Parker, Mark W. Sandstrom
By
Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Laboratory

Determination of four arsenic species in environmental water samples by liquid chromatography- inductively coupled plasma - tandem mass spectrometry

Robust and sensitive methods for monitoring inorganic and organic As species As(III), As(V), dimethylarsinate (DMA), and monomethylarsonate (MMA) in environmental water are necessary to understand the toxicity and redox processes of As in a specific environment. The method is sufficiently sensitive and selective to ensure accurate and precise quantitation of As(III), As(V), DMA, and MMA in surface
Authors
Sarah Stetson, Caitlyn Margaret Lawrence, Susan Melissa Whitcomb, Christopher J. Kanagy

Stability of inorganic and methylated arsenic species in laboratory standards, surface water and groundwater under three different preservation regimes

Geogenic arsenic (As) adversely affects drinking water quality in geologically diverse aquifers across the globe. Although the species of As significantly affects its fate, transport, toxicity, and As treatment technology efficacy, reported effectiveness of As species preservation methods varies widely with preservation methods and natural water geochemistry. Our study 1) evaluates the shelf life
Authors
Sarah Stetson, Melinda L. Erickson, Jeffrey Brenner, Emily C. Berquist, Christopher J. Kanagy, Susan Melissa Whitcomb, Caitlyn Margaret Lawrence

Measurement of nutrients in saline and hypersaline waters by discrete analyzer colorimetry without matrix matched calibration standards

Automated, colorimetric analysis of nutrients in samples with high and variable salinity can be time consuming due to the need to matrix match calibration and reference solution matrices with those of samples—particularly when using flow-based analyzers that are prone to detector artifacts caused by optical inhomogeneities, “schlieren”, that form at interfaces between samples and deionized water c
Authors
Sarah Stetson, Charles Patton, Nicole Lynn Guaglione, Zachary Chestnut

Isotopic variability of mercury in ore, mine-waste calcine, and leachates of mine-waste calcine from areas mined for mercury

The isotopic composition of mercury (Hg) was determined in cinnabar ore, mine-waste calcine (retorted ore), and leachates obtained from water leaching experiments of calcine from two large Hg mining districts in the U.S. This study is the first to report significant mass-dependent Hg isotopic fractionation between cinnabar ore and resultant calcine. Data indicate that ??202Hg values relative to NI
Authors
S.J. Stetson, J. E. Gray, R. B. Wanty, D.L. Macalady

Stability of low levels of perchlorate in drinking water and natural water samples

Perchlorate ion (ClO4-) is an environmental contaminant of growing concern due to its potential human health effects, impact on aquatic and land animals, and widespread occurrence throughout the United States. The determination of perchlorate cannot normally be carried out in the field. As such, water samples for perchlorate analysis are often shipped to a central laboratory, where they may be sto
Authors
S.J. Stetson, R. B. Wanty, D.R. Helsel, S. J. Kalkhoff, D.L. Macalady

A review of isotopic composition as an indicator of the natural and anthropogenic behavior of mercury

There are seven stable isotopes of Hg that can be fractionated as a result of inorganic and organic interactions. Important inorganic reactions involve speciation changes resulting from variations in environmental redox conditions, and phase changes resulting from variations in temperature and/or atmospheric pressure. Important organic reactions include methylation and demethylation, reactions tha
Authors
W.I. Ridley, S.J. Stetson

Non-USGS Publications**

Stetson, S.J., and Osborne, S.L., 2015, Further Modification of Pressure-Calcimeter Method for Soil Inorganic Carbon Analysis: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, v. 46, no. 17, p. 2162-2167.
DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2015.1069316
Stetson, S. J., Osborne, S. L., Schumacher(Retired), T. E., Eynard, A., Chilom, G., Rice, J., . . . Pikul, J. L. (2012). Corn Residue Removal Impact on Topsoil Organic Carbon in a Corn–Soybean Rotation. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 76(4), 1399. doi:10.2136/sssaj2011.0420
Hammerbeck, A. L., Stetson, S. J., Osborne, S. L., Schumacher, T. E., & Pikul, J. L. (2012). Corn Residue Removal Impact on Soil Aggregates in a No-Till Corn/Soybean Rotation. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 76(4), 1390. doi:10.2136/sssaj2011.0421
Chipinda, I., Stetson, S. J., Depree, G. J., Simoyi, R. H., & Siegel, P. D. (2006). Kinetics and Mechanistic Studies of the Hydrolysis of Diisocyanate-Derived Bis-thiocarbamates of Cysteine Methyl Ester. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 19(3), 341-350. doi:10.1021/tx050311t

**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.

Data to investigate measurement of nutrients in saline and hypersaline waters by discrete analyzer colorimetry without matrix matched calibration standards

The dataset consists of two spreadsheets of data for water samples of varying salinity. One spreadsheet contains measured concentrations of nutrients in filtered water samples that were corrected for salinity effects when necessary, and measured concentrations of nutrients spiked into environmental samples or blank water that were corrected for salinity effects when necessary. The second spreadshe
By
Water Resources Mission Area

TM19-01 Characterization of bias and variability in dissolved trace elements determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) attributable to a deviation in the acid concentration of calibration standards

TM19-01 Characterization of bias and variability in dissolved trace elements determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) attributable to a deviation in the acid concentration of calibration standards

This technical memorandum alerts data users to potential shifts in measured concentration and variability due to the correction of a deviation in the standard operating procedure (SOP) used in the determination of trace elements in filtered acidified water (FA) by inductively coupled–plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS).

By
National Water Quality Laboratory

TM19-01 Characterization of bias and variability in dissolved trace elements determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) attributable to a deviation in the acid concentration of calibration standards

TM19-01 Characterization of bias and variability in dissolved trace elements determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) attributable to a deviation in the acid concentration of calibration standards

This technical memorandum alerts data users to potential shifts in measured concentration and variability due to the correction of a deviation in the standard operating procedure (SOP) used in the determination of trace elements in filtered acidified water (FA) by inductively coupled–plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS).

By
National Water Quality Laboratory

TM18-01 Validation of inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer instruments for analysis of trace metals in unfiltered-water and filtered-water samples

TM18-01 Validation of inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer instruments for analysis of trace metals in unfiltered-water and filtered-water samples

This memorandum documents method performance of recently acquired inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) instrumentation and method quality, including variability, bias, interferences, and detection limits (DLs) for trace metals in unfiltered and filtered-water measured by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry at the National Water Quality Labo

By
National Water Quality Program, National Water Quality Laboratory

TM18-01 Validation of inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer instruments for analysis of trace metals in unfiltered-water and filtered-water samples

TM18-01 Validation of inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer instruments for analysis of trace metals in unfiltered-water and filtered-water samples

This memorandum documents method performance of recently acquired inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) instrumentation and method quality, including variability, bias, interferences, and detection limits (DLs) for trace metals in unfiltered and filtered-water measured by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry at the National Water Quality Labo

By
National Water Quality Program, National Water Quality Laboratory

TM17-01 Modification to the reporting of elemental results for whole-water recoverable (WWR) sample analyses with old and new laboratory and method codes

TM17-01 Modification to the reporting of elemental results for whole-water recoverable (WWR) sample analyses with old and new laboratory and method codes

This technical memorandum describes the implementation of a correction to account for dilution during digestion of whole-water recoverable samples analyzed at the National Water Quality Laboratory, using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

By
National Water Quality Program, National Water Quality Laboratory

TM17-01 Modification to the reporting of elemental results for whole-water recoverable (WWR) sample analyses with old and new laboratory and method codes

TM17-01 Modification to the reporting of elemental results for whole-water recoverable (WWR) sample analyses with old and new laboratory and method codes

This technical memorandum describes the implementation of a correction to account for dilution during digestion of whole-water recoverable samples analyzed at the National Water Quality Laboratory, using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

By
National Water Quality Program, National Water Quality Laboratory

TM15-01 Modification to the reporting of elemental results for whole-water recoverable (WWR) sample analyses

TM15-01 Modification to the reporting of elemental results for whole-water recoverable (WWR) sample analyses

This technical memorandum describes the implementation of a correction to account for dilution during digestion of whole-water recoverable (unfiltered, WWR) samples analyzed at the National Water Quality Laboratory, using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

By
National Water Quality Laboratory

TM15-01 Modification to the reporting of elemental results for whole-water recoverable (WWR) sample analyses

TM15-01 Modification to the reporting of elemental results for whole-water recoverable (WWR) sample analyses

This technical memorandum describes the implementation of a correction to account for dilution during digestion of whole-water recoverable (unfiltered, WWR) samples analyzed at the National Water Quality Laboratory, using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

By
National Water Quality Laboratory

Science and Products