Papers by Tracy K Collier
Health impacts associated with climate-related changes in exposure to extreme events include deat... more Health impacts associated with climate-related changes in exposure to extreme events include death, injury, or illness; exacerbation of underlying medical conditions; and adverse effects on mental health [High Confidence]. Climate change will increase exposure risk in some regions of the United States due to projected increases in the frequency and/or intensity of drought, wildfires, and flooding related to extreme precipitation and hurricanes [Medium Confidence]. Disruption of Essential Infrastructure Key Finding 2: Many types of extreme events related to climate change cause disruption of infrastructure, including power, water, transportation, and communication systems, that are essential to maintaining access to health care and emergency response services and safeguarding human health [High Confidence]. Vulnerability to Coastal Flooding Key Finding 3: Coastal populations with greater vulnerability to health impacts from coastal flooding include persons with disabilities or other access and functional needs, certain populations of color, older adults, pregnant women and children, low-income populations, and some occupational groups [High Confidence]. Climate change will increase exposure risk to coastal flooding due to increases in extreme precipitation and in hurricane intensity and rainfall rates, as well as sea level rise and the resulting increases in storm surge [High Confidence].
2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo (Oct. 31 - Nov. 4, 2015), Nov 2, 2015
Endangered Species Research, Jan 31, 2017
Using multiple lines of evidence, we estimated the mortality of oceanic sea turtles that were min... more Using multiple lines of evidence, we estimated the mortality of oceanic sea turtles that were minimally to moderately oiled by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Using estimates of the oil ingested by oceanic sea turtles and comparing them to toxic endpoints following oil ingestion in turtles and other vertebrate species, we derived an estimated percentage of mortality for oil-exposed oceanic sea turtles. Oil ingestion (mg kg −1 BW d −1) in oceanic sea turtles was estimated based on extent of oiling categories assigned by a sea turtle technical working group (STTWG) as follows: non-oiled (0), minimally oiled (1), lightly oiled (2), moderately oiled (3) and heavily oiled (4). Because the STTWG concluded that 100% of heavily oiled turtles would have died from the physical effects of heavy oiling, we limited our assessment of mortality to turtles in categories 0 to 3 and estimated how many of these turtles would have died from ingestion of oil. The estimated mortality was 85% for category 3, 50% for category 2 and 25% for category 1. Visibly non-oiled turtles (category 0) were assigned 0% mortality. To calculate the overall mortality for all turtles, the mortality estimations for categories 0 to 3 were applied to the numbers of turtles observed with different degrees of oiling, as documented by direct capture operations during the DWH spill. We concluded that, overall, approximately 30% of all oceanic turtles in the region affected by the DWH spill that were not heavily oiled would have died from ingestion of oil.
PLOS ONE, Jan 2, 2020
The eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) population has been decreasing in the Baltic Sea for at lea... more The eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) population has been decreasing in the Baltic Sea for at least 30 years. Condition indices of the Baltic cod have decreased, and previous studies have suggested that this might be due to overfishing, predation, lower dissolved oxygen or changes in salinity. However, numerous studies from the Baltic Sea have demonstrated an ongoing thiamine deficiency in several animal classes, both invertebrates and vertebrates. The thiamine status of the eastern Baltic cod was investigated to determine if thiamine deficiency might be a factor in ongoing population declines. Thiamine concentrations were determined by chemical analyses of thiamine, thiamine monophosphate and thiamine diphosphate (combined SumT) in the liver using high performance liquid chromatography. Biochemical analyses measured the activity of the thiamine diphosphate-dependent enzyme transketolase to determine the proportion of apoenzymes in both liver and brain tissue. These biochemical analyses showed that 77% of the cod were thiamine deficient in the liver, of which 13% had a severe thiamine deficiency (i.e. 25% transketolase enzymes lacked thiamine diphosphate). The brain tissue of 77% of the cod showed thiamine deficiency, of which 64% showed severe thiamine deficiency. The thiamine deficiency biomarkers were investigated to find correlations to different biological parameters, such as length, weight, otolith weight, age (annuli counting) and different organ weights. The results suggested that thiamine deficiency increased with age. The SumT concentration ranged between 2.4-24 nmol/g in the liver, where the specimens with heavier otoliths had lower values of SumT (P = 0.0031). Of the cod sampled, only 2% of the specimens had a Fulton's condition factor indicating a healthy specimen, and 49% had a condition factor below 0.8, indicating poor health status. These results, showing a severe thiamine deficiency in eastern Baltic cod from the only known area where spawning presently occurs for this species, are of grave concern.
Endangered Species Research, Jan 31, 2017
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Sep 1, 2016
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill constituted an ecosystem-level injury in the northern Gulf of Mex... more The Deepwater Horizon oil spill constituted an ecosystem-level injury in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Much oil spread at 1100-1300 m depth, contaminating and affecting deepwater habitats. Factors such as oil-biodegradation, ocean currents and response measures (dispersants, burning) reduced coastal oiling. Still, >2100 km of shoreline and many coastal habitats were affected. Research demonstrates that oiling caused a wide range of biological effects, although worst-case impact scenarios did not materialize. Biomarkers in individual organisms were more informative about oiling stress than population and community indices. Salt marshes and seabird populations were hard hit, but were also quite resilient to oiling effects. Monitoring demonstrated little contamination of seafood. Certain impacts are still understudied, such as effects on seagrass communities. Concerns of long-term impacts remain for large fish species, deep-sea corals, sea turtles and cetaceans. These species and their habitats should continue to receive attention (monitoring and research) for years to come.
Marine Environmental Research, 1995
Variations in the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes in cells may affect the response o... more Variations in the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes in cells may affect the response of and consequent toxic effects in those cells during xenobiotic exposure. The expression of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), a major inducible CYP in teleosts, was examined immunohistochemically in multiple toxicopathic hepatic lesion types, including neoplasms and several types of preneoplastic foci of cellular alteration (FCA), in
ABSTRACT Induction of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), more specifically the associated enzyme activity... more ABSTRACT Induction of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), more specifically the associated enzyme activity aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), has been shown to be one of the most sensitive measures of exposure of vertebrate animals to a range of organic chemical contaminants. However, in order to reliably use this biochemical method for analyzing archived samples, the stability of the enzyme activity in storage must be ascertained. Stability of AHH activity was determined for both tissue sections and subcellular fractions of liver collected from English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus), and held in cryogenic storage for up to 24 months. Our overall recommendations for sample collection, handling, storage, and assay are given.
San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, Dec 8, 2019
Science of The Total Environment, 2022
Oil and gas extraction activities occur across the globe, yet species-specific toxicological info... more Oil and gas extraction activities occur across the globe, yet species-specific toxicological information on the biological and ecological impacts of exposure to petrochemicals is lacking for the vast majority of marine species. To help prioritize species for recovery, mitigation, and conservation in light of significant toxicological data gaps, a trait-based petrochemical vulnerability index was developed and applied to the more than 1700 marine fishes present across the entire Gulf of Mexico, including all known bony fishes, sharks, rays and chimaeras. Using life history and other traits related to likelihood of exposure, physiological sensitivity to exposure, and population resiliency, final calculated petrochemical vulnerability scores can be used to provide information on the relative sensitivity, or resilience, of marine fish populations across the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas activities. Based on current knowledge of traits, marine fishes with the highest vulnerability scores primarily occur in areas of high petrochemical activity, are found at or near the surface, and have low reproductive turnover rates and/or highly specialized diet and habitat requirements. Relative population vulnerability scores for marine fishes can be improved with additional toxicokinetic studies, including those that account for the synergistic or additive effect of multiple stressors, as well as increased research on ecological and life history traits, especially for deep living species.
Marine Mammal Ecotoxicology, 2018
Abstract Crude oils are comprised of thousands of compounds, and after refining, many more produc... more Abstract Crude oils are comprised of thousands of compounds, and after refining, many more products are derived from crude oils. When crude oils or refined petroleum products are released into the environment, they are altered through a series of processes known as weathering. Determining exposure of cetaceans to oil is a challenging task due to the complexity of the substances that make up oil as well as the rapid metabolism and excretion of oil-derived compounds by vertebrate species. The effects of oil in cetaceans have been investigated to some extent following oil spills and in a small number of past experimental exposure studies, which are now prohibited. The wide range of reported effects include poor body condition, calcium imbalance, inflammation, reproductive failure, lung and adrenal gland damage, altered hepatobiliary function, immune changes and increased susceptibility to infections, impaired stress response, and death. The three main routes of oil exposure in cetaceans are respiratory, dermal, and oral, as in most animals. The limited number of published reports including historical in vivo studies relating to effects linked to a specific route are discussed. In the wild, cetaceans are likely to be exposed to oil via more than one route, and reported effects are rarely attributed to a specific pathway of exposure. To date, the greatest and most detailed source of information on the effects of oil exposure on cetaceans is related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is extensively reviewed along with other studies. Effects observed at both the organismal level and population effects (mortality events, reproductive success, and growth rate) are discussed along with effects observed in other relevant species. Overall, the historical literature, combined with recent substantive findings following the DWH oil spill, suggests that cetaceans are at high risk of adverse effects from oil exposures, and these effects have importance at both the individual and population levels. Future research needs and recommendations are provided together with a list of specific and general research questions that remain unanswered regarding long-term oil toxicity in cetaceans.
San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, 2020
Ecosystems in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta are changing rapidly, as are ecosystems around the... more Ecosystems in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta are changing rapidly, as are ecosystems around the world. Extreme events are becoming more frequent and thresholds are likely to be crossed more often, creating greater uncertainty about future conditions. The accelerating speed of change means that ecological systems may not remain stable long enough for scientists to understand them, much less use their research findings to inform policy and management. Faced with these challenges, those involved in science, policy, and management must adapt and change and anticipate what the ecosystems may be like in the future. We highlight several ways of looking ahead—scenario analyses, horizon scanning, expert elicitation, and dynamic planning—and suggest that recent advances in distributional ecology, disturbance ecology, resilience thinking, and our increased understanding of coupled human–natural systems may provide fresh ways of thinking about more rapid change in the future. To accelerate fo...
Science of The Total Environment, 2021
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Health impacts associated with climate-related changes in exposure to extreme events include deat... more Health impacts associated with climate-related changes in exposure to extreme events include death, injury, or illness; exacerbation of underlying medical conditions; and adverse effects on mental health [High Confidence]. Climate change will increase exposure risk in some regions of the United States due to projected increases in the frequency and/or intensity of drought, wildfires, and flooding related to extreme precipitation and hurricanes [Medium Confidence]. Disruption of Essential Infrastructure Key Finding 2: Many types of extreme events related to climate change cause disruption of infrastructure, including power, water, transportation, and communication systems, that are essential to maintaining access to health care and emergency response services and safeguarding human health [High Confidence]. Vulnerability to Coastal Flooding Key Finding 3: Coastal populations with greater vulnerability to health impacts from coastal flooding include persons with disabilities or other access and functional needs, certain populations of color, older adults, pregnant women and children, low-income populations, and some occupational groups [High Confidence]. Climate change will increase exposure risk to coastal flooding due to increases in extreme precipitation and in hurricane intensity and rainfall rates, as well as sea level rise and the resulting increases in storm surge [High Confidence].
GeoHealth, 2017
Few conceptual frameworks attempt to connect disaster‐associated environmental injuries to impact... more Few conceptual frameworks attempt to connect disaster‐associated environmental injuries to impacts on ecosystem services (the benefits humans derive from nature) and thence to both psychological and physiological human health effects. To our knowledge, this study is one of the first, if not the first, to develop a detailed conceptual model of how degraded ecosystem services affect cumulative stress impacts on the health of individual humans and communities. Our comprehensive Disaster‐Pressure State‐Ecosystem Services‐Response‐Health model demonstrates that oil spills, hurricanes, and other disasters can change key ecosystem components resulting in reductions in individual and multiple ecosystem services that support people's livelihoods, health, and way of life. Further, the model elucidates how damage to ecosystem services produces acute, chronic, and cumulative stress in humans which increases risk of adverse psychological and physiological health outcomes. While developed and...
Aquatic Ecotoxicology, 2015
Water pollution is a global environmental challenge that nearly always involves the degradation o... more Water pollution is a global environmental challenge that nearly always involves the degradation of aquatic habitats by mixtures of chemical contaminants. Despite this practical reality, environmental regulations and resource management institutions in most countries are inadequate to the task of addressing complex and dynamic combinations of chemicals. Moreover, our scientific understanding of mixture toxicity and the assessment of corresponding risks to aquatic species and communities have not kept pace with worldwide declines in biodiversity or the introduction of thousands of new chemicals into societal use. In this chapter, we review recent research specific to mixtures in three contexts that are broadly applicable to freshwater and marine ecosystems. These include oil spills, urban non-point source pollution, and the agricultural use of modern pesticides. Each of these familiar and geographically extensive forcing pressures is threaded with uncertainty about interactions between contaminants in mixtures. We also briefly consider relevant and often overlapping environmental regulations in the United States and Europe to illustrate why a proactive consideration of chemical mixtures remains elusive in institutional ecological risk assessment. As the case examples show, however, the problem of mixtures is not intractable and targeted research can guide effective conservation and restoration strategies in a chemically complex world.
Genomic Approaches for Cross-Species Extrapolation in Toxicology, 2006
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Papers by Tracy K Collier