Faculty Profile

At Venice Lagoon

Richard M. Gersberg

Ph.D., Microbiology, UC Davis

Professor of Environmental Health
School of Public Health

Director, Coastal and Marine Institute

Curriculum Vitae

tel. 619-594-2905

fax 619-594-6112

email:rgersber@mail.sdsu.edu

RESEARCH INTERESTS
1. Constructed wetlands for wastewater and stormwater treatment

2. Watershed modeling (using BASINS) and monitoring, and TMDL (total maximum daily load) studies of urban watersheds

3. Pathogens and indicators in water, and human health risk assessment for drinking and/or bathing in contaminated waters; including virus identification and enumeration using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) methods.

4. Aquatic toxicity testing and ecological risk assessment for contaminants in water and sediments.

5. Restoration of the Venice Lagoon, Italy.

6. Transboundary water pollution concerns for the U.S. –Mexico border, including the Tijuana River and New River watersheds.

7. Microbial and chemical contamination of the Salton Sea, and risk assessments for selenium (Se) biomagnification in the Salton Sea.

8. Bioremediation of toxic organic compounds in groundwaters and sediments.

9. Nutrient cycling and the cultural eutrophication of bays, lagoons and estuaries.

CURRENT FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
2001-2002 Co-Principal Investigator, San Diego County-Baja California Water Quality Prediction and Monitoring Program. California State Water Resources Control Board. $190,000.

2001-2002 Principal Investigator, Determining Contaminant Levels in Plant and Animal Tissues of the Salton Sea, California. U.S. Geological Survey. $30,015.

2001-2002 Principal Investigator, Public Health Projects (California Distance Learning Health Network), Immunization Branch of California Department of Health Services. $1,581,813

2001-2002 Principal Investigator, BASINS Modeling of the Loading of Fecal Coliforms and Pathogens from Land-Based Sources into the Bight of the Californias , US EPA and the Southwest Center for Environmental Policy Research. $69,450.

List of Published Articles

Gersberg, R.M., Rose, M. Robles, R. and A.K. Dhar. (2006). Quantitative detection of Hepatitis A virus and enteroviruses near the United States-Mexico border and correlation with levels of fecal indicator bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 7438-7444.

Gersberg, R.M. 2006. Selenium in the Salton Sea, California: A case study of the non-sustainability of intensive irrigated agriculture in the Western U.S. In Sustainable Approaches in Water Management, Urban Planning, and Effective and Renewable Energy Uses (R. Jüpner and P. Fox, eds.). Proceedings, Sept 16-17, 2005, Indianapolis, IN. Shaker Verlag, Aachen Germany.

Rose, M., Dhar, A.K., Brooks, H.A., Zecchini, F. and R.M. Gersberg. 2006. Quantitation of Hepatitis A virus and enterovirus levels in the lagoon canals and Lido beach of Venice, Italy, using real-time RT PCR. Water Res. 40: 2249-2462.

Moreau, M. F., J. Surico-Bennett, M. Vicario-Fisher, D. Crane, R. Gerads, R. M. Gersberg, and S. H. Hurlbert. In Press. Contaminants in tilapia (Oreochromis massambicus) from the Salton Sea, California, in relation to human health, piscivorous birds and fish meal production. Hydrobiologia.

Brooks, H.A., Gersberg, R.M. and A.K. Dhar. 2005. Quantification of hepatitis A virus in seawater via real-time RT-PCR. J.Virol. Methods 127 (2) : 109-118.

Luederitz, V., Gerlach, F., Juepner, R., Calleros, J., Pitt, P. and R.M. Gersberg. 2005. Biological assessment of Tecate Creek (U.S.-Mexico) with special regard to self-purification. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. 104: 1-13.

Coates-Hedberg, K. and R.M. Gersberg. Association of gastrointestinal illnesses and environmental factors in a Kumiai Indian community in Baja California, Mexico. 2004. In The U.S.-Mexican Border Environment: Tribal Environmental Issues of the Border Region (M. Wilken-Robertson, ed.). SCERP Monograph Series No. 9. San Diego State University Press pp. 171-195.

Gersberg, R.M. Daft, D. and D. Yorkey. 2004. Temporal pattern of toxicity in runoff from the Tijuana River watershed. Water Res. 38: 559-568.

Langheinrich, U., Tischew, S., Gersberg, R.M., and V. Luederitz. 2004. Ditches and canals in management of fens: opportunity or risk? A case study in the Droemling Natural Park, Germany Wetlands Ecology and Management 12:429-445.

Gersberg, R.M., Pitt, J. Weis, D. and D. Yorkey. 2002. Characterizing In-Stream Metal Loading in the Tijuana River Watershed. Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation Specialty Conference on National TMDL Science and Policy, Phoenix, AZ. November 13-16, 2002.

Luederitz, V., Eckert, E., Lange-Weber, M. Lange, A. and R.M. Gersberg. 2001. Nutrient removal efficiency and resource economics of vertical flow and horizontal flow constructed wetlands. Ecol. Eng. 18/2, 157-172.

Weis, D.A., Gersberg, R.M. and J. Calloway. 2001. Vertical accretion rates and heavy metal chronologies in wetland sediments of the Tijuana Estuary. Estuaries 24 (6), 840-850.

Gersberg, R.M., Pitt, J., King, A., Johnson, H. and R. Wright.2000. Use of the BASINS Model to estimate the loading of heavy metals from the binational Tijuana River watershed. Watershed 2000 Specialty Conference, Water Environment Federation, 9-12 July, 2000, Vancouver, Canada.

Gersberg, R.M., Brown, C., Zambrano, V., Worthington, K. and D. Weis. 2000. Quality of urban runoff in the Tijuana River watershed. SCERP Monograph Series (no.2) on Water Issues Along the United States and Mexico Border (P. Westerhoff, Ed.) Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy, pp. 31-45.

Englert, P., Brown, C, Placchi, C. and R.M. Gersberg. 1999. Geographic information system (GIS) characteriztion of metal loading in the binational Tijuana River watershed. J. Borderlands Studies. 14:2, 81-91.

Riveles, K. and R.M. Gersberg. 1999. Toxicity identification evaluation of runoff from the Tijuana River. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 63, 625-632.

Brown, C., Placchi, C., and R.M. Gersberg. 1998. Modeling the impacts of surface water hydrology and land use on water quality in the Tijuana River watershed. In Proceedings of the WEF Specialty Conference on Watershed Management, pp. 477-484, May 3-6, 1998. Denver, Co.

Meyer, S.F. and R.M. Gersberg. 1997. Heavy metals and acid-volatile sulfides in sediments of the Tijuana Estuary. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 59, 113-119.

Gersberg, R. M., Gaynor, K., Tenczar, D., Bartzen, M., Ginsberg, M., Gresham, L. S. and C. Molgaard. 1997. Quantitative modeling of lead exposure from glazed ceramic pottery in childhood lead poisoning cases. Int. J. Environ. Hlth. 7, 193-202.

Gersberg, R.M., Matkovits, M., Dodge, D., McPherson, T., and J.M. Boland. 1995. Experimental opening of a coastal California lagoon: Effect on bacteriological quality of recreational ocean waters. J. Environ. Hlth. 58, 24-29.

Gersberg, R.M., Korth, K., Bogardt, A.H., Rice, L., Randall, J.D., Bradley, M.D., Dawsey, W.J., and B.B. Hemmingsen. 1995. Chemical and microbiological evaluation of in situ bioremediation of hydrocarbons in anoxic groundwater enriched with nutrients and nitrate. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 11(5), 549-558.

Gersberg, R.M., Carroquino, M.J., Fischer, D.E., and W.J. Dawsey. 1995. Biomonitoring of toxicity reduction during in-situ bioremediation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater. Water Res. 29, 545-550.

Gersberg, R.M., Dodge, D., Parsons, L. and J.B. Zedler. 1994. Microbiological water quality of the Tijuana Estuary. J. Border Health 10(3), 16-27.

de Peyster, A. and R.M. Gersberg. 1994. Use of aquatic species toxicity testing in public health. Chem. Health and Safety 1(3), 38-43.

Zedler, J.B., Busnardo, M., Sinicrope, T., Langis, R., Gersberg, R. and S. Baczkowski. 1994. Pulsed disharge wastewater wetlands: Potential for solving multiple problems by varying hydroperiod. In Global Wetlands, (W.J. Mitsch, Ed.), pp. 363-368. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Gersberg, R.M., Dawsey, W.J. and M.D. Bradley. 1993. Nitrate enhancement of in-situ bioremediation of monoaromatic compounds in groundwater. Remediation 3, 233-245.

Sinicrope, T.L., Langis, R., Gersberg, R.M., Busnardo, M.J. and J.B. Zedler. 1992. Metal removal by wetland mesocosms subjected to different hydroperiods. Ecol. Eng. 1, 309-322.

Carroquino, M., Gersberg, R.M., Dawsey, W.J., and M.D. Bradley. 1992. Toxicity reduction associated with the biodegradation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in gasoline-contaminated groundwaters. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 49, 224-231.

Gersberg, R.M., Dawsey, W.J. and M.D. Bradley. 1991. Biodegradation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater under denitrifying conditions. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 47, 8-15.

Busnardo, M.J., Gersberg, R.M., Langis, R., Sinicrope, T.L., and J.B. Zedler. 1992. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal by wetland mesocosms subjected to different hydroperiods. Ecol. Eng. 1, 287-307

Gersberg, R.M. and D.A. Silvaggio. 1992. Fate of coliphage during wastewater treatment by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Ecol. Eng. 1, 355-363.

Gersberg, R.M., Trindade, F and C. Nordby. 1989. Heavy metals in sediments and fish of the Tijuana Estuary. J. Border Health. 5, 5-15.

Gersberg, R., Gearheart, R.A., and M. Ives. 1989. Pathogen removal in constructed wetlands. In Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment, Chapter 35, pp.431-445. Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan.

Gersberg, R.M., Dawsey, W.J. and H.F. Ridgway. 1989. Biodegradation of dissolved aromatic hydrocarbons in gasoline-contaminated groundwaters using denitrification. In Petroleum Contaminated Soils, Vol. II, Chapter 18, pp.211-217. Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan.

Gersberg, R.M., Lyon, S.R., Brenner, R. and B.V. Elkins. 1989. Integrated wastewater treatment by artificial wetlands: A gravel marsh case study. In Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment, Chapter 10, pp.145-152. Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan.

Gersberg, R.M., Lyon, S.R., Brenner, R. and B.V. Elkins. 1988. Performance of a clay-alum flocculation (CCBA) process for virus removal from municipal wastewater. Water Res. 22, 1449-1454.

Sheehan, P.J., Schneiter, R.W., Mohr, T.K.G. and R.M. Gersberg. 1988. Progress in bioreclamation of contaminated groundwater without oxygen addition. HAZMACON 88, April 5 - 8, 1988, Anaheim, California, pp.711-721.

Sheehan, P.J., Schneiter, R.W. and R.M. Gersberg. 1988. Bioreclamation of gasoline-contaminated ground water without oxygen additions. Proceedings of the Second National Outdoor Action Conference on Aquifer Restoration, Ground Water Monitoring and Geophysical Methods. May 23-26, 1988. Las Vegas, Nevada, pp.183-199.

Gersberg, R.M., Brenner, R., Lyon, S.R. and B.V. Elkins. 1987. Virus removal by a clay-alum (CCBA) coagulation process for wastewater reclamation. Proceedings of Water Reuse Symposium IV. AWWA Research Foundation. August 3-7, Denver Colorado, pp.1173-1182.

Gersberg, R.M., Lyon, S.R., Brenner, R., and B.V. Elkins. 1987. Fate of viruses in artificial wetlands. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 83, 731-736.

Gersberg, R.M., Brenner, R., Lyon, S.R. and B.V. Elkins. 1987. Survival of bacteria and viruses in municipal wastewaters applied to artificial wetlands. In Aquatic Plants For Water Treatment and Resource Recovery. (K.R. Reddy and W.H. Smith, Eds.), pp.237-245. Magnolia Publishing, Orlando, Florida.

Gersberg, R.M., Brenner, R., and B.V. Elkins. 1986. Selenium removal using aerobic bacteria. Proceedings of a Symposium on Selenium in the Environment, California Agricultural Technology Institute, California State University, Fresno, June 10-12, 1985, pp. 161-164.

Elkins, B.V., Wilson, G.E., and R.M. Gersberg. 1985. Complete reclamation of wastewater and sludge. Water Sci. Tech. 17, 1453-1454.

Gersberg, R.M., Elkins, B.V., and C.R. Goldman. 1986. Role of aquatic plants in wastewater treatment by artificial wetlands. Water Res. 20, 363-368.

Gersberg, R.M., Lyon, S.R., Elkins, B.V., and C.R. Goldman. 1985. The removal of heavy metals by artificial wetlands. Proceedings of Water Reuse Symposium III. AWWA Research Foundation, San Diego, California, August 26-31, 1984, 639-648.

Gersberg, R.M. and D.W. Allen. 1985. Phosphorus uptake by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Water Sci. Tech. 17, 113-118.

Gersberg, R.M., Elkins, B.V., and C.R. Goldman. 1985. Wastewater treatment by artificial wetlands. Water Sci. Technol. 17, 443-450.

Gersberg, R.M., Elkins, B.V., and C.R. Goldman. 1984. The use of artificial wetlands to remove nitrogen from wastewater. J.Water Pollut. Control Fed. 56, 152-156.

Gersberg, R.M., Elkins, B.V., and C.R. Goldman. 1983. Nitrogen removal in artificial wetlands. Water Res. 17, 1009-1014.

Axler, R.P., Gersberg, R.M., and C.R. Goldman. 1982. Inorganic nitrogen assimilation in a subalpine lake. Limnol. Oceanogr. 27, 53-65.

Axler, R.P. and R.M. Gersberg. 1981. Vertical patterns of inorganic carbon and nitrogen uptake in a subalpine lake. Verh. Internat. Verein Limnol. 21, 326-332.

Axler, R.P., Gersberg, R.M., and C.R. Goldman. 1980. Stimulation of nitrate uptake and photosynthesis by molybdenum in Castle Lake, California. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 37, 707-712.

Gersberg, R.M., Axler, R.P., and C.R. Goldman. 1980. Isotope studies of nitrogen transformations in Castle Lake, California. Proceedings of the FAO/IAEA Advisory Group on Agrochemical Residue-Biota Interactions in soil and water. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, 75-85.

Axler, R.P., Gersberg, R.M., and L.J. Paulson. 1978. The primary productivity of Big Soda Lake, Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 38 (2), 187-192.

Kimmel, B.L., Gersberg, R.M., Paulson, L.J., Axler, R.P., and C.R. Goldman. 1978. Recent changes in the meromictic status of Big Soda Lake, Nevada, Limnol. Oceanogr. 23 (5), 1021-1025.

Gersberg, R.M., Axler, R.P., Krohn, K., and N. Peek. 1977. Nitrate uptake by phytoplankton: Measurements utilizing the radioisotope 13N. Verh. Internat. Verein Limnol. 20, 392-399.

Gersberg, R.M., Krohn, K., Peek, N., and C.R. Goldman. 1976. Denitrification studies with 13N-labeled nitrate. Science 192, 1229-1231.

RECENT GRADUATE STUDENT THESES
Diaz, Richard. M.P.H. “Evaluation of Childhood Lead Poisoning Case Management in San Diego County, 1992-1998.” 2001.

Weis, Daniel. M.S. Vertical Accretion Rates and Heavy Metal Chronologies in Wetland Sediments of the Tijuana Estuary. 2000.

Ward, Steven. M.P.H. “Wastewater Treatment in the Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing Industry. 2000.

Lu, Ginger Jeanko. M.S. “Formaldehyde formation during oxidation of humic material by ozone and catalytic ozone.” 2000

Daniel Daft M.S. “ Temporal Pattern of Stormwater Toxicity in the Tijuana River, 2000 Vicario-Fisher, Marie. MPH. “Total arsenic concentration in muscle tissue of Tilapia mossambica and Bairdiella icistia : a human health risk assessment for fish consumed from the Salton Sea.” 2000

Paul Gagliardo. MPH. “Development of rapid response monitoring techniques to quantify virus removal through membrane-based water recycling systems.” 1999.

Surico-Bennett, Janie. M.S. “A risk analysis of selenium in the Salton Sea, Imperial Valley, California.” 1999

Kathleen Coates Hedberg-MPH Thesis in Environmental Health. “Association of Gastrointestinal Illnesses and Environmental Factors in a Kumiai Indian Community in Baja California, Mexico.” 1999

Clarissa Hart - MPH Thesis in Environmental Health. “The Progress of Pollution Prevention in the United States1987-1994.” 1998

Geraldine Washabaugh-M.S. Thesis in Environmental Health Science. “Resistance Patterns to Selected Antibiotics in Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Isolated from Clinical Specimens and from Various Food, San Diego County 1990-1997.” 1998

Chiara Clemente- MPH Thesis in Environmental Health. “Birds as a Source of Fecal Coliforms to Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Grown in the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon, San Diego County, CA.” 1998.

William Wild- M.S. Thesis in Environmental Health Science. “Porewater Toxicity in Marine Sediments from the Vicinity of the Naval Air Station North Island, CA” 1998.

Ellen Okamoto- M.S. Thesis in Environmental Health Science. “Effects of Surfactants and Organic Amendments on Microbial Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in San Diego Bay Sediments.” 1998.

Meredith Knobler-MPH Thesis in Environmental Health. “Human Health Risk Assessment for Consuming Mercury-Containing Fish from San Diego Bay and Mission Bay, San Diego, CA.” 1998.

Karen Riveles-MPH Thesis in Environmental Health. “Toxicity Identification Evaluation of Tijuana River Wet and Dry Flow Runoff. 1997.

Paul Englert-MPH Thesis in Environmetal Health. “Characterizing Urban Storm Water Pollution in the Tijuana River Watershed.” 1997.