Erin L Pulster, PhD
Dr. Erin Pulster is a Research Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Dr. Pulster studies acute and chronic anthropogenic contamination in aquatic ecosystems. Prior to joining USGS, she was leading the Marine Toxicology Lab at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science. Dr. Pulster studied the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the subsequent sublethal impacts on marine teleost. More recently her research focuses on levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seafood and the potential associated human health risks from the consumption of contaminated foods. Dr. Pulster has worked on various projects investigating the extent of environmental contamination (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, toxaphene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in various matrices (air, water, sediment, passive samplers, biota) to evaluate sublethal impacts and estimate potential environmental and human health risks.
Current Projects:
- LC/MS/MS analytical method development for PFAS.
- PFAS extraction methodology for a variety of matrices (e.g., water, sediment, insects, passive samplers).
- Measuring PFAS levels in recreationally important fish and assessing the need for consumption advisories.
- Chronological temporal assessment of the distribution of PFAS in Gulf of Mexico sediment cores.
Professional Experience
2022 – present Research Biologist, USGS- CERC, Columbia, MO
2015 - 2021 Scientific Researcher, University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, St. Pete, FL
2007 - 2014 Senior Chemist, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL
2006 – 2007 Hatchery Manager, Zone C Lobster Hatchery Stonington, ME
2005 - 2006 Research Project Coordinator, Marine Environmental Research Institute, ME
2002 - 2005 Research Technician II, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, GA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Toxicology & Risk Assessment, University of South Florida, Tampa, 2015
M.S., Environmental Chemistry / Marine Science, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and Savannah State University, Savannah, 2004
B.S., Marine Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, 2001
B.A., Advertising, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, 1992
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
American Fisheries Society
Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC)
Phenomenex Biologics Advisory Board
Reviewer Board of Minerals
Science and Products
A National Assessment of Pesticide, PFAS, Microplastic, and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Exposures in White-Tailed Deer
Smart Phone Application for DOI Oil Spill Responders
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure and Effects Research at Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC)
Southeast Region Fluorochemical Network (SERFN)
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Measurements in Tampa Bay Fish and Sediments Provide an Understanding of Potential Human Exposure
Acute and chronic toxicity of two perfluoroalkyl substances to Neocloeon triangulifer
Guide to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sampling within Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
Evidence of population-level impacts and resiliency for Gulf of Mexico shelf taxa following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
White perch health relative to urbanization and habitat degradation in Chesapeake Bay tributaries. II. Hepatic and splenic macrophage aggregates
White perch health relative to urbanization and habitat degradation in Chesapeake Bay tributaries. I. Biliary neoplasms and hepatic lesions
Laboratory-derived bioaccumulation kinetic parameters for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in freshwater mussels
Perfluorooctanesulfonate adversely affects a mayfly (Neocloeon triangulifer) at environmentally realistic concentrations
Assessing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sediments and fishes in a large, urbanized estuary and the potential human health implications
Non-USGS Publications**
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12963-7_15.
https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4596.
https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3898.
https://doi.org/10.1897/05-156R.1.
**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.
Science and Products
A National Assessment of Pesticide, PFAS, Microplastic, and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Exposures in White-Tailed Deer
Smart Phone Application for DOI Oil Spill Responders
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure and Effects Research at Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC)
Southeast Region Fluorochemical Network (SERFN)
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Measurements in Tampa Bay Fish and Sediments Provide an Understanding of Potential Human Exposure
Acute and chronic toxicity of two perfluoroalkyl substances to Neocloeon triangulifer
Guide to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sampling within Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
Evidence of population-level impacts and resiliency for Gulf of Mexico shelf taxa following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
White perch health relative to urbanization and habitat degradation in Chesapeake Bay tributaries. II. Hepatic and splenic macrophage aggregates
White perch health relative to urbanization and habitat degradation in Chesapeake Bay tributaries. I. Biliary neoplasms and hepatic lesions
Laboratory-derived bioaccumulation kinetic parameters for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in freshwater mussels
Perfluorooctanesulfonate adversely affects a mayfly (Neocloeon triangulifer) at environmentally realistic concentrations
Assessing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sediments and fishes in a large, urbanized estuary and the potential human health implications
Non-USGS Publications**
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12963-7_15.
https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4596.
https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3898.
https://doi.org/10.1897/05-156R.1.
**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.
*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