Environmental Toxicology Research: Harmon Ecotox Laboratory

Research in this lab is centered around the use of indicator organisms to model the environmental risks posed by pollutants of interest. We maintain cultures of Daphnia magna, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Selenastrum capricornutum for research involving aquatic ecosystems.  For projects in terrestrial systems, we use earthworms (Eisenia fetida) and Caenorhabditis elegans. 

Current topics of study include:

• the toxicity of rubberized landscaping materials

• non-point source water pollution

• constructed wetlands for stormwater remediation

• water quality of Horse Creek and Langley Pond in Aiken County, SC

Research in this lab is centered around the use of indicator organisms to model the environmental risks posed by pollutants of interest. We maintain cultures of Daphnia magna, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Selenastrum capricornutum for research involving aquatic ecosystems.  For projects in terrestrial systems, we use earthworms (Eisenia fetida) and Caenorhabditis elegans.

Current topics of study include:

• the toxicity of rubberized landscaping materials

• non-point source water pollution

• constructed wetlands for stormwater remediation

• water quality of Horse Creek and Langley Pond in Aiken County, SC

About Dr. Harmon

Ph.D. (Environmental Toxicology) University of South Carolina, 2001

Teaching Interests: Environmental Science, Human Physiology

Research Interests: Aquatic toxicology, environmental fate and transport of metals, and wetland biogeochemistry.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: (803)641-3607

Publications

Harmon, S.M. and T.A. Mousseau. 2010.  Toxicity of the Lovebug Plecia nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidiae) to two common indicator organisms, Caenorhabditis elegans and Daphnia pulex.  Entomologia Generalis.  32(4): 311-313.

Harmon, S.M. and D.E. Wyatt. 2008. Evaluation of post-Katrina flooded soils for contaminants and toxicity to the soil invertebrates Eisenia fetida and Caenorhabditis elegans.  Chemosphere. 70(10):1857-1864.

Wyatt, D.E. and S.M. Harmon. 2007. Recurrent sampling in soils inundated by Hurricane Katrina, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana: analytical results. DEG Environmental Geosciences Journal. 14(4):159–180. 

Harmon, S.M., J.K. King, J.B. Gladden, L.A. Newman. 2007. Using sulfate-amended sediment slurry batch reactors to evaluate mercury methylation. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.  52:326-331.

Harmon, S.M., J.K. King, J.B. Gladden, G.T. Chandler, L.A. Newman. 2005. Mercury body burdens in Gambusia holbrooki and Erimyzon sucetta from sulfate-amended wetland mesocosm. Chemosphere. 59(2):227-233.

Harmon, S.M., J.K. King, J.B. Gladden, G.T. Chandler, L.A. Newman. 2004.  Methylmercury formation in a wetland mesocosm amended with sulfate. Environmental Science and Technology. 38:650-656.

Harmon, S.M., W.L. Specht, G.T. Chandler. 2003. A comparison of the daphnids, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Daphnia ambigua, for their utilization in routine toxicity testing in the southeastern United States. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.  45:79-85.

King, J.K., S.M. Harmon, T.T. Fu, and  J.B. Gladden. 2002. Mercury removal, methylmercury formation, and sulfate-reducing bacteria profiles in wetland mesocosms.  Chemosphere. 46:859-870.

LITERATURE REVIEWS AND BOOK CHAPTERS:

Harmon, S.M. and F.E. Wiley. 2012. Effects of pollution on freshwater organisms:  2011 Literature review.  Water Environment Research.  84(10):1691-1736.

Harmon, S.M. and F.E. Wiley. 2011. Effects of pollution on freshwater organisms:  2010 Literature review.  Water Environment Research.  83(10):1733-1788.

Harmon, S.M. and F.E. Wiley. 2010. Effects of pollution on freshwater oganisms:  2009 Literature review.  Water Environment Research.  82(10):1945-2000.

Harmon, S.M. 2009. Effects of pollution on freshwater organisms: 2008 Literature review. Water Environment Research.  81(10):2030-2069.

Harmon, S.M. 2008. Effects of pollution on freshwater organisms: 2007 Literature review. Water Environment Research.  80(26):1892-1917.

Harmon, S.M.  2008.  Anthropogenic mercury pollution in aquatic systems: A review of environmental fate and human health risks.  In:  M.L. Sanchez  (Ed.).  Causes and Effects of Heavy Metal Pollution. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY.

RESEARCH  PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS:

Mills, G.L., E. Burgess, A.H. Lindell, S.M. Harmon. 2012.  Biogeochemical processes in a treatment wetland mitigating metal discharge into a Savannah River Tributary. Presented at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. November 15, 2012. Long Beach, CA.

Harmon, S.M., K.E. Edgington, J.L. Pinkney, J.R. Yates, P.W. Steen. 2012. Evaluating potential nonpoint source pollution impacts in the upper reaches of the Horse Creek watershed in Aiken County, SC.  Extended abstract.  Presented at the 2012 South Carolina Water Resources Conference. October 10-11, 2012. Columbia, SC.

Steen, P.W., P. Thomas, S.M. Harmon.  2012. Using microbial source tracking techniques to identify fecal indicator bacteria in the Horse Creek watershed in Aiken, SC.  Presented at the 2012 South Carolina Water Resources Conference. October 10, 2012. Columbia, SC.

Steen, P.W., S.M. Harmon. 2012. Using microbial source tracking techniques to identify fecal indicator bacteria in the Horse Creek watershed in Aiken, SC . Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Carolinas Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. March 31, 2012. Aiken, SC.

Mills, G.L., E.A. Burgess, T. Murphy, M. Harmon, H. McLeod, E. Nelson. 2011. Biogeochemical processes in a treatment wetland mitigating metal discharge into a Savannah River stream tributary. 2011 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 11-13, Athens, GA.

Harmon, S.M., D.E. Wyatt.  2009.  Soils Inundated by Hurricane Katrina in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana:  Metals, VOCs, and Toxicity to Eisenia fetida and Caenorhabditis elegans. Presented at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. November 21, 2009.  New Orleans, LA.

Mills,  G.L.,  S.M. Harmon,  N. Etheridge, T. Ciravolo, E. Burgess, J. Gladden, E. Nelson. 2009.  Biogeochemical Changes In A Constructed Wetland Receiving Metal Contaminated Waters During the Initial Year of Development.  Presented at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  November 21, 2009. New Orleans, LA.

Harmon, S.M., G.L. Mills, N. Etheridge, B.L. Temple. 2008. Assessment of Copper Bioavailability in Constructed Wetland Effluents using a Water Effects Ratio Approach. Presented at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. November 18, 2008. Tampa, FL.

Nelson E.A., S.M. Harmon. 2007.  Mercury Removal from Wastewater by a Full-Scale Wetland Treatment System.  Presented at the International Conference of the Society of Wetland Scientists.  June 15, 2007.  Sacramento, CA.

Harmon S.M., G.T. Chandler, L.A. Newman. 2003. Methylmercury formation in a wetland mesocosm amended with sulfate. Presented at the International Applied Phytotechnologies Conference, Chicago, IL.

Harmon S.M., G.T. Chandler, L.A. Newman. 2002. Using sediment slurry batch reactors to evaluate mercury methylation with regard to sulfate concentration.  Presented at the 18th International Conference on Contaminated Soil, Sediments, and Water sponsored by the  Association for Environmental Health and Science, Amherst, MA.

Harmon S.M., J.K. King, L.A. Newman, G.T. Chandler. 2001. Soil Treatment and the potential for mercury methylation in a constructed wetland.  Platform presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Baltimore, MD.

King, JK, S.M. Harmon, J.B. Gladden. 2001. Removal of mercury from an outfall stream using a gypsum-amended, constructed wetland planted with Scirpus californicus.  Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society.  221:U447.

Harmon, S.M., W.L. Specht, G.T. Chandler. 1997. A comparison of the daphnids, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Daphnia ambigua, for their utilization in routine toxicity testing at the Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Charlotte, NC.

STUDENT  PRESENTATIONS WITH PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS:

Baksh, A., J.R. Yates, S.M. Harmon. 2013.  Identifying fecal pollution sources through Antibiotic Resistance Analysis (ARA) in Sand River in Aiken County, S.C.  Presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  April 13, 2013. Columbia, SC.

Edgington K., S.M. Harmon, P.W. Steen. 2013. Using microbial source tracking techniques to identify fecal indicator bacteria in the Horse Creek watershed in Aiken, S.C. Presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  April 13, 2013. Columbia, SC.

Shultz, M.D.,  S.M. Harmon. 2013.  Copper and zinc toxicity in a model constructed wetland using three vegetation species.  Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Carolinas Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  March 9, 2013.  Raleigh, NC.

West, R.T., J.R. Yates, S.M. Harmon.  2012. Identifying fecal pollution sources through antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA): Sand River, Aiken County, SC.  Presented at the 2012 South Carolina Water Resources Conference. October 10, 2012. Columbia, SC.

Edgington K.E., J.L. Pinkney, S.M. Harmon. 2012.  Phytoplankton Communities in an Impaired Watershed in Aiken County, SC.  Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Carolinas Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  March 31, 2012.  Aiken, SC.

Gavin, J.J. , S.M. Harmon. 2010.  Using a Constructed Wetland to Remediate Non-Point Source Pollution. Presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  April 17, 2010. Charleston, SC.

Bowser, M.R., S.M. Harmon. 2010.  Synergism and Altered Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Non-target Soil Invertebrates Exposed to Mixtures of Chlorpyrifos and Cyfluthrin. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Carolinas Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  March 27, 2010.  Athens, GA.

Whitley, A. G.L. Mills, S.M. Harmon, N. Etheridge, E. Nelson, J. Gladden. 2009. Characterizing Changes in the Bacterial Community in a Developing Constructed Wetland Using Lipid Biomarkers.  Presented at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. November 21, 2009. New Orleans, LA.

Whitley, A.,  G.L. Mills,  S.M. Harmon.  2009. Using Lipid Biomarkers to Characterize Bacterial Communities in a Constructed Wetland.  Presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  April 15, 2009. Columbia, SC.

Worley, E., S.M. Harmon, P. Fernandes.  2009. The Effects of the Sumter Wastewater Treatment Plant on the  Survival and Reproduction of Ceriodaphnia  dubia.   Presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  April 15, 2009. Columbia, SC.  Note:  Winner of the conference award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and winner of the Invertebrate Biology Research Award.

Ballesteros, S.R. and S.M. Harmon. 2008. Evaluating the Toxicity of Cyfluthrin to the Earthworm, Eisenia fetida, using 96-Hour Filter Paper Contact Tests. Presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  March 20, 2008. Clemson, SC.

Drinkwater, M.A. and S.M. Harmon. 2008. Contributions of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons to Non-point Source Runoff from the USC Aiken Campus. Presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  March 20, 2008. Clemson, SC.

Maxwell, A.A., R.N. Wilson, S.M. Harmon. 2008. Toxicity of Two Commonly-used Pesticides, Cyfluthrin and Chlorpyrifos, to Daphnia magna in 48-hour Static Acute Toxicity Tests. Presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  March 20, 2008. Clemson, SC.

Metnrup, H. and S.M. Harmon. Toxicity of Dieldrin to Ceriodaphnia dubia Acclimated to Water from a Potentially-Contaminated Constructed Wetland. 2008. Presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  March 20, 2008. Clemson, SC.  Note: Winner of Best Overall Poster.

Hall, B., S.M. Harmon. 2007.  Chronic toxicity tests on runoff from a North Augusta, SC watershed. Presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  April 20, 2007.  Columbia, SC.

Temple, B.L., S.M. Harmon. 2007.  Using a water effects ratio method to determine if outflow from a mature constructed wetland will change the bioavailability of copper to Ceriodaphnia dubia. Presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  April 20, 2007.  Columbia, SC.

Drake, K., D. Wyatt, S.M. Harmon. 2006.  The toxicological effects of post-Hurricane Katrina soil on Eisenia foetida. Presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.  March 10, 2006.  University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.