Brian D. Eitzer
Department of Analytical Chemistry
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Voice: (203) 974-8453 Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail: Brian.Eitzer@ct.gov
Expertise:
Dr. Eitzer is an expert in the analysis of organic contaminants in a wide variety of matrixes. These contaminants can include industrial products such as polychlorinated biphenyls or agricultural chemicals such as pesticides. The matrixes can include soil, water, air, food products such as fruit and vegetables, and matrices related to honey bees. He has expertise in the analytical methods used to do these analyses including extraction and cleanup of samples. In addition, his expertise extends to the instrumental methods such as liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography mass spectrometry used in the analysis of these samples.
Education: Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Indiana University 1989 B.S. Double Major in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science, University of Wisconsin at Green Bay 1982
Station career:
Assistant Agricultural Scientist, 1998-2004
Associate Agricultural Scientist, 2004-2014
Agricultural Scientist, 2014-2021
Emeritus Scientist, 2021-present
Past research:
The focus was on the environmental transport and fate of organic chemicals. This included work on the measurement of dioxins in fish, the volatilization of pesticides from soil, and the translocation of pesticides from soil to plants.
Current research:
The current research falls into 2 categories.
The first major area of research concerns pesticides and bees. One factor in many of the problems encountered by honey bees and other pollinators is the use of pesticides in both agricultural and residential settings. These chemicals can have both acute and sub-lethal effects to these important species. In addition, these effects are intertwined with other stressors such as fungal diseases, or varroa mites. To elucidate some of these effects Dr. Eitzer has been collaborating with researchers across the country. His role in these collaborations is to provide the data on pesticides in many matrices related to bees, so that the exposure of bees to pesticides can be assessed.
The second area of research is on the development of methods and the use of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry to analyze organic contaminants in foods. These methods are important to help protect the food supply from both intentional and unintentional adulteration. One current focus in this area is on the use of liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry as the instrumental procedure rather than a more traditional tandem mass spectrometric approach. This newer technique has the inherent advantages of being able to test for more compounds per analytical run, as well as the ability to look at the data retrospectively for analytes which were not considered at the time of acquisition. This research is being conducted in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration and other researchers in the Cooperative Agreement Program of the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN).
Professional activities:
Member, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
Member, American Chemical Society (ACS)
Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Member, American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA)
Member, Organizing Committee for North American Chemical Residue Workshop (NACRW)
Selected publications:
Selected Papers (for full list, please contact Brian.Eitzer@ct.gov):
Robb, C. S., Bugbee, G. J., Eitzer, B. D.,Gibbons, J. A., June-Wells, M., White, J. C. (2014). Persistence and movement of diquat and the effectiveness of limnobarriers after curlyleaf pondweed treatment in Crystal Lake, CT. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, 52, 39-46.
Ostiguy, N. Eitzer, B. (2014). Overwintered brood comb honey: colony exposure to pesticide residues. Journal of Apicultural Research, 53(3), 413-421.
Krol, J. W., Eitzer, B. D., Arsenault, T., Incorvia-Mattina, M. J., White, J. C. (2014). Significant Improvements in Pesticide Residue Analysis in Food Using the QuEChERS Method. LCGC North America, 32(2), 116-125.
Stoner, K. A, Eitzer, B. D. (2013). Using a Hazard Quotient to Evaluate Pesticide Residues Detected in Pollen Trapped from honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in Connecticut. PloS ONE 8(10): e77550. Doi:10.1371/journal/pone.0077550
Stoner K. A., Eitzer, B. D. (2012). Movement of Soil-Applied Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam into Nectar and Pollen of Squash (Cucurbita pepo). (2012). PLoS ONE 7(6): e39114. Doi:10.1371/journal/pone.0039114.
Krupke, C. H., Hunt, G. J., Eitzer, B. D.,Andino, G., Ginev, C. (2012). Multiple Routes of Pesticide Exposure for Honey Bees Living Near Agricultural Fields PLoS ONE 7(1): e29268. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029268.
Robb, C. S., Eitzer, B .D. (2011). The Direct Analysis of Diquat and Paraquat in Lake Water by per Aqueous Liquid Chromatography. LCGC North America, 29(1), 54-59.
Stoner, K. A., Eitzer, B. D. (2009). Measuring Pesticides in Pollen Trapped from Honey Bee Hives Proceedings of the American Bee Research Conference 2009. American Bee Journal, 149(6), 588-589.
Krol, W. J., Eitzer, B. D., Arsenault, T., Mattina, M. J. I. (2009). Pesticide Residues in produce sold in Connecticut 2007 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 1024, New Haven, CT.
Mattina, M. J. I., Berger, W. A., Eitzer, B. D. (2007). Factors Affecting the Phytoaccumulation of Weathered Soil-Borne Organic Contaminants: Analyses at the ex Planta and in Plants Sides of the Plant Root Plant Soil, 291, 143-154.
Krol, W. J., Eitzer, B. D., Arsenault, T., Mattina, M. J. I. (2007). Pesticide Residues in produce sold in Connecticut 2006 including a comparison of two sample preparation methods The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 1012, New Haven, CT
Gent, M. P. N., White, J. C., Parrish, Z. D., Isleyen, M., Eitzer, B. D., Mattina, M. I. (2007). Uptake and translocation of p,p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene supplied in hydroponics solution to cucurbita. Environ. Tox. Chem. 12, 2467-2475.
Gent, M. P. N., White, J. C., Eitzer, B. D., Mattina, M. I. (2007). Modeling the difference among cucurbita in uptake and translocation of p,p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene. Environ. Tox. Chem. 12, 2476-2485.
White, J. C., Ross, D. R., Gent, M. P. N., Eitzer, B. D., Mattina, M. I. (2006). Effect of mycorrhizal fungi on the phytoextraction of weathered p,p’-DDE by Cucurbita pepo. J. Hazard. Mat. 137, 1750-1757.
White, J. C., Parrish, Z. D., Iseleyen, M., Gent, M. P. N., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., Mattina, M. I. (2006). Soil amendments, plant age, and intercropping impact DDE bioavailability to C. pepo. J. Environ. Qual., 35, 992-1000.
Parrish, Z. D, White, J. C., Iseleyen, M., Gent, M. P. N., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., J. W. Kelsey, Mattina, M. I. (2006). Accumulation of weathered polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by plant and earthworm species. Chemosphere, 64, 609-618.
Mattina, M. I., Isleyen, M., Eitzer, B. D., Iannucci-Berger, W., White, J. C. (2006). Uptake by Cucurbitaceae of soil-borne contaminants depends upon plant genotype and pollutant properties. Environ. Sci. Technol. 40, 1814-1821.
White, J. C., Parrish, Z. D., Iseleyen, M., Gent, M. P. N., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., Kelsey, J. W., Mattina, M. I. (2006). Influence of citric acid amendments on the availability of weathered PCBs to plant and earthworm species. Int. J. Phytoremed. 8, 63-79.
White, J. C., Parrish, Z. D., Iseleyen, M., Gent, M. P. N., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., Mattina, M. I. (2005). Uptake of weathered p,p’-DDE by plant species effective at accumulating soil elements. Microchem. J., 81, 148-155.
White, J. C., Parrish, Z. D., Iseleyen, M., Gent, M. P. N., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., Mattina, M. I. (2005). Influence of nutrient amendments on the phytoextraction of weathered p,p’-DDE by cucurbits. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 24, 987-994.
Wang, X., White, J. C., Gent, M. P. N., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., Mattina, M. I. (2004). Phytoextraction of weathered p,p’-DDE by zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under different cultivation conditions. Int. J. Phytoremed., 6, 363-385.
Mattina, M. I., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D.,White, J. C. (2004). Rhizotron study of Cucurbitaceae: Transport of soil bound chlordane and heavy metal contaminants differ with genera. Environ. Chem., 1, 86-89.
Mattina, M. I; Eitzer, B. D., Iannucci-Berger, W., Lee, W.-Y., White, J. C. (2004). Plant uptake and translocation of highly weathered, soil-bound technical chlordane residues: Data from field and rhizotron studies. Environ. Tox. Chem., 23, 2756-2762.
White, J. C., Wang, X., Gent, M. P. N., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., Schultes, N. P., Arienzo, M., Mattina, M. I. (2003). Subspecies-level variation in the phytoextraction of weathered p,p’-DDE by Cucurbita pepo. Environ. Sci. Technol., 37, 4368-4373.
Lee, W.-Y., Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., White, J. C., Mattina, M. I. 2003. Plant Uptake and Translocation of Air-Borne Chlordane and Comparison with the Soil-to-Plant Route. Chemosphere, 53, 111-121.
Eitzer, B. D., Iannucci-Berger, W., Mattina, M. J. I. (2003). Volatilization of Weathered Chiral and Achiral Chlordane. Soil Environ. Sci. Technol., 37, 4887-4893
White, J. C., Mattina, M. I., Lee, W-Y; Eitzer, B. D., Iannucci-Berger, W. (2003). Role of organic acids in enhancing the uptake of weathered p,p’-DDE by plants. Environ. Poll., 124, 71-80.
Lee, W-Y; Iannucci-Berger, W., Eitzer, B. D., White, J. C., Mattina, M.I. (2003). Persistent organic pollutants in the environment: Chlordane residues in Compost. J. Environ. Qual., 32, 224-231
Mattina, M. J. I., White, J., Eitzer, B., Iannucci-Berger, W. (2002). Cycling of Weathered Residues in the Environment: Compositional and Chiral Profiles in Contiguous Soil, Vegetation and Air Compartments. Environ. Tox. Chem., 21(2), 281-288.
White J. C., Mattina, M. J. I., Eitzer, B. D., Iannucci-Berger, W. (2002). Tracking Chlordane Compositional and Chiral Profiles in Soil and Vegetation. Chemosphere, 47, 639-646.
Eitzer, B. D., Mattina, M. J. I., Iannucci-Berger, W. (2001). Compositional and Chiral Profiles of Weathered Chlordane Residues. Soil Environ. Tox. and Chem., 20, 2198-2204.
Eitzer, B. D., Chevalier, A. (1999). Landscape Care Pesticide Residues in Residential Drinking Water Well Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 62, 420-427.
Eitzer, B. D., Iannucci-Berger, W .A., Mark, G., Zito, C. (1997). Fate of Toxic Compounds During Composting Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 58, 953-960.
Eitzer, B. D. (1995). Emissions of Volatile Organic Chemicals from Municipal Solid Waste Composting Facilities. Environ. Sci. Technol. 9(4), 896-902.
Eitzer, B. D. (1995). Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans in raw milk samples from farms near a new resource recovery incinerator Chemosphere, 30(7), 1237-1248.
Eitzer, B. D. (1993). Comparison of Point and Nonpoint Sources of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans to Sediments of the Housatonic River. Environ. Sci. Technol., 27(8), 1632-1637.
Eitzer, B. D., Huang, L. Q., Paiva, A. A. (1992). Development and Performance of a Semi-Automated Clean-Up Procedure for the Analysis of PCDD/PCDF in Ground Whole Fish Samples. Chemosphere, 25(7-10), 1305-1309.
Eitzer, B. D. Cycling of Indoor Air Concentrations of d-Trans-Allethrin Following Repeated Pesticide Applications Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 47, 406-412.