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Richard Gersberg

Division of Environmental Health
Professor and OEH Division Head
Director of SDSU's Coastal and Marine Institute
Principal investigator of the California Distance Learning Health Network

Phone: (619) 594-2905
Office: HT 03
Office Hours:   By Appointment
Email: rgersber@mail.sdsu.edu

Professor's Portrait

Education:

  • Ph.D., Microbiology, University of California-Davis (1977)
  • M.S., Biology, University of Houston (1968)
  • B.S., Biology, City University of New York (1966)

Scholarly Areas:

  1. Constructed wetlands for wastewater and stormwater treatment, including the removal of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutical compounds

  2. Restoration and pollutant remediation (including selenium) of the Salton Sea, CA

  3. Advanced Wastewater Reclamation for Indirect Potable Reuse of highly treated sewage

  4. The effect of sea level rise (SLR) on coastal wetlands and their habitat: Use of SLAMM (Sea Level Affects Marshes Model) modeling for predicting SLR effects

  5. Pathogens and indicators in water, and human health risk assessment for drinking and/or bathing in contaminated waters

  6. Aquatic toxicity testing and ecological risk assessment for contaminants in water and sediments, including the aquatic toxicity of remnant cigarette butts in the environment and the role of pyrethroid pesticides in stream sediment toxicity

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

  8. Bioremediation of toxic organic compounds in groundwaters and sediments

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

Biography:

Dr. Richard M. Gersberg is currently a Professor (and Head of the Division) of Environmental Health in the Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University (SDSU). He has an M.S. degree in biology from the University of Houston, and a Ph.D degree in microbiology from the University of California, Davis (1977).

Dr. Gersberg specializes in water quality research and limnology, and has broad experience working with both chemical and microbiological pollutants and risk assessments. He has over 70 scientific publications in these areas.

Dr. Gersberg has conducted a number of studies on the fate of bacterial indicators and toxics in both freshwater and estuarine ecosystems. Dr. Gersberg has served as scientific director of an EPA-funded project on the use of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment at Santee, CA , and is now considered one of the pioneers in the field of constructed wetland treatment. He currently serves as a technical advisor and doctoral mentor on several research programs on Constructed Wetlands and Bioretention for Stormwater Treatment at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and also has a similar international research exchange at the University of Applied Sciences in Magdeburg, Germany. He has served as technical consultant on aquatic and human health risk issues in impaired waters all over the nation and internationally, including the Venice Lagoon, Italy, the Straits of Juan de Fuca, Victoria, Canada, the Tijuana River Watershed, Mexico, the Elbe River, Germany, Fountain Creek, Colorado, and numerous water bodies in California including the San Francisco Bay Delta, Mission Bay, Newport Bay, San Diego Bay, and Santa Monica Bay.

Dr. Gersberg is currently a member of the County of San Diego's Environmental Health Advisory Board, the Technical Advisory Committee for the Santa Monica Coastkeeper Watershed Study, and the Environmental Advisory Committee for the Port of San Diego.

Selected Publications:

  • Zhang, D.Q., Tan, S.K., and Gersberg, R.M. (in press) Municipal solid waste management in China: status, problems and challenges. J. Environ. Management.

  • Zhang, D.Q., Tan, S.K., Gersberg, R.M., Zhu, J., Sadreddini, S., and Li, Y. (in press) Nutrient removal in tropical subsurface flow constructed wetlands under batch and continuous flow conditions. J. Environ. Management.

  • Lüderitz, V., Speiert, T., Langheinrich, U., Völkl, W., and Gersberg, R.M. (in press) Restoration of rivers Upper Main and Rodach – the success and its measurement. Ecological Engineering.

  • Slaughter, T.E., Gersberg, R., Watanabe, K., Rudolph, J., Stransky, C., and Novotny, T.E. (2011) Toxicity of cigarette butts, and their chemical components to marine and freshwater fish. Tobacco Control. 20 (supp. 1): 23-27.

  • Zhang, D.Q., Tan, S.K., Gersberg, R.M., Sadreddini, S., Zhu, J., and Nguyen, A.T. (2011) Removal of Pharmaceutical Compounds in Tropical Constructed Wetlands. Ecological Engineering. 37: 460-464.

  • Zhang, D.Q., Tan, S.K., and Gersberg, R.M. (2010) A comparison of municipal solid waste management in Berlin and Singapore. Waste Management. 30: 921-933.

  • Zhang, D.Q., Gersberg, R.M., and Tan, S.K. (2009) Constructed Wetlands in China. Ecological Engineering. 35: 1367-1378.

  • Zhang, D.Q., Gersberg, R.M., and Wilhelm, C. (2009) Decentralized Water Management - Rainwater Harvesting and Greywater Reuse in an Urban Area of Beijing, China. Urban Water Journal. 6(5): 375-385.

  • Johnson, P.I., Gersberg, R.M., Rigby, M., and Roy, S. (2009) The fate of selenium in the Imperial and Brawley constructed wetlands in Imperial Valley, California. Ecological Engineering. 35: 908-913.

  • Watanabe, K., Franz, K., and Gerberg, R.M. (2008) Levels of the organophosphorus pesticide diazinon in the Chollas Creek watershed, San Diego, Ca, since its phase-out in 2004. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Science. 107(1): 33-40.

  • Gersberg, R.M., Tiedge, J., Gottstein, D., Altmann, S., Watanabe, K., and Luederitz, V. (2008) Effect of the South Bay Ocean Outfall (SBOO) on ocean beach water quality near the USA-Mexico border. International Journal of Environ. Health Res. 18(2): 149-158.

  • Moreau, M.F., Surico-Bennett, J., Vicario-Fisher, M, Gerards, R., Gersberg, R.M., and Hurlbert, S.H. (2007) Selenium, arsenic, DDT and other contaminants in four fish species in the Salton Sea, California, their temporal trends, and their potential impact on human consumers and wildlife. Lake and Reservoir Management. 23: 536-569.

  • Moreau, M.F., Surico-Bennett, J., Vicario-Fisher, M., Crane, D., Gerards, R., Gersberg, R.M., and Hurlbert, S.H. (2007) Contaminants in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) from the Salton Sea, California, in relation to human health, piscivorous birds and fish meal production. Hydrobiologia. 576: 127-165.

  • Gersberg, R.M., Rose, M., Robles, R., and Dhar, A.K. (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.. Sustainable Approaches in Water Management, Urban Planning, and Effective and Renewable Energy Uses Proceedings, Sept 16-17, 2005. Indianapolis, IN. Shaker Verlag, Aachen Germany.

  • Rose, M., Dhar, A.K., Brooks, H.A., Zecchini, F., and Gersberg, R.M. (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.

  • Brooks, H.A., Gersberg, R.M., and Dhar, A.K. (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 Gersberg, R.M. (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.

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

  • Coates-Hedberg, K., and Gersberg, R.M. (2004) Association of gastrointestinal illnesses and environmental factors in a Kumiai Indian community in Baja California, Mexico. In Wilken-Robertson, M. (editors), The U.S.-Mexican Border Environment: Tribal Environmental Issues of the Border Region. San Diego, CA: San Diego State University Press, 171-195.

  • Gersberg, R.M., Daft, D., and Yorkey, D. (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 Luederitz, V. (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 Yorkey, D. 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, Arizona, November 13-16.

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

  • D.A., Weis, Gersberg, R.M., and Calloway, J. (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 Wright, R. 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 Weis, D. (2000) Quality of urban runoff in the Tijuana River watershed. In Westerhoff, P. (editors), SCERP Monograph Series (no.2) on Water Issues Along the United States and Mexico Border. : Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy, 31-45.

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

  • Englert, P., Brown, C., Placchi, C., and Gersberg, R.M. (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 Gersberg, R.M. (1999) Toxicity identification evaluation of runoff from the Tijuana River. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 63: 625-632.

  • Brown, C., Placchi, C., and Gersberg, R.M. 1998. Modeling the impacts of surface water hydrology and land use on water quality in the Tijuana River watershed. Proceedings of the WEF Specialty Conference on Watershed Management. Denver, Co.

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

  • Meyer, S.F., and Gersberg, R.M. (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 Molgaard, C. (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 Boland, J.M. (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 Hemmingsen, B.B. (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 Dawsey, W.J. (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 Zedler, J.B. (1994) Microbiological water quality of the Tijuana Estuary. J. Border Health. 10(3): 16-27.

  • de Peyster, A., and Gersberg, R.M. (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 Baczkowski, S. (1994) Pulsed disharge wastewater wetlands: Potential for solving multiple problems by varying hydroperiod. In Mitsch, W.J. (editors), Global Wetlands. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Science Publishers, 363-368.

  • Gersberg, R.M., Dawsey, W.J., and Bradley, M.D. (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 Zedler, J.B. (1992) Metal removal by wetland mesocosms subjected to different hydroperiods. Ecol Eng. 1: 309-322.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Sheehan, P.J., Schneiter, R.W., Mohr, T.K.G., and Gersberg, R.M. 1988. Progress in bioreclamation of contaminated groundwater without oxygen addition. HAZMACON 88. Anaheim, California.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Axler, R.P., and Gersberg, R.M. (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 Goldman, C.R. (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 Goldman, C.R. 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.

  • Axler, R.P., Gersberg, R.M., and Paulson, L.J. (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 Goldman, C.R. (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 Peek, N. (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 Goldman, C.R. (1976) Denitrification studies with 13N-labeled nitrate. Science. 192: 1229-1231.

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