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Michael C. Newman

A. Marshall Acuff Jr. Professor of Marine Science
Email: [[newman]]
Phone: (804) 684-7725
Office: Chesapeake Bay Hall S110
Department: Environmental and Aquatic Animal Health

Education
  • B.A., M.S., University of Connecticut
  • M.S., Ph.D. Rutgers University

Research Interests

Dr. Newman has diverse research interests which include ecotoxicology, general and applied aquatic ecology, contaminant effects on populations, bioaccumulation, factors modifying inorganic contaminant toxicity, fate of inorganic contaminants in aquatic systems, quantitative methods for ecological risk assessment, toxicity models, and water quality.


Current Projects
  • Formal methods of identifying the most probable cause of an adverse effect
  • Replacing unsound statistical methods that are widely-accepted by ecotoxicologists and risk assessors with valid statistical methods
  • Stochastic modeling of contaminant exposure from fish consumption
  • Improving prediction of lethal effects with time-to-death methods
  • Models predicting mortality with pulsed exposure to toxicants
  • Mercury bioaccumulation and trophic transfer modeling
  • Human risk associated with mercury exposure via seafood consumption

Selected Publications
  • Newman, M.C. 2008.  Ecotoxicology. A Sub-discipline of Ecology entry for Encyclopedia of Ecology, Elsevier, Inc.
  • Newman, M.C. and Y. Zhao. 2008. Ecotoxicology (LC, LD, LOC, LOEC, MAC) entry for Ecology Encyclopedia, Elsevier, Inc.
  • Newman, M.C. 2008. "What exactly are you inferring?" A closer look at hypothesis testing. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 27: 1013-1019.
  • Di Giulio, R.T. and M.C. Newman, Chapter 29. Ecotoxicology, in Casarett & Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons. C.D. Klaassen, Editor, McGraw-Hill Co., New York, NY, 2008, pp. 1157-1187.
  • Zhoa, Y. and M.C. Newman. 2007. The theory underlying dose-response models influences predictions for intermittent expsoures. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 26: 543-547
  • Unger, M.A., M.C. Newman, and G.G. Vadas. 2007. Predicting survival of grass shrimp (P. pugio) during ethylnaphthalene, dimethylnaphthalene, and phenanthrene exposures differing in concentration and duration. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 26: 528-534.
  • Newman, M.C., Zhao, Y., and J.F. Carriger. 2007. Coastal and estuarine ecological risk assessment: the need for a more formal approach to stressor identification. Hydrobiologia 577: 31-40.
  • Newman, M.C., M. Crane and G. Holloway. 2006. Does pesticide risk assessment in the European Union assess long-term effects?. Rev. Environ. Toxicol. 187: 1-65.
  • Zhao, Y. and Newman, M.C. 2006. Effects of exposure duration and recovery time during pulsed exposures. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 25: 1298-1304.
  • Newman, M.C. and Y. Zhao. 2005. Measuring metals and metalloids in water, sediment and biological tissues. In Ostrander, G.K., Techniques in Aquatic Toxicology, 2nd Edition. Lewis Publishers/CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 591-615.
  • Zhao, Y. and M.C. Newman. 2005. Ecotoxicology entry for environmental encyclopedia edited by L. Shugart, Elsevier, Inc.
  • Zhao, Y. and M.C. Newman. 2004. Shortcomings of the laboratory-derived median lethal concentration for predicting mortality in field populations: exposure duration and latent mortality. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 23: 2147-2153.
  • Evans, D.A., M.C. Newman, M. Lavine, J.S. Jaworska, J. Toll, B. Brooks, and T.C.M. Brook. (In Press). The Bayesian vantage for dealing with uncertainty. In: A. Hart (Ed.) Uncertainty in Environmental Risk Assessment, SETAC Press, Pensacola, FL.
  • M. Mulvey, M.C. Newman, W. Vogelbein, M.A. Unger and D.R. Ownby. 2003. Genetic structure and mtDNA diversity of Fundulus heteroclitus populations from PAH-contaminated and neighboring sites. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 22: 671-677.
  • Ownby, D.R. and M.C. Newman . 2003. Advances in Quantitative Ion Character-Activity Relationships (QICARs): Using Metal-Ligand Binding Characteristics to Predict Metal Toxicity. QSAR Comb Sci 22:241-246.
  • Mulvey, M., M.C. Newman, W. Vogelbein and M.A. Unger. 2002. Genetic structure of Fundulus heteroclitus from PAH-contaminated and neighboring sites in the Elizabeth and York Rivers. Aquatic. Toxicol. 61:195-209.
  • Newman, M.C. and Evans, D.A. 2002. Enhancing belief during causality assessments: Cognitive Idols or Bayes's Theorem? In" Coatsal and Estuarine Risk Assessment. M.C. Newman,M.H. Roberts, Jr., and R.C. Hale (Eds.), Lewis/CRC Publishers, Boca Raton, FL., pp. 347.
  • Ownby, D., M.C. Newman, M. Mulvey, M. Unger and W. Vogelbein. 2002. Fish (Fundulus heteroclitus) populations with different exposure histories differ in tolerance of creosote-contaminated sediments. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 21: 1897-1902.
  • Tatara, C., M. Mulvey, and M.C. Newman. 2002. Genetic and demographic responses of mercury-exposed mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) populations: temporal stability and reproductive components of fitness. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 21: 2191-2197.
  • Tatara, C.P., M.C. Newman and M. Mulvey. 2001. Effect of mercury and Gpi-2 genotype on standard metabolic rate of Eastern mosquitofish. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 20: 782-786.
  • Crane, M. and M.C. Newman. 2000. What level of effect is a no observed effect? Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 19:516-519. 
  • McKinney, J.D., A. Richard, C. Waller, M.C. Newman and F. Gerberick. 2000. The practice of structure activity relationships (SAR) in toxicology. Toxicological Sciences 56:8-17.
  • Newman, M.C. and J.T. McCloskey. 2000. The individual tolerance concept is not  the sole explanation for the probit dose-effect model. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 19:520-526.
  • Newman, M.C., D.R. Ownby, L.C.A. Mezin, D.C. Powell, T.R.L. Christensen, S.B. Lerberg, and B.-A. Anderson. 2000. Applying species sensitivity distributions in ecological risk assessment: Assumptions of distribution type and sufficient numbers of species.  Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 19:508-515. 
  • Barron, M.G., I.R. Schultz, and M.C. Newman. 1999. Pharmacokinetics of intravascularly administered 65Zinc in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Ecotoxicol. Environ Saf. 45:304-309.
  • Peters, E.L. and M.C. Newman.  1999. Elimination of cesium by chronically-contaminated largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Health Physics 76: 260-268.
  • Peters, E.L., I.R. Schultz and M.C. Newman.  1999. Rb and Cs kinetics and tissue distributions in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).  Ecotoxicology 8:287-300.
  • Tatara, C., M. Mulvey and M.C Newman. 1999. Genetic and demographic responses of mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) populations exposed to mercury for multiple generations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 18:2840-2845.
  • McCloskey, J.M., I.R. Schultz and M.C. Newman. 1998. Estimating the oral bioavailability of methylmercury to channel catfish,  Ictalurus punctatus. Environ. Toxicol. Chem.17: 1524-1529.
  • Newman, M.C., J.T. McCloskey and C.P. Tatara. 1998. Using metal-ligand binding characteristics to predict metal toxicity: Quantitative Ion Character - Activity Relationships (QICARs). Environ. Health Perspectives 106(Suppl. 6): 1263-1270.
  • Newman, M.C., J.T. McCloskey and C.P. Tatara. 1998. Using metal-ligand binding characteristics to predict metal toxicity:  Quantitative Ion Character - Activity Relationships (QICARs). Environ. Health Perspectives 106(Suppl. 6): 1263-1270.
  • Newman, M.C. and R. Jagoe.  1998. Allozymes reflect the population-level effect of mercury:  simulations of the mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) GPI-2 response. Ecotoxicology 7: 141-150.
  • Tatara, C.P., M.C. Newman, J.T. McCloskey and P.L. Williams. 1998. Use of ion characteristics to predict relative toxicity of mono-, di-, and trivalent metal ions:  Caenorhabditis elegans LC50.  Aquatic Toxicol. 42: 255-269.
  • Jagoe, R. and M.C. Newman. 1997. Bootstrap estimation of community NOEC values.  Ecotoxicology 6: 293-306. 
  • Schultz, I.R. and M.C. Newman. 1997.  Methyl mercury toxicokinetics in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) after intravascular administration  Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 16: 1990-1996. 
  • Tatara, C., M.C. Newman, P. Williams and J.T. McCloskey. 1997. Predicting relative toxicity with divalent ion characteristics. Caenorhabditis elegans. AquaticToxicol. 39: 279-290.
  • Crane, M. and M.C. Newman. 1996. Scientific method in environmental toxicology. Environ. Rev. 4: 112-122.
  • Jagoe, C.H., A.E. Faivre and M.C. Newman. 1996. Morphological and morphometric changes in the gills of mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) after exposure to mercury (II). Aquatic Toxicol. 34: 163-183
  • McCloskey, J.T., M.C. Newman and S.B.  Clark.  1996.  Predicting relative toxicity and interactions of mono-, di-, and trivalent metal ions.  Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 15: 1730-1737.
  • Newman, M.C. 1996. Ecotoxicology as a science. In: Newman, M.C. and C.H. Jagoe (Eds.), Ecotoxicology: A Hierarchical Treatment. CRC/Lewis Publishers, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, pp. 1-9.
  • Newman, M.C. and J.T. McCloskey.  1996. Time-to-event analysis of ecotoxicity data. Ecotoxicology 5: 187-196.
  • Newman, M.C. and P.M. Dixon. 1996. Ecologically meaningful estimates of lethal effect on individuals. In: Newman, M.C. and C.H. Jagoe (Eds.), Ecotoxicology: A Hierarchical Treatment. CRC/Lewis Publishers, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, pp. 225-253.
  • Newman, M.C. and J.T. McCloskey.  1996. Predicting relative toxicity and interactions of divalent metal ions: Microtox7 bioluminescence assay. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 15: 275-281.
  • Newman, M.C. and R.M. Jagoe. 1996. Bioaccumulation models with time lags: Dynamics and  stability criteria. Ecol. Model. 84: 281-286. 
  • Schultz, I.R., E.L. Peters and M.C. Newman.  1996.  Toxicokinetics and disposition of inorganic mercury and cadmium in channel catfish after intravascular administration.  Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 140:  39-50. 
  • McCloskey, J.T. and M.C. Newman. 1995. Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) and viviparid snail (Campeloma decisum) sediment preference as a sublethal response to low level metal contamination. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 28:195-202.
  • Mulvey, M., M.C. Newman, A. Chazal, M.M. Keklak, H.G. Heagler and S. Hales, Jr. 1995. Genetic and demographic changes in mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) populations exposed to mercury. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 14:1411-1418.
  • Kramer, V. J. and M. C. Newman. 1994. Inhibition of glucose phosphate isomerase allozymes of the mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, by mercury. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 13:9-14.
  • Keklak, M.M., M.C. Newman, and M. Mulvey. 1994. Enhanced uranium tolerance of an exposed population of the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki Girard 1859). Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 27:20-24
  • Newman, M.C., M.M. Keklak and S.M. Doggett.  1994.  Quantifying animal size effects on toxicity:  A general approach.  Aquatic Toxicol. 28:1-13. 
  • Newman, M.C., M. Mulvey, A. Beeby, R.W. Hurst, and L. Richmond. 1994. Snail (Helix aspersa) exposure history and possible adaptation to lead as reflected in shell composition. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 27:346-351.
  • Heagler, M. G., M. C. Newman, M. Mulvey and P. M. Dixon. 1993. Allozyme genotype in mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, during mercury exposure: Temporal stability, concentration effects and field verification. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 12:385-395.
  • Newman, M. C. 1993. Regression analysis of log-transformed data: statistical bias and its correction. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 12:1129-1133.
  • Kramer, V.J., M.C. Newman, M. Mulvey, and G. R. Ultsch. 1992. Glycolysis and Krebs cycle metabolites in mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki: Girard 1859, exposed to mercuric chloride: Allozyme genotype effects. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 11:357-364.
  • Kramer, V. J., M. C. Newman and G. R. Ultsch.1992.Changes in concentrations of glycolysis and Krebs cycle metabolites in mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, induced by mercuric chloride and starvation. Environ. Biol. Fishes 34:315-320.
  • Lee, C.J., M.C. Newman and M. Mulvey.  1992.  Time to death of mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) during acute inorganic mercury exposure: Population structure effects.  Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 22:284-287.
  • Newman, M.C. and M. Aplin.  1992.  Enhancing toxicity data interpretation and prediction of ecological risk with survival time modeling: An illustration using sodium chloride toxicity to mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki).  Aquatic Toxicol. 23:85-96. 
  • Dixon, P. M. and M. C. Newman.  1991. Analyzing toxicity data using statistical models of time-to-death: An introduction. In: Newman, M.C. and A.W. McIntosh (Eds.), Metal Ecotoxicology:  Concepts and Applications. Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, MI., pp. 207-242
  • Newman, M. C. 1991. A statistical bias in the derivation of hardness dependent metals criteria. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 10:1295 1297.
  • Newman, M. C. and M. G. Heagler. 1991. Allometry of metal bioaccumulation and toxicity. In: Newman, M.C. and A.W. McIntosh (Eds.), Metal Ecotoxicology: Concepts and Applications. Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, MI., pp. 91 130.
  • Newman, M.C. and I.L. Brisbin, Jr. 1990. Variation of 137Cs levels between sexes, body sizes and collection localities of mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki (Girard 1859) inhabiting a reactor cooling reservoir. J. Environ. Radioactivity 12:131 141.
  • Newman, M. C. and J. Schalles. 1990. The water chemistry of Carolina bays: A regional survey. Arch. Hydrobiol. 118:147 168.
  • Diamond, S.A., M.C. Newman, M.E. Mulvey, D. Martinson and P.M. Dixon. 1989. Allozyme genotype and time to death of mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard), during acute exposure to inorganic mercury. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 8:613-622.
  • Mitz, S.V. and M.C. Newman. 1989. Allometric relationship between oxygen consumption and body weight of mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. Environ. Biol. Fishes 24:267 273.
  • Newman, M.C., S.A. Diamond. M.E. Mulvey and P.M. Dixon. 1989. Allozyme genotype and time to death of mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard), during acute toxicant exposure: A comparison of arsenate and inorganic mercury. Aquatic Toxicol. 15:141-159.
  • Newman, M.C. and D.K. Doubet. 1989. Size dependence of mercury (II) accumulation kinetics in the mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard). Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 18:819 825
  • Newman, M.C. and A.W. McIntosh. 1989. Appropriateness of aufwuchs as a monitor of bioaccumulation. Environ. Pollut. 60:83 100.
  • Newman, M.C., P.M. Dixon, B.B. Looney, and J.E. Pinder, III. 1989. Estimating mean and variance of environmental samples with below detection limit observations. Water Resources Bull. 25:905 916.
  • Newman, M.C. and S.V. Mitz. 1988. Size dependence of zinc elimination and uptake from water by mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard). Aquatic Toxicol. 12:17 32.
  • Newman, M.C., J.J. Alberts and V.A. Greenhut. 1985. Geochemical factors complicating the use of aufwuchs to monitor bioaccumulation of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper and zinc. Water Res. 19:1157 1165.
  • Newman, M.C., A.W. McIntosh and V.A. Greenhut. 1983. Geochemical factors complicating the use of aufwuchs as a biomonitor for lead levels in two New Jersey reservoirs. Water Res. 17:625 630.
  • Newman, M.C. and S.Y. Feng. 1982. Susceptibility and resistance of the rock crab, Cancer irroratus to natural and experimental infection. J. Invert. Pathol. 40:75 88.
Books
  • Newman, M.C. and W. Clements. 2008. Ecotoxicology. A Comprehensive Treatment. Taylor and Francis / CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
    A. Russell Flegal reviewed this book for the Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin (17(2), June 2008), concluding  “…In summary, it is - in  my opinion - the definitive book to date on the complex and emerging science of ecotoxicology.”  “The book is simply the best I have encountered.”
  • Newman, M.C. and M.A. Unger with contributions and translation by Yuan Zhao and Taiping Wang. 2007. Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology. Second Edition, Taylor & Francis/CRC, Boca Raton, FL, Chinese translation with Chemical Industrial Press, Beijing, China.
  • Newman, M.C. and M.A. Unger. 2003. Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology, Second Ed.  CRC/Lewis Press, Boca Raton, FL
More than 3000 copies sold by the end of 2007. Reviews of the two editions of this book have been very positive.  In a SETAC Globe book review, Dr. G. Rand states that the first edition was … an organized and highly readable text that fills an important void. "…the only published book to-date that is oriented for use as a basic introductory text … Overall this book will be of value to beginning students and to research investigators as a reference tool." Van Straalen (ES&T, Sept. 2003, page 326A), refers to the second edition as "…the most comprehensive textbook available to date."
  • Clements, W. and  M.C. Newman. 2002. Community Ecotoxicology. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK.
  • Newman, M.C., M. Roberts and R. Hale (Eds). 2002. Coastal and Estuarine Risk Assessment. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.
  • Crane, M., M.C. Newman and P. Chapman (Eds.) 2002. Risk Assessment with Time-to-Event Models. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.  
  • Newman, M.C. 2001. Population Ecotoxicology. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. p. 228.
In a SETAC Globe book review, G. Suter commented about this book, ”…like his earlier volumes, Newman’s latest is distinct in tone and content.  A good scientific colleague is someone who stretches your perspective by asking and answering questions that you would not ask yourself.  Through his many books and papers, Mike Newman has been a very good colleague to me and many other ecotoxicologists and risk assessors.” 

In a review for the journal, Water and Environment Journal (2002, Vol. 16(2)), J. Hawkins comments that the book is “…packed with theoretical ideas.”
  • Newman, M.C. and C. Strojan (Eds.) 1998.  Environmental Risk Assessment:  Concepts and Measurement.  Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea, MI.
  • Newman, M.C.  1998. Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology.  Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea, MI.
  • Newman, M.C. and C. Jagoe (Eds.). 1996.  Ecotoxicology:  A Hierarchical Treatment. Lewis/CRC Publishers, Boca Raton, FL.
  • Newman, M.C.  1995.  Quantitative Methods in Aquatic Ecotoxicology.  Lewis Publishers,  Chelsea, MI.
Reviewing this book for Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., Clements stated that ”…Newman’s book is a refreshing and highly readable treatment of quantitative aspects of ecotoxicology … Overall, this book will be of tremendous value.” 

Dr. G. Suter begins his review column for the SETAC Globe, “Gary Rand reviews [here] Mike Newman’s excellent text on quantitative ecotoxicology. I would like to add the observation that Mike has produced a rara avis, a single-authored book … He is to be commended for mastering this field and presenting it in a more coherent manner than
is achieved by edited compilations.”
  • Newman, M.C. and A.W. McIntosh (Eds.). 1991. Metal Ecotoxicology: Concepts and Applications. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI.

Current Students
  • John Carriger
  • Erica Holloman
  • Kyle Tom

Former Students
  • David Ownby
  • Yuan Zhao

Courses Taught / Teaching
  • MS560 Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology (SPRING, 3 credit). Prerequisite Basic Ecology. This course is an introduction to ecotoxicology, the science of contaminants in the biosphere and their effects on constituents of the  biosphere, including humans. The course provides a general survey of environmental toxicology and risk assessment from an ecological vantage.
  • EHS863 Quantitative Ecological Toxicology (SUMMER, ODD YEARS, 4 credits). University of Georgia Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program. 
  • MS640: Quantitative Ecotoxicology (SPRING, 4 credits). Essential ecotoxicological principles and quantitative methods for the analysis of ecotoxicological data.  Laboratory exercises will include method applications with PC-based software.  Emphasis will be placed on the scientific and statistical soundness of techniques.
  • MS641: Environmental Risk Assessment (FALL, 3 credits). The NAS risk assessment paradigm will be developed and applied to both human and ecological risk assessments.  Basic concepts and techniques will be presented for risk assessment.
  • MS642: Practical Environmental Statistics (SPRING, 3 credits). This course explores practical statistics for sampling, measuring, and making sound inferences from environmental data. The course is intentionally a broad survey of methods applicable to physical, chemical and biological studies, drawing examples from each of these areas.

Faculty / Student Awards
  • 2003 Founder's Award of The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). "Given annually to a person with an outstanding career who has made clearly identifiable contributions in the environmental sciences consistent with the goals of SETAC".
  • 2002, Special Recognition by VIMS Advisory Council for exceptional service as Dean of Graduate Studies.

Professional Memberships
  • Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Collaborative / Interdisciplinary Efforts
  • Under contract with CRC/Lewis Press, editing Environmental and Ecological Risk Assessment book series.  First book in the series is Coastal and Estuarine Risk Assessment.
  • Probabilistic risk assessment of mercury exposure for Great Dismal Swamp biota, a collaborative study with the US Fish and wildlife Service.
  • Trophic movement of mercury in South River biota. A collaborative study with Dupont and College of William & Mary faculty.
  • EPA Science Advisory Board EPEC Committee.
  • NAS Committee reviewing OMB proposed changes to US federal government risk assessments.

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