Edward B. Swain

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Research Scientist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Mailing address: MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-757-2772
Fax: 651-297-8324
E-mail: edward.swain@state.mn.us
Ph. D. University of Minnesota

Fields of Interest

Understanding how aquatic ecosystems are affected by air pollution (especially mercury, acid rain, and climate change); paleolimnology.

Research

My research mainly concerns air pollutants that affect the function of surface water ecosystems. I have focused mainly on how atmospheric mercury pollution enters aquatic systems and how mercury is methylated, enters the food web, bioaccumulates in fish, and affects the health of fish and wildlife that eat fish. These processes are affected by numerous other environmental perturbations, including acid rain, sulfate pollution, and climate change (especially warming, periodic drying of wetlands, & water fluctuations), all of which are of interest to me and to my employer, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. In recent years I have pursued an understanding of the socioeconomic effects of mercury polution. I also have an interest in using paleolimnology to answer historical questions about the impact of human development on aquatic ecosystems. As an adjunct faculty member whose office is seven miles from campus, I am not an ideal thesis advisor. However, I am quite interested in helping graduate students who share my interests.

Selected Publications

  • Swain, E.B., P.M. Jakus, G. Rice, F. Lupi, P.A. Maxson, J.M. Pacyna, A. Penn, S.J. Spiegel, and M.M. Veiga. 2007. Socioeconomic consequences of mercury use and pollution. Ambio. 36 (1):45-61.

  • Jeremiason, J.D., D.R. Engstrom, E.B. Swain, E.A. Nater, B.M. Johnson, J.E. Almendinger, B.A. Monson, and R.K. Kolka. 2006. Sulfate addition increases methylmercury production in an experimental wetland. Environmental Science and Technology. 40:3800-3806.

  • Balogh, S.J, E.B. Swain, and Y.H. Nollet. 2006. Elevated methylmercury concentrations and loadings during flooding in Minnesota rivers. Science of the Total Environment. 368:138– 148.

  • Mason, R.P., M.L. Abbott, R.A. Bodaly, O.R. Bullock, Jr., C.T. Driscoll, D. Evers, S.E. Lindberg, M. Murray, E.B. Swain. 2005. Monitoring the response to changing mercury deposition. Environmental Science and Technology. 39(1):14A-22A

  • Heiskary, S.A., E.B. Swain, and M.B. Edlund. 2004. Reconstructing Historical Water Quality in Minnesota Lakes from Fossil Diatoms. MPCA Environmental Bulletin. http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/environmentalbulletin/tdr-eb04-04.pdf

  • Engstrom, D.R. and E.B. Swain.  1997. Recent declines in atmospheric mercury deposition in the upper midwest.  Environmental Science and Technology. 31:960-967.

  • Swain, E.B., D.R. Engstrom, M.E. Brigham, T.A. Henning, and P.L. Brezonik. 1992. Increasing rates of atmospheric mercury deposition in midcontinental North America. Science 257:784-787.