Clifford Habig, Ph.D.

Dr. Habig has training in environmental toxicology, fate and transport of chemicals, and ecological risk assessment. Dr. Habig is responsible for providing ecotoxicology, environmental fate, and strategic support to U.S. and international clients for conventional pesticides, biochemicals, microbials, biotechnology products, and HPV products. He has overseen all aspects of environmental toxicology testing programs and risk assessment, including technical, management, and budgetary oversight. These programs were conducted to meet regulatory requirements of EPA-FIFRA, EPA-TSCA, OECD/EU, and state requirements. In addition, he assisted in the management of the general toxicology testing programs.

Dr. Habig is also experienced with ecological and environmental risk assessments and management of environmental toxicology testing programs. He has managed wildlife, aquatic organism, nontarget insect, and nontarget plant toxicology studies, including analytical support. This scientific management involved selecting testing laboratories, developing study protocols, monitoring studies, troubleshooting problems, evaluating the technical conduct of studies, and data interpretation. Dr. Habig’s ecological risk assessment experience includes conducting higher-tier and probabilistic chemical fate and transport modeling and risk assessments, including assessments of potential effects on endangered species.

As a Postdoctoral Researcher at Duke University, Dr. Habig’s research projects concentrated on the toxicity of contaminated sediments to fish and on inhalation toxicology of mixtures of industrial solvents to hens. This research involved in vivo exposures, microsomal and glutathione enzyme assays, in vitro microsomal metabolism, purification of cytochrome P-450 enzymes, DNA assays, and neurofilament assays.

Di Giulio RT, Habig C, Gallagher EP. Effects of Black Rock Harbor sediments on indices of biotransformation, oxidative stress, and DNA integrity in channel catfish. Aquatic Toxicol 1993; 26:1–22.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT. Biochemical characteristics of cholinesterases in aquatic organisms. In: Cholinesterase-Inhibiting Insecticides. Their Impact on Wildlife and the Environment. Mimeau P (ed), Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 19–34, 1991.

Lapadula DM, Habig C, Gupta RP, Abou-Donia MB. Induction of cytochrome P-450 isozymes by simultaneous inhalation exposure of hens to n-hexane and methyl iso-butyl ketone (MiBK). Biochem Pharmacol 1991; 41:877–883.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT. The anticholinesterase effect of the cotton defoliant S,S,S tri n-butyl phosphorotritioate (DEF) on channel catfish. Mar Environ Res 1988; 24:193–197.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT, Abou-Donia MB. Comparative properties of channel catfish and blue crab acetylcholinesterases. Comp Biochem Physiol 1988; 91C:293–300.

Habig C, Nomeir AA, Di Giulio RT, Abou-Donia MB. Extraction and determination by gas chromatography of S,S,S tri-n-butyl phosphorotritioate (DEF) in fish and water. J Assoc Offi Ana. Chem 1987; 70:103–106.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT, Nomeir AA, Abou-Donia MB. Comparative toxicity, cholinergic effects, and tissue levels of S,S,S, tri-n-butyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) to channel catfish and blue crabs. Aquatic Toxicol 1986; 9:193–206.

Habig C. Influences of substrate composition on biogas yields of methanogenic digesters. Biomass 1985; 8:245–253.

Habig C, Debusk TA, Ryther JH. The effect of nitrogen content on methane production by the marine algae Gracilaria tikvahiae and Ulva sp. Biomass 1984; 4:239–251.

Habig C, Andrews DA, Ryther JH. Nitrogen recycling and methane production using Gracilaria tikvahia: A closed system approach. Resource and Conserv 1984; 10:303–313.

Habig C, Ryther JH. Methane production from the anaerobic digestion of some marine macrophytes. Resource and Conserv 1983; 8:271–279.

Habig C, Taylor RC. The crayfish second antennae: I. Muscles, innervation patterns, and movements of antennal segments. Comp Biochem Physiol 1982; 72A:339–347.

Habig C, Taylor RC. The crayfish second antennae: II. Motoneuron structure as revealed by cobalt chloride backfilling. Comp Biochem Physiol 1982; 72A:349–358.

Bird KT, Habig C, Debusk TA. Nitrogen allocation and storage patterns in Gracilaria tikvahiae. J Phycol 1982; 18:344–348.

Published Abstracts of Presentations

Habig C. Additional factors for inclusion in higher tier avian and mammalian risk assessments. European Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 16th Annual Meeting, May 2006.

Habig C, Scrafford C. Pesticide ersidues in invertebrate prey items: From sampling to data analysis for non-target organism risk assessments. European Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Meeting, May 15, 2005.

Habig C. An integrated approach to modeling terrestrial and aquatic EECs for environmental risk assessment. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 22nd Annual Meeting, November 2001.

Baehr CH, Habig C. Statistical evaluation of the UTAB database for use in terrestrial nontarget organism risk assessment. 10th Symposium on Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment, American Society for Testing and Materials, April 2000.

Habig C. Probabilistic use of small data sets for effects analysis in pesticide risk assessments. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 21st Annual Meeting, November 2000.

Habig C. What happened to dose in pesticide terrestrial risk assessment? Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 20th Annual Meeting, November 1999.

Habig C. The impact of FQPA on pesticide environmental risk assessment. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 20th Annual Meeting, November 1999.

Habig C, Leyes GA. A tiered approach for evaluating avian risk posed by pesticide products. Seventh Symposium on Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment, American Society for Testing and Materials, April 1997.

Habig C. Comparative results from expanded pilot and standard avian reproduction tests with pesticide products. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 18th Annual Meeting., November 1997.

Rhodes J, Habig C, Egsmose M, Stuerman L. Evaluation of the stability of an OP insecticide under fathead minnow life-cycle test conditions. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 18th Annual Meeting, November 1997.

Habig C. A methodology for chronic avian risk assessment of an organophosphorous insecticide. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 17th Annual Meeting, November 1996.

Habig C. Re-evaluation of strategies for higher tier avian testing. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th SETAC-Europe Congress, June 1995.

Habig C, Smith G. Re-evaluation of avian reproduction testing design and implications for avian risk assessment. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2nd SETAC World Congress, November 1995.

Habig C. Considerations for possible alternative approaches to avian reproduction testing and evaluation. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 15thAnnual Meeting, November 1994.

Habig C. Interpreting avian reproduction data for low application rate, nonpersistent pesticides. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 12th Annual Meeting, November 1991.

Habig C. Uptake, tissue distribution, and depuration of DEF in Blue crabs. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 11th Annual Meeting, November 1990.

Di Giulio RT, Habig C. Phase I and phase II biotransformation enzyme activities in channel catfish exposed to contaminated sediments. Society of Toxicology, 28th Annual Meeting, February 1989.

Habig C, Abou-Donia MB, Lapadula DM. Cytochrome P-450 induction in chickens exposed simultaneously to n-hexane and methyl iso-butyl ketone. Society of Toxicology, 28th Annual Meeting, February 1989.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT. Biochemical characteristics of cholinesterases in aquatic organisms. Invited paper, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 10th Annual Meeting, October–November 1989.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT. Free radical-mediated effects in channel catfish exposed to contaminated sediments. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 9th Annual Meeting, November 1988.

Habig, C. In vivo and in vitro effects of the cotton defoliant DEF on catfish acetylcholinesterase. Society of Toxicology, 26th Annual Meeting, February 1987.

Abou-Donia MB, Habig C, Suwita E, Lapadula DM. Simultaneous exposure to n-hexane and methyl iso-butyl ketone (MiBK) produced crosslinking and decreased phosphorylation of neurofilament proteins in hens. Society of Toxicology, 26th Annual Meeting, February 1987.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT. Anticholinesterase effect of the defoliant DEF on channel catfish. 4th International Symposium on Responses of Marine Organisms to Pollutants, April 1987.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT. Tissue distribution and depuration kinetics of the cotton defoliant DEF in channel catfish. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 8th Annual Meeting, November 1987.

Habig C, RT Di Giulio. Comparative effects of organophosphorous pesticides on catfish and blue crab acetylcholinesterases. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 7th Annual Meeting, November 1986.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT. Comparative effects of DEF on catfish and blue crabs. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 6th Annual Meeting, November 1985.

Habig C, Di Giulio RT. Inactivation and recovery of fish acetylcholinesterase. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 6th Annual Meeting, November 1985.

Habig C. Neurotoxic effects of DEF on channel catfish and blue crabs. Mid-Atlantic Regional Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Meeting, September 1985.

Habig C, Ryther JH. Correlations between substrate composition and biogas yields. Proceedings, 5th Annual IGT Symposium, Fuels from Biomass and Wastes, January 1984.

Habig C. The use of marine macophytes as alternative fuel substrates. Southeastern Estuarine Res. Society, April 1983.

Ryther JH, Debusk TA, Andrews DA, Habig C. Cultivation of Gracilaria as a biomass source of energy. Proceedings, World Mariculture Society, January 1983.

Habig C. Closed system methane generation and nitrogen recycling using Gracilaria as a substrate. Southeastern Estuarine Res. Society, November 1982.

Habig C, Bird KT. Nitrogen utilization patterns in Gracilaria tikvahiae. 3rd Annual Southeastern Phycol. Coll., October 1981.

Book Chapters

Baehr CH, Habig C. Statistical evaluation of the UTAB database for use in terrestrial non-target organism probabilistic risk assessments. In: Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment: Science, Policy, and Standardization—Implications for Environmental Decisions. Greenberg BM, Hull RN, Roberts Jr. MH, Gensemer RW (eds), ASTM 1403, American Standards for Testing and Materials (ASTM), West Conshohocken, PA, pp. 96–110, 2001.

Habig C, Leyes GA. A tiered approach for evaluating avian risk posed by pesticide products. In: Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment: Seventh Volume, ASTM STP 1333. Little EE, Greenberg BM, DeLonay AJ (eds), American Society for Testing and Materials, pp. 343–355, 1998.

Di Giulio RT, Gallagher EP, Habig C. The role of in vitro studies in ecological hazard assessments. In: Wildlife Toxicology and Population Modeling: Integrated Studies of Agroecosystems. Kendal RJ, Lacher TE (eds), Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, pp. 227–240, 1993.

Selected Invited Presentations

Update on risk assessment within North America. Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessments for Agrochemicals Conference, Organized by IBC UK Conferences Ltd., January 1998.

Risk Assessment within the U.S.A. Environmental Risk Assessments for Agrochemicals Conference, Organized by IBC UK Technical Services, July 1995.

• Director, Environmental Practice, Novigen, Inc., 2000–2002
• Environmental Toxicologist, Senior Environmental Toxicologist, Manager, Environmental Toxicology, JSC, Inc., 1988–2000
  

• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Sigma Xi
• American Society for Testing and Materials