In Memoriam
Barry Wilson
Professor of Animal Science and Environmental Toxicology, Emeritus
UC Davis
1931-2014
Barry Wilson was an inspiring colleague and collaborator, and for over 50 years held a dual appointment in both the Departments of Avian Science (now a part of Animal Science) and Environmental Toxicology. Barry was also active in the free speech movement on campus in the 1960s and 1970s, serving as an effective bridge between student protesters, the faculty and the administration.
Below are a few comments regarding Barry’s appointment in Environmental Toxicology and my many collaborations with him and his numerous graduate students:
Barry’s thinking was clearly out-of-the-box, creative and engaging. He was argumentative, but in a good way that brought out the best in those around him. Barry was also a strong proponent of students and sound science, which was clearly exemplified in several of ours collaborative projects.
The most memorable and far-fetched research project was Barry’s proposal to use featherless chickens to mimic dermal exposure of applicators to pesticide spray. The featherless chicken, developed by Professor Abbott in Avian/Animal Sciences, was a good model for human dermal exposure. No feathers! The chemicals of interest in this project were neuropathic organophosphorus insecticides (OPs), and leg muscle control was the target of toxicity. When exposed to OPs, chickens could not stand upright—an effective dose-response endpoint.
Barry was also internationally recognized for his expertise in cholinesterase inhibition with organophosphorous insecticides, particularly in the blood of chickens. Both Jim Knaak and Chuck Becker of UC San Francisco were collaborators, also contributing to the featherless chicken project. However, it was Barry’s idea to take featherless chickens into cotton fields near Hanford and Corcoran and place them right behind the driver of the spray rig to see if there was sufficient exposure for organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIN). While the approach raised a lot of questions from amused onlookers, the model worked! The State of California was able to prevent the registration of offensive OPs, ultimately protecting a large number of applicators, farmworkers and consumers; an outcome that made Barry quite happy!
With the support of almond growers, Barry also led an investigation on the exposure of red-tailed hawks to insecticides in treated almond orchards. The initial problem was the discovery of hawks that were close to death. Barry and his colleagues Jack Henderson, Pam Nyberg, Mike Hooper, Mike Frye and Julie Yamamoto employed telemetry and the biomonitoring of cholinesterase inhibition via blood samples from trapped live hawks, while my group (Mike McChesney, Jim Woodrow and Carol Weiskopf) performed chemical analysis for OPs. We collectively found that maximum exposure was during the dormant season and arising from the use of ethyl parathion; exposure to the insecticide during wintertime Tule fog events most often sickened the birds. Fortunately, ethyl parathion was banned shortly after our investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the problem of poisoned hawks disappeared. That also made Barry quite happy!
Barry was also known to tackle significant food-related toxicology issues, such as one involving toxic watermelons. One year, just before the Fourth of July, hundreds of people became ill from eating melons. The cause, which Barry proved, was illegal use of the N-methyl carbamate insecticide aldicarb to promote the growth of melons. Unfortunately, the insecticide was absorbed into the melons and passed along to people eating them. Fortunately, as Barry also proved, the poisoning was short term and reversible. One day I mentioned to Barry that our studies with both hawks and watermelons killed two birds with one stone! He became quiet, then he looked at me and said “Seiber, don’t ever use that quote again.” He truly loved those birds!
Barry and I also worked on a US Air Force-sponsored project involving non-pesticide organophosphorous contaminants found near the runways at Beale Air Force Base (near Marysville, CA), and other bases in both California and Nevada. Obtaining funding from the Air Force that ultimately supported students and resulted in publications made Barry very happy!
Barry often presented his scientific findings at national meetings of both the American Chemical Society and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), and he published in the leading journals related to both of those fields. He was well known in both the avian sciences and environmental toxicology arenas, and interacted extensively with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Air Resources Board and the Almond Board of California, among others.
James Seiber
Below are a few comments regarding Barry’s appointment in Environmental Toxicology and my many collaborations with him and his numerous graduate students:
Barry’s thinking was clearly out-of-the-box, creative and engaging. He was argumentative, but in a good way that brought out the best in those around him. Barry was also a strong proponent of students and sound science, which was clearly exemplified in several of ours collaborative projects.
The most memorable and far-fetched research project was Barry’s proposal to use featherless chickens to mimic dermal exposure of applicators to pesticide spray. The featherless chicken, developed by Professor Abbott in Avian/Animal Sciences, was a good model for human dermal exposure. No feathers! The chemicals of interest in this project were neuropathic organophosphorus insecticides (OPs), and leg muscle control was the target of toxicity. When exposed to OPs, chickens could not stand upright—an effective dose-response endpoint.
Barry was also internationally recognized for his expertise in cholinesterase inhibition with organophosphorous insecticides, particularly in the blood of chickens. Both Jim Knaak and Chuck Becker of UC San Francisco were collaborators, also contributing to the featherless chicken project. However, it was Barry’s idea to take featherless chickens into cotton fields near Hanford and Corcoran and place them right behind the driver of the spray rig to see if there was sufficient exposure for organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIN). While the approach raised a lot of questions from amused onlookers, the model worked! The State of California was able to prevent the registration of offensive OPs, ultimately protecting a large number of applicators, farmworkers and consumers; an outcome that made Barry quite happy!
With the support of almond growers, Barry also led an investigation on the exposure of red-tailed hawks to insecticides in treated almond orchards. The initial problem was the discovery of hawks that were close to death. Barry and his colleagues Jack Henderson, Pam Nyberg, Mike Hooper, Mike Frye and Julie Yamamoto employed telemetry and the biomonitoring of cholinesterase inhibition via blood samples from trapped live hawks, while my group (Mike McChesney, Jim Woodrow and Carol Weiskopf) performed chemical analysis for OPs. We collectively found that maximum exposure was during the dormant season and arising from the use of ethyl parathion; exposure to the insecticide during wintertime Tule fog events most often sickened the birds. Fortunately, ethyl parathion was banned shortly after our investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the problem of poisoned hawks disappeared. That also made Barry quite happy!
Barry was also known to tackle significant food-related toxicology issues, such as one involving toxic watermelons. One year, just before the Fourth of July, hundreds of people became ill from eating melons. The cause, which Barry proved, was illegal use of the N-methyl carbamate insecticide aldicarb to promote the growth of melons. Unfortunately, the insecticide was absorbed into the melons and passed along to people eating them. Fortunately, as Barry also proved, the poisoning was short term and reversible. One day I mentioned to Barry that our studies with both hawks and watermelons killed two birds with one stone! He became quiet, then he looked at me and said “Seiber, don’t ever use that quote again.” He truly loved those birds!
Barry and I also worked on a US Air Force-sponsored project involving non-pesticide organophosphorous contaminants found near the runways at Beale Air Force Base (near Marysville, CA), and other bases in both California and Nevada. Obtaining funding from the Air Force that ultimately supported students and resulted in publications made Barry very happy!
Barry often presented his scientific findings at national meetings of both the American Chemical Society and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), and he published in the leading journals related to both of those fields. He was well known in both the avian sciences and environmental toxicology arenas, and interacted extensively with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Air Resources Board and the Almond Board of California, among others.
James Seiber
