A5023379769- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Analytical chemistry methods development
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography
- Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications
- Heavy metals in environment
- Water Quality Monitoring and Analysis
- Groundwater flow and contamination studies
- Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Water Quality and Resources Studies
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
2016-2025
Ministry of Environment
2010-2025
University of Toronto
2013-2024
Parks Canada
2024
Toronto Public Health
2018
Great Lakes Institute of Management
2017
Brock University
2009-2010
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
2004-2009
McMaster University
2007-2009
University of Guelph
2009
An eastern Arctic marine food web was analyzed for perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS, C8F17SO3-), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA, C7F15COO-), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA, C8F17SO2NH2), and N-ethylperfluorooctane (N-EtPFOSA, C8F17SO2NHCH2CH3) to examine the extent of bioaccumulation. PFOS detected in all species analyzed, mean concentrations ranged from 0.28 ± 0.09 ng/g (arithmetic 1 standard error, wet wt, whole body) clams (Mya truncata) 20.2 3.9 (wet liver) glaucous gulls (Larus...
Alkaline and wet peroxide oxidation chemical digestion techniques used to extract microplastics from organic matrices were assessed for recoveries impacts on ability identify polymer types. Methods using generated enough heat result in the complete loss of some types microplastic particles, boiling tests confirmed that temperatures >70 °C responsible losses. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) minimal alteration recovered polymers by applied methods. Environ Toxicol Chem...
Plastic pollution is a defining environmental contaminant and considered to be one of the greatest threats Anthropocene, with its presence documented across aquatic terrestrial ecosystems. The majority this plastic debris falls into micro (1 μm–5 mm) or nano (1–1000 nm) size range comes from primary secondary sources. Its small makes it cumbersome isolate analyze reproducibly, ubiquitous distribution creates numerous challenges when controlling for background contamination matrices (e.g.,...
The presence of microplastics within the gut animals is well documented. Whether bioaccumulate in organisms and biomagnify food webs remains unclear relies on ability to translocate other tissues. Here, we demonstrate widespread anthropogenic microparticles gastrointestinal tract, fillet, livers seven species sportfish from Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Larger fish had a higher microplastic load compared smaller fish, but opposite trend was observed with translocated standardized by mass...
Plastics are ubiquitous and, when released into the environment, break down smaller particles termed microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs). These MPs NPs can be ingested by organisms potentially accumulate in tissues organs. Recently, were found placentas of healthy women, raising concern that exposure to plastics may have an impact on pregnancy fetal development. In this study, we investigated effect maternal placental growth using experimental mice. The dams exposed received either 5...
The extent of bioaccumulation the syn- and anti-isomers Dechlorane Plus (DP) is assessed in archived food web samples from Lake Winnipeg Ontario. Concentrations isomers were determined using purified analytical solutions individual as opposed to technical mixture. syn-isomer was consistently detected all both lakes; anti-isomer Ontario samples, but only 45% Winnipeg. pattern bioac cumulation different for dominant higher trophic level (TL) organisms like walleye [arithmetic mean ± 1 ×...
Abstract The passive polar organic chemical integrative sampler in the pharmaceutical configuration (i.e., pharmaceutical‐POCIS) was calibrated for sampling at water temperatures of 5, 15 and 25°C to determine influence temperature on chemical‐specific rates ( R S ), thus providing more robust estimates time‐weighted average concentrations pharmaceuticals personal care products (PPCPs) endocrine‐disrupting substances (EDS) surface water. effect flow these analytes evaluated laboratory with a...
A 14-year data set (1984−1998) for chlordane compounds in arctic air was examined to discern temporal trends. trans-Chlordane (TC), cis-chlordane (CC), and trans-nonachlor (TN) declined significantly (p < 0.001−0.02), with apparent times 50% reduction of 4.9−9.7 y. The isomer fraction TC = (TC/(TC + CC) also 0.001−0.014) over the same time period. enantiomeric composition CC determined samples collected at stations Canada (1993−1996), Russia (1994), Finland (1998), a temperate station on...
A recently discovered chlorinated flame retardant, Dechlorane Plus (DP), was reported in air and a sediment core within the North American Great Lakes region. To further reveal fate of DP Lakes, 40 surficial sediments from Erie Ontario two additional cores were analyzed using newly available analytical grade isomer solutions. The maximum total concentration Lake over 60-fold higher than Erie, 586 ng/g 8.62 ng/g, respectively. Additionally, analysis archived suspended collected Niagara River...
Dechlorane (Dec) 602, 603, 604, and Plus (DP) are flame retardant substitutes for mirex. Dec 604 were detected in sediment fish from the Laurentian Great Lakes. Lake Ontario surface sediments had highest concentrations of 602 at 6.0 4.0 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Temporal analysis a core indicates that trends similar to DP peaking early 1980s. trout whitefish also 34 1.2 lipid. Concentrations higher than those all samples, indicating is likely more bioavailable and/or readily...
Paul Helm discusses the need for a more detailed level of classification to aid in identifying source contributions microplastics, providing direction on implementation management activities reduce occurrence microplastics environment and enabling monitoring effectiveness those actions.
This work describes a single and fast approach using filtering script as means of prioritizing sample processing data acquired by GC×GC-TOF MS for the identification potentially novel persistent bioaccumulative halogenated chemicals. The proposed is based on recognition generic isotope cluster pattern that allows simultaneous detection chlorinated, brominated, or mixed halogen-substituted compounds in classification. Once developed, was applied to organohalogens stream sediments collected...
At any moment, approximately half of the world's population is wearing blue jeans and other denim garments. We examine footprint our modern jean society by investigating environmental distribution, pathways, sources indigo microfibers shed clothing. Microfibers comprised 87–90% anthropogenic particles found in sediments from Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Laurentian Great Lakes, shallow suburban lakes southern Ontario. Twenty-one to fifty-one percent all were anthropogenically modified...