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Speciation,
not total concentration, determines bioavailability
Processes,
not total emission, determine bioaccumulation
Our
research focuses on speciation, cycling, and bioavailability of trace metals
across environmental interfaces (e.g., air-ice-water interfaces,
water-sediment interfaces, and water-biota interface). Such processes are
examined both at the molecular scale to probe the fundamental chemical
mechanisms, and at the regional to global scales to address “real-world”
environmental problems.
At the
molecular scale, we are interested in chemical speciation of trace elements
across abiotic and biotic interfaces, with a particular focus on the ice
surface and on the role of reduced sulfur and selenium species.
At the
regional to global scales, we are examining chemical contamination in
remote sentinel ecosystems (e.g., Arctic, Himalaya, and Equatorial Pacific)
under a changing climate. We are particularly interested in how
climate-induced changes in biogeochemical processes affect the
bioaccumulation of contaminants.
We are
also involved in the development of analytical techniques (in situ and
ultra-trace) and modeling approaches (transport and transformation) for
such studies.
Our
research is primarily funded by NSERC, CFI, and ArcticNet. Current research
projects include:
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Cryospheric chemistry across
the ocean-sea ice-atmosphere interface
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Biogeochemistry of mercury in
the Arctic Ocean
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Interaction of climate change
and chemical contamination in sentinel ecosystems
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Ultra-trace analytical
techniques for chemical speciation (HPLC-ICP/ESI-MS)
Our major research
facilities include:
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Ultra-Clean Trace Elements Laboratory (UCTEL)
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Sea-ice Environmental
Research Facility (SERF)
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Portable In-situ Laboratory
for Mercury Speciation (PILMS)
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Canadian Research Ice Breaker
(CCGS Amundsen)
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