GANANOQUE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AND ENGINEERING
CONFERENCE
2015
CONFERENCE AGENDA
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
Faculty of Engineering Chemical Engineering FRIDAY, January 30, 2015
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Registration
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Meet and Greet Social in the Cedar Knoll House
SATURDAY, January 31, 2015
7:30 – 8:15
Breakfast at the Watermark Restaurant & Registration
8:15 – 8:30
Welcome and Introduction (St-Lawrence Room)
Elissa Dow (Masters)
Complexation of Nickel and Effects on Toxicity
8:45 – 9:00
T2
Sarah Berry (UG student)
Yeast Expressing Human Anti-apoptotic Genes Reveals Novel Toxic
Effects of Zinc
9:00 – 9:15
T3
9:15 - 9:30
T4
9:30 - 9:45
T5
Toxicity
Chair: Meghan Marshall, McGill
8:30 – 8:45
T1
9:45 - 10:00
T6
11:00 - 11:15
T9
11:15 - 11:30
T10
11:30 - 11:45
T11
11:45 -12:00
T12
12:00 – 1:15
Queen’s University
Valérie Langlois
Trent University
Chris Metcalfe
Meghan Leedham (UG student)
Assessing the Toxicity of Cold Lake Diluted Bitumen to Rainbow Trout
Embryos
Queen’s University
Peter Hodson
Wilfrid Laurier
University
Jim McGeer
Continued
Coffee Break
Ecology & Anthropological
impacts on the Environment
Chair: Sean Winland-Gaetz,
McMaster
10:45 - 11:00
T8
Royal Military College
of Canada
Michael Greenwood
Sam Diamond (Masters)
Biomarker Responses in Darter Species from the Grand River, Ontario
Alexandria Loveridge (Masters)
Toxicity Ameliorating Effects of Cations and Dissolved Organic
Carbon on Thulium Toxicity to Hyalella azteca
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 10:45
T7
Tash-Lynn Colson (Masters)
Toxicokinetics and Toxicity of PCBs in Juvenile Snapping Turtles
Wilfrid Laurier
University
Scott Smith
Jonathan Martin (PhD)
Biomarkers in Natural Populations of Fish Following the Addition of
Silver Nanoparticles to Lake 222 at the Experimental Lakes Area
Trent University
Chris Metcalfe
Adamo Petosa (Researcher)
Using a Suite of in vitro Cell-Based Assays to Evaluate the Biological
Activity of Treated and Untreated Wastewater
McGill University
Viviane Yargeau
Catriona Catomeris (UG student)
Effects of Increased Nitrogen Deposition on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal
Fungal Community Composition in a Restored Tallgrass Prairie
University of Western
Ontario
Greg Thorn/Hugh Henry
Achla Joshi (Masters)
Using Hardwood Tree Species at the Edge of Their Distribution Range
as Paleoenvironmental Indicators in a Vegetation Transition Zone
Queen’s University
Ryan Danby
Helen Powley (PhD)
Wastewater Inputs of Phosphorus and Nitrogen to the Mediterranean
Sea
University of Waterloo
Philippe Van Cappellen
Siqing Yue (PhD)
Identification of Estrogenic Compounds in Oil Sands Process Waters
by Effect-Directed Analysis
Lunch at the Watermark Restaurant
Page 2 of 21
Queen’s University
Juliana Ramsey
Rabia Nasir (PhD)
Measuring Silver Nanoparticle Dissolution in Aquatic Matrices Using
Nanoparticle Plasmonic UV-visible Spectroscopy
1:30 – 1:45
T14
Zahra Akbarzadeh (PhD)
Reactive Transport of Nitrogen in Sediments
University of Waterloo
Philippe Van Cappellen
Elise Morel (PhD)
Characterize the Bioavailability of Ce(III) or CeO2 NPs Using
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Université de Montréal
Kevin Wilkinson
1:45 – 2:00
T15
2:00 – 2:15
T16
2:15 – 2:30
T17
2:30 – 2:45
T18
Contaminant Fate and Monitoring
Chair: Adamo Petosa, McGill
1:15 – 1:30
T13
2:45 – 3:00
T19
Trevor Théoret (Masters)
Fate of Silver Nanoparticles in Waste Water and Biosolids Using
Hyperspectral Imagery with Enhanced Darkfield Microscopy
Farah Ateeq (Masters)
Phosphorus Removal from Industrial Wastewater Using Nanoparticles
of Manganese and Iron Oxides
5:00 – 5:15
T26
Remediation
Chair: Jonathan Martin, Trent
3:45 – 4:00
T21
4:45 – 5:00
T25
Queen’s University
Heather Jamieson
University of Ottawa
Alexandre Poulain
Afternoon Break
Kaitlin McSorley (Masters)
Application of Phytotechnologies at a High Salinity Landfill
Contaminated with Cement Kiln Dust (CKD)
4:30 – 4:45
T24
Université de Montréal
Kevin Wilkinson
Martin Van Den Berghe (Masters)
Characterization of Arsenic Species in Lake Sediments Surrounding
Giant Mine, NWT
3:30 – 3:45
T20
4:15 – 4:30
T23
University of
Ottawa/CAREG
Alexandre Poulain
Matti Ruuskanen (PhD)
Bioreporters for Anaerobic Detection of Mercury
Daniel Gregoire (PhD)
Coupling Redox Homeostasis to Mercury Cycling in a Purple Nonsulfur Phototroph
3:00 – 3:30
4:00 – 4:15
T22
Wilfrid Laurier
University
Scott Smith
Royal Military College
of Canada
Barb Zeeb
Wilfrid Laurier
University
Scott Smith
Patrick Morris (UG student)
Remediation of Radium-226 and Uranium-238 from Mine Effluent
Using Wood Waste Biochar
Trent University
Céline Guégen
Kyle Naylor (UG student)
The Application of Green Chemistry Principles in the Synthesis of
Zero-valent Iron (ZVI)
Royal Military College
of Canada
Jennifer Scott
Nayereh Saborimanesh (PhD)
How Sophorolipid Biosurfactant can Increase Light Crude Oil Removal
in Seawater?
Concordia University
Catherine Mulligan
Holly Gray (PhD)
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Recycling from Wastewater Treatment
Plant Effluents using Commercially Available Sorbents
Cameron Winters (Masters)
Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies of Cu(II) and Ni(II) Biosorption on
Living Euglena gracilis Biomass
5:15 – 7:00 pm
Poster session & Cocktail Sponsored by Thermo (Chart Room)
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Dinner at the Watermark Restaurant
8:30 – 10:30 pm
Social at the Cedar Knoll House
Page 3 of 21
Wilfrid Laurier
University
Scott Smith
Trent University
Céline Guéguen
SUNDAY, February 1, 2015
7:30 – 8:30 am
Breakfast at the Watermark Restaurant & Registration
Daniel Arriaga (PhD)
Investigation of In Situ Oxygen Consumption Rates within an
Oil Sands End Pit Lake
McMaster University
Lesley Warren
8:45 – 9:00
T28
Darla Bennett (Masters)
Lurking in the Waste: Allocating Specific Oxidation Capacities
to Tailings Pond Endemic Microbes
McMaster University
Lesley Warren
9:00 – 9:15
T29
9:15 – 9:30
T30
9:30 – 9:45
T31
9:45 – 10:00
T32
Biogeochemistry & Mining
Chair: Nayereh Saborimanesh, Concordia
8:30 – 8:45
T27
10:00 – 10:15
T33
Louise-Emmanuelle Paris (Masters)
Biofilms as biomonitors of metal exposure in Nunavik
David Camacho (PhD)
A Predictive Monitoring Tool for the Mining Industry via
Sulphur Biogeochemistry
McMaster University
Lesley Warren
Tara Colenbrander Nelson (Researcher)
Who's there? Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing Analysis of
Microbial Communities within the Water System of a Base
Metal Mine
McMaster University
Lesley Warren
Rodolfo Frazao (Masters)
Transcriptome Analysis of the Acidophile Bacterium
Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Using Quantitative PCR and RNAseq.
Stephanie Marshall (Masters)
Seasonal Biogeochemical Thiosalt Characterization of Mine
Wastewater: Towards Bacterially Informed Management
Strategies
10:15 – 10:45
11:00 – 11:15
T35
Yong Xiang Shi (Masters)
Influence of Dissolved Organic Matter on Vanadium Speciation
in the Churchill River, MB Assessed by ICP-MS and Diffusive
Gradients in Thin Films (DGT)
11:45 – 12:00
T38
12:00 – 12:15 pm
Metals in the Environment
Chair: David Camacho, McMaster
Justine-Anne Rowell (Masters)
Role of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) on Rare Earth Elements
Bioavailability with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
11:30 – 11:45
T37
Université de Montréal
Christian Baron
McMaster University
Lesley Warren
Coffee Break
10:45 – 11:00
T34
11:15 – 11:30
T36
INRS-ETE
Claude Fortin
Sean Winland-Gaetz (PhD)
Microbes & Methylmercury: The Biogeochemical Influences on
Mercury Methylation in Contaminated Environments
Université de Montréal
Kevin Wilkinson
Trent University
Céline Guégen
McMaster University
Lesley Warren
Yu Zhu (Masters)
Determining the Speciation of Trace Metals in the Athabasca
River, Alberta with WHAM 7 Modeling and in situ Monitoring
with a Passive Sampler: DGT
Trent University
Céline Guégen
Alexandra Carvajal (Masters)
Determination of Sm3+ and Dy3+ Speciation with Dissolved
Organic Matter using Multi-response Fluorescence Quenching
and SIMPLISMA for Spectra Resolution
Wilfrid Laurier University
Scott Smith
Closing Remarks
Page 4 of 21
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
P1
Zeina Baalbaki (PhD)
Improved Determination of Removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern
(CECs) in Wastewater Treatment Plants using Advanced Sampling
Strategies
McGill University
P2
Matt Boag (Masters)
The Immobilization of Metals in Peatlands: Characterizing the Interactions
Between Metals and Humic Substances
University of Guelph
Susan Glasauer/Scott Smith
P3
Suyoung Choi (Masters)
Advanced Treatment of Phosphorus Removal and Recovery Using TiO2
Photo-oxidation Reaction
P4
Àngela Dago Busquets (PDF)
Bioaccumulation and Phytochelatin Analysis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Exposed to Metal Mixtures
Université de Montréal
P5
Elizaveta Karepina (UG student)
Optimisation of Methods for the Analysis of Industrial Nanoparticles in
Aqueous Suspensions
Université de Montréal
P6
Barry Madison (PDF)
Effects of Diluted Bitumen on Developing Japanese Medaka
P7
Sébastien Maillette (Masters)
Agglomeration and Heterocoagulation of Nanosilver in Freshwaters
P8
Lori Manoukian (Masters)
Trace Elements of Economic Value and Environmental Concern in Acidic
Drainage and Mineral Precipitates
P9
Meghan Marshall (PhD)
LuminoTox: A Proposed Tool for the Monitoring of Toxicity of Treated
Wastewater
P10
Madeline Mills (UG student)
Arsenic in Wine
P11
Ildephonse Nduwayezu (Masters)
Speciation of Samarium in the Environment
P12
Martin Pothier (Masters)
The Development of Toxic Metal Biosensors and their Application to the
Mining Industry.
P13
Arman Poonja (UG student) and Spenser Hui (UG student)
Design of a Glycol Treatment Process for Stormwater Effluent at Canadian
Forces Base Greenwood
P14
Sterling Vanderzee (Masters)
Recycling Waste Concrete for Carbon Capture and Storage
P15
Philippe Venne (Masters)
Method Optimization for the Separation and Quantification of Key
Metabolites in Daphnia magna Tissues
P16
Sarah Wallace (Researcher)
Airborne Exposure of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Hamilton
Harbour, ON Alters the Expression of the Tumour Suppressing Gene
Pathway of Wild Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus)
P17
Paul Westlund (PhD)
Measuring Endocrine Disruption of Pesticides Using Yeast Based Bioassays
P18
Mahzabeen Rahman (PhD)
Statistical Downscaling of Extreme Temperature Processes for Evaluating
the Climate Change Impacts on Hydropower Generation
Viviane Yargeau
Wilfrid Laurier University
Scott Smith
Kevin Wilkinson
Kevin Wilkinson
RMC/Queen’s University
Valérie Langlois
Université de Montréal
Kevin Wilkinson
Queen’s University
Heather Jamieson
McGill University
Viviane Yargeau
Royal Military College of Canada
Iris Koch/Kenneth Reimer
Université de Montréal
Page 5 of 21
Kevin Wilkinson
University of Ottawa
Alexandre Poulain
Royal Military College of Canada
Kela Weber/Iris Koch
Queen’s University
Frank Zeman
Université de Sherbrooke
Pedro Segura
Royal Military College of Canada
Valérie Langlois
McGill University
Viviane Yargeau
McGill University
Van Thanh Van Nguyen
Map of
Conference (Gananoque Inn) &
Social (Cedar Knoll House)
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Page 6 of 21
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ABSTRACTS – Platform presentations
T1
Aquatic toxicity of nickel changes in the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM). It is important to measure
the amount of nickel bound to DOM. This project aims to study the correlation between nickel toxicity and
complexation with DOM. Fluorescence spectrophotometry and a nickel ion-selective electrode (ISE) will be used
to
quantify
the
binding
site
densities
and
strengths
for
Ni-DOM
interactions.
Various samples containing DOC will be titrated with a solution of NiSO4, and the fluorescence will be recorded.
The beginning stages of the project have shown that the fluorescence has increased. It is possible to fit this
fluorescence increase to a Ryan-Weber type model for enhancement. Not all nickel binding sites are fluorescent,
however; thus it is important to investigate these Ni-DOM systems with a nickel ISE as well.
Several samples were studied, and it was found that the most protective samples had the highest nickel binding
capacities and the strongest log K values, resulting in less free nickel. Out of five samples, there were two that
exhibited the most protective properties: Gros Morne (log K=7.00 ± 0.07; LT=0.17 ± 0.01) and Rimouski (log K=6.72
± 0.03; LT=0.23 ± 0.02). The least protective sites were Riviere au Renard Ouest (log K=6.64 ± 0.03; LT=0.081 ±
0.001), Riviere du Loup (log K=4.7 ± 0.9; LT=0.14 ± 0.02), and Kouchibouguac (log K=6.04 ± 0.06; LT=0.038 ±
0.001).
This research will help to raise awareness of nickel toxicity and potentially lead to new policies regarding safe
levels of nickel in the environment.
T2
Zinc is an essential micronutrient used as a cofactor including “zinc finger” proteins. However, an excess of zinc
can induce cell stress which can lead to Programmed Cell Death (PCD) or other toxic effects. The yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a commonly used model of eukaryotic cell which has proven useful in the study of
chemical induced PCD and toxicology including metals such as copper. In order to determine the effects of excess
zinc in yeast, we first determined that 0.5 mM Zinc was sufficient to inhibit yeast. This is in contract to copper,
where a higher concentration, namely 2mM was required to observe the same inhibitory effects. The effects of
copper could be inhibited by the overexpression of human anti-apoptotic sequences including 14-3-3 and ferritin.
In contrast the effect of zinc was enhanced in cells overexpressing the human anti-apoptotic genes. These
differences suggest that zinc and copper mediate distinctively different processes. The mechanisms of toxicity
will be investigated in yeast mutants defective in a variety of cell death pathways including apoptosis, autophagy
and necroptosis.
T3
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are halogenated aromatic compounds and have been used in manufacturing
equipment, such as heat exchangers, hydraulic systems, and electrical equipment. PCBs were produced from 1929
to 1977, but due to high production volumes and long half-lives, they are ubiquitous in the environment. PCBs
bioaccumulate in lipophilic tissues and are classified as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Given the
extreme longevity of turtles, individuals are exposed to PCBs over their lifetime, making interpreting body
burdens difficult. This study will estimate depuration rates of PCBs in turtles to determine how much contribution
past exposures have on the current tissue burdens. Although previous studies examining the embryonic
development of reptiles exposed to PCBs found that PCBs can lead to sex reversal, the toxicity of PCBs in juvenile
reptiles is unknown.
Juvenile snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) will be chronically exposed to PCBs (Aroclor 1254) through diet to
assess their toxicokinetics and toxicity. Hatchlings will be exposed to 500 ng/g of PCB treated trout chow to
determine accumulation and depuration rates, and will be fed a range of concentrations (0-12,500 ng/g) to assess
toxicity. Toxicity will be assessed by comparing the expression of hormonal related genes (i.e., thyroid hormone
receptors, deiodinases, androgen receptor, steroid 5 α-reductases, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein).
Expression of genes associated with oxidative stress or metabolism (i.e., cytochrome P450 1A, 2B, glutathione Stransferase, superoxide dismutase 1, and heat shock protein 70) will also be determined in the liver. This study
will help assess endocrine disruption of PCBs, and aid interpretation of body burdens in reptiles
T4
A variety of stressors related to anthropogenic activity affect freshwater ecosystems. Urban and agricultural
activities may introduce chemical stressors, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and current use
pesticides (CUPs) into riverine systems. Many of these compounds have the potential to induce sublethal
responses in fish. The objective of this study was to determine if fish collected from sites in a river show
biomarkers of exposure to these classes of contaminants, and if the biomarker patterns vary in fish collected from
urbanized and agricultural sites. The watershed selected for this study was the Grand River in southern Ontario,
which transitions from areas dominated by agricultural land use in the north to highly urbanized locations in the
southern part of the watershed. Rainbow darters (Etheostoma caerluem) and Fantail Darters (Etheostoma
flabellare) were collected in June, 2014 for biomarker analysis from two urbanized sites and three agricultural
sites (n=20 per site). Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS) were also deployed for 2 weeks at each
site to monitor for the presence of CUPs and CECs. The time weighted average concentrations of the target
compounds at each site were estimated from amounts accumulated by the POCIS analyzed by liquid
chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Preliminary analysis of data on the liver
somatic index (LSI) for darters indicate differences in this condition factor between fish collected at the sites
Page 7 of 21
(p<0.05). Preliminary data indicate that there are also differences between fish collected at the 5 sites in the
levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in gill tissue, which indicates differences in the levels of
oxidative stress. Data will also be presented on the activity of the neurotransmitter enzyme, acetylcholinesterase
in brain tissues and cytochrome P450 metabolic enzyme activity in liver tissues of darters. These biomarker data
will be compared with the analytical data to see if biomarker responses in the darters reflect exposure to
different classes of contaminants.
T5
With the proposed construction of the Northern Gateway Pipeline, concerns have increased for the effects of oil
spills on freshwater fish populations. The toxicity of Cold lake diluted bitumen (CLK) to rainbow trout embryos
was assessed to determine the impacts of a potential oil spill near a spawning shoal. Embryos are more sensitive
to the effects of oil than adults are as exposure to these toxins can stunt or alter development. They are also
believed to be at a higher risk of exposure to oil as they are confined to their redds during development. Toxic
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) found in oil can separate from oil droplets and be transported into the
redd when oil contaminates sediments.
To mimic the exposure that embryos would receive inside the redd, rainbow trout embryos were exposed to
water that continuously flowed through gravel coated with oil from hatch to swim-up (24 day exposure). Five
exposures of CLK were produced by applying different volumes of oil onto gravel held in a column to create a
concentration series. Four other oils (Heavy fuel oil 6303, Medium South American Crude oil, Alberta Western
Blend, and Alaska North Slope Crude oil) were also tested for their toxicity to compare against CLK. Four columns
were run with the four different oils. In addition to the oiled gravel columns, one column's gravel was not coated
with oil and was run as a negative control.
At the end of the experiment the toxicity of the oils was determined by assessing the exposed embryos for
malformations due to blue sac disease, which is a known effect on fish in the presence of oil. Higher
concentrations of CLK showed more signs of toxicity compared to low concentrations and all four different oils
showed a range of toxicities.
T6
Demand for REEs is growing and as a result the potential for environmental exposure is a concern. In a previous
study Thulium (Tm), a heavy REE, was evaluated to be highly toxic, with a reported LC50 value of 0.01 µg/L
(Borgman, 2005). The objective of this research is to evaluate the aquatic toxicity of Tm by studying its
interactions with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and cationic competition (Ca2+ and Mg2+). Environment Canada
standard (EPS1/RM/33) 96h acute toxicity tests were conducted at 23°C in a reconstituted medium with a pH of
7.3 ± 0.1 and a hardness of 60 mg CaCO3/L. Hyalella azteca neonates (2-9 days old) were used and mortality was
the selected end point. Tests were conducted with natural organic matter from Kouchibouguac, NB and with Ca
concentrations from 0.5-1.5mM. The 3-fold increase in Ca concentration resulted in increased LC50 values from
1849.9 (95% CI 1128.6 to 4719.8) µg/L to 8251 µg/L (95% CI 450.9 to 5.26E11) based on nominal concentrations. A
protective effect was also observed as LC50 values increased by 1.5-fold when 7 mg DOC/L was added. Further
experiments need to be conducted to test the effects of additional cations (Mg and Na) as well as a wider range
of DOC concentrations on Tm toxicity. This data will contribute to developing a complete understanding of Tm
toxicity in aquatic environments. Funding for this research is supported by NSERC and Environment Canada with
the participation of Avalon Rare Metals Inc., Natural Resources Canada and Perkin Elmer.
T7
Nanomaterials are becoming increasingly popular in consumer products due to their unique physico-chemical
properties. Nanosilver is found in a wide range of food packaging materials, textiles, electronics, household
appliances, cosmetics, and medical devices for its antibacterial properties. As a consequence of increased use,
there are concerns that nanosilver is entering waterways from municipal sewage systems in low (µg/L)
concentrations. The risks of low concentrations of nanosilver to aquatic ecosystems and the actual mechanisms of
toxicity in fish are largely unknown. The goal of this research was to determine if low µg/L concentrations of
nanosilver added to Lake 222 at the Experimental Lakes Area induced biomarker responses in natural populations
of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and northern pike (Esox lucius). Nanosilver was added to Lake 222 continuously
from an onshore point source for 18 weeks such that by the end of the dosing period, the nanosilver concentration
in the lake was <15 µg/L. Towards the end of the dosing regime, gill, liver, and muscle tissue were collected from
fish for measurements of biomarkers and oxidative stress responses including glutathione, lipid peroxidation,
metallothionein, heat shock proteins, and cytochromes P450 1A1 and 3A4/5 (biochemical responses and mRNA
expression). Silver accumulation was also measured in the liver, gills, gut contents, and muscle to evaluate
possible food web effects. Overall, the results of this research help elucidate the long-term effects on natural fish
populations of low concentrations of nanosilver added to an entire lake ecosystem.
T8
The inability to effectively remove anthropogenic materials (e.g., pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care
product ingredients) from wastewater can turn municipal sewage treatment plants (STPs) into point sources for a
broad assortment of potential toxins. The presence of these materials can potentially have a detrimental impact
on aquatic organisms and ecosystems. Given the plethora of chemicals found in municipal wastewater, compound
specific chemical analyses may not be sufficient to effectively regulate discharges and ensure all unwanted
Page 8 of 21
contaminants have been removed. While chemical analyses can be used to track the removal of specific indicator
compounds, in vitro bioassays enable the toxicity of aquatic matrices containing known and unknown materials to
be determined.
In this study, the biological activity of environmental waters (STP influent, STP effluent, surface water) collected
at three STPs in Ontario, Canada's Great Lakes Basin is being investigated using human cell-based in vitro
bioassays. Following sample preparation (i.e., solid phase extraction utilizing Waters MAX and MCX cartridges),
the extracts are to be tested with various bioassays including (i) the CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell
Proliferation Assay (i.e., MTS assay, Promega), (ii) the NRF2 luciferase luminescence assay to monitor cellular
antioxidant response, (iii) the ERα CALUX® estrogen receptor assay (Biodetection Systems B.V., Amsterdam), and
(iv) the Nuclear Receptors 10-Pathway Reporter Luciferase Kit (Qiagen) to examine multiple pathway regulation
in an MCF7 cell line. Chemical analyses will also be carried out to determine whether various indicator compounds
commonly encountered in environmental samples are present and effectively removed by the STPs.
Although the study is still in its preliminary stages, control compounds and indicator compound cocktails have
been found to result in varying levels of reporter gene expression in the different cell lines. Chemical analyses are
currently underway to determine whether indicator compounds are present at the three STPs investigated prior to
and following treatment. Ultimately, the study aims to demonstrate that combining bioassays with thorough
chemical analyses can be used to effectively monitor the removal of known and unknown emerging contaminants.
T9
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with most terrestrial plants, in which
the fungus takes up and transfers nitrogen (N) to the host plant and the host plant provides the fungus with
carbon (C). However, agricultural fertilizer use and the combustion of fossil fuels have significantly increased
rates of atmospheric N deposition since the early 20th century. I am investigating the effects of experimentally
increased N deposition on AMF community composition in a restored tallgrass prairie. The experimental plots,
located in Norfolk County, Ontario, have undergone one of three treatments of 0 (control), 2, and 6 g added N m2 y-1 (n=8) since 2010. These treatments are based on the low and high projections of the N deposition rates for
southern Ontario by the year 2050. I will use next-generation sequencing of AMF DNA to determine the effect of
treatments on species-level Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and their relative abundances. The resultant
sequences will be compared using non-metric multidimensional scaling, to determine whether there are
differences in community composition between treatments, and indicator taxon analysis, to identify OTUs that
characterize, or are absent from, particular treatments. I hypothesize that increased N availability will negatively
affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition by reducing AMF species richness in the treated
versus control plots, with more taxa sensitive to, and a few taxa stimulated by, added N.
T10
Transition zones between ecoregions have been longstanding focal areas for research and increasing evidence
suggests they might be uniquely affected by climate change. These areas have also been highlighted as areas of
high biodiversity, containing species that are characteristic of the adjoining ecoregions but mingling together at
the edge of their geographic ranges. This study focuses on limiting growth factors of four deciduous range-edge
tree species on the Frontenac Arch of Ontario Canada, which is located within the boreal-deciduous forest
transition zone of eastern North America. Tree ring analysis of Carya ovata, C. cordiformis, Prunus serotina, and
Quercus alba is being used to reveal some of the climatic variables that might be limiting their growth and their
northern range limit. Previous studies have had mixed success with these hardwood species in tree ring analysis,
but few have worked with them at their range edge where climate signal might be best captured. Ecological
theory suggests that southern deciduous species at their northern limit should be restricted by climate and our
results will test this hypothesis. The results of this study should shed light on this poorly understood region and
help identify management and conservation efforts that will be most effective in adapting to climate change.
T11
The discharge of wastewater is an important source of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) to receiving water bodies
and may contribute to their eutrophication. Both treated and untreated wastewater is discharged directly into
the Mediterranean Sea (MS), either at the surface or through submarine channels. Wastewater inputs pose a
threat to the vulnerable ecosystem of the MS and are likely to increase in the near future. Of particular concern
are algal blooms within the coastal zone of the MS linked to discharges of wastewater. Nonetheless, current
nutrient budgets for the MS do not include direct wastewater discharges of P and N. Here, we use an empirical
modeling approach to quantify P and N associated with household wastewater discharged directly into the MS and
determine its relative importance compared to riverine inputs. For the mid 2000s, 0.93 (0.52-1.46) x 109 mol P
yr-1 and 14.6 (10.5-22.7) x 109 mol N yr-1 from domestic sewage were discharged directly into the MS. These are
on the same order of magnitude as the P and N inputs from rivers and therefore it is important to consider them
in nutrient budgets. Inputs from wastewater may become increasingly important in the future as river loads of P
and N decrease due to legislation and best management practices. Scenario analyses indicate that by 2050, P
inputs along the African coast are projected to increase by 147% in response to population growth if no mitigation
strategies occur. Improvements in sewerage systems and treatment facilities should therefore be a priority in the
southern region of the MS basin.
Page 9 of 21
T12
The oil sands industry in Canada is rapidly growing. To process each cubic metre of oil sands, four cubic metres of
oil sands process wastewater (OSPW) is produced. More than 1 billion cubic metres of OSPW must be held on site
under a zero discharge policy. OSPW is a mixture of hundreds of organic compounds and specific naphthenic acids
(NAs) or their chemical formulae in OSPW implicated in estrogenicity have not been identified because of the
complexity of the mixtures and limitations of the analytical methods used. Using effect-directed analysis, the
presence of estrogenic components in untreated and biologically OSPW was detected with the yeast estrogenic
screening assay after fractionation with solid phase extraction followed by reversed phase HPLC. Comparison of
the composition, as determined by electrospray ionization combined with high-resolution Linear Trap Quadropole
(LTQ)-Orbitrap Velos Pro hybrid mass spectrometry of selected estrogenic and non-estrogenic fractions identified
compounds that were uniquely present in the estrogenic samples, biologically treated and untreated. Of the 30
most abundant compounds, there were 14 possible non-aromatic structures and 16 possible aromatic structures.
Based on the published literature, the latter are the most likely to cause estrogenicity and were O2, O3 and O4
C17 to C20 compounds with double bond equivalents between 6 and 10 and chemical formulae similar to estroneand estradiol-like compounds. This study shows exact formulae and masses of possible estrogenic compounds in
OSPW. These findings will help to focus study on the most environmentally significant components in OSPW.
T13
Toxicity of metal nanoparticles (NPs) has previously been associated with dissolution of NPs resulting in free
metal ions causing toxicity. Understanding the behavior of NPs, therefore, as they enter aquatic systems, is
critical to evaluating potential environmental risk of NP exposure and development of environmental guidelines.
Silver NPs are of particular interest due to their increased used in consumer products as antimicrobial agents,
leading to concerns over their unintended release into the environment. Silver NPs exhibit a wide variety of size
and shape dependent optical and electronic properties such as localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)
spectra. The movement (dissolution) of these NPs in various environmental matrices can therefore be monitored
using UV-Vis absorbance, as species such as free Ag+, AgCl and AgCl NPs do not have LSPRs. The aim of this
project is to better understand the fate of a wide variety of commercial/lab generated NPs using simple LSPR UVVis spectroscopy. Nano-particles ranging from plate shaped NPs to decahedral were tested using OECD
transformation/dissolution protocols. Overall, monitoring LSPR absorbances proved to be a valuable and efficient
technique to monitor NPs in aquatic systems. Decahedral NPs were determined to be much more stable with
complete dissolution times 8 times higher than those of any other kinds of NPs tested. Additions of dissolved
organic matter (DOC) further stabilized the NPs resulting in approximately 3-fold increases in dissolution time.
The data from this research will be used to develop more accurate predictive tools for silver risk assessment and
regulation in aquatic systems.
T14
Human activities have affected the nitrogen cycle tremendously. Agricultural activities and fossil fuel combustion
have nearly doubled the inputs of bioavailable nitrogen to the environment. Sediments are important locations
for nitrogen cycle. Fixed nitrogen can be removed in sediments via permanent burial of organic matter or through
denitrification or anammox, while, inorganic nitrogen species can be regenerated through remineralization of
organic matter. Therefore, benthic processes can have a significant impact on the water quality and trophic state
of aquatic systems, then to track the fate of different nitrogen species in sediments, a one-dimensional vertical
model was developed in MATLAB to simulate the reactive transport of nitrogen below the water-sediment
interface. The model is based on the mass conservation equations for 8 solutes and 4 sediment-bound chemical
species including two pools of organic matter and different nitrogen species (e.g. nitrate, nitrite and ammonium).
The model accounts for solute transport by molecular diffusion and porewater irrigation. Physical transport for
solids includes advective burial and bioturbation. The biogeochemical reactions coupling the 12 state variables
are represented in the model, including pathways such as anammox and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to
ammonium. Data from the literature were used to test the model under steady state and transient conditions.
T15
With the growing number of applications using the rare earth elements (REE), it is expected that manufactured
forms of these elements will be rejected into natural matrices. Cerium (Ce) is a REE that can be found in natural
environment in an ionic form or as a nanomaterial.
Unfortunately, classic tools like enrichment factor cannot distinguish the forms or effects resulting from
anthropogenic inputs of Ce to natural environment. A new approach using transcriptonic biomarkers in the
unicellular freshwater algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, will be developed to distinguish the presence of two
anthropogenic forms of Ce in aquatic environment: ionic Ce(III) and nanoparticulate CeO2 (i.e. CeO2 ENP). Using
RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq), specific expression patterns of genes will be identified following exposures to Ce(III)
or CeO2 ENP in controlled media. Based upon the identified functions of the genes, the metabolic pathways used
by the algal cells to respond at the Ce will be identified. At the same time, the bioavailability of the two Ce
forms will be carefully assessed using bioaccumulation experiments and the intracellular fate of Ce will be
analysed. Finally, the ability of the transcriptomic biomarkers to identify interactions (and sub-lethal effects) of
the two Ce forms with algae will be tested under revelant natural conditions.
Detailed methodology, preliminary results and future work will be presented.
Page 10 of 21
T16
Mercury has been identified by the scientific community as a top priority environmental contaminant with a
global distribution. Mercury originating from anthropogenic and natural sources biomagnifies in the food web and
has serious health effects for both humans and animals. Chemical interactions and microbial transformations of
mercury in the environment have been widely characterized under oxic conditions. However, the processes
affecting mercury in anoxic environments remain poorly characterized. These processes are known to include
e.g., bacterial methylation of mercury into the neurotoxic and bioaccumulating methylmercury.
Production of methylmercury is controlled by the bioavailability of divalent mercury for the methylating microbes
in their environment. However, according to the best of our knowledge, mercury bioreporters active in anaerobic
conditions have not been documented previously. We are developing various anaerobic bioreporter constructs in
Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida, based on flavin mononucleotide fluorescent proteins under the control
of the MerR transcriptional regulator. These bioreporter strains are developed and optimized to be used for assays
on a microplate reader under anaerobic conditions. After preliminary testing is completed, we are going to study
mercury bioavailability with environmental samples, and under various experimental conditions.
This study will provide us with information about poorly known parts of the mercury cycle, which can be used to
better predict the fate of mercury in the environment.
T17
Nanomaterials are a class of emerging and increasingly produced contaminants that are present in complex
environmental media where their detection is often complicated by interferences from environmental matrices.
Their environmental risk will greatly depend on their fate (adsorption, agglomeration) in natural waters. Thus,
the objective of this work is to understand the fate of silver nanoparticles in the environment using hyperspectral
imagery with enhanced darkfield microscopy and single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
(SP-ICP-MS). Transformation kinetics of several different sized (40, 60, 80 and 100 nm) silver nanoparticles with
different coatings (citrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone) were analysed in complex media (waste water, biosolids).
The fate of the nanoparticles was validated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) to determine if there is
agglomeration or adsorption. Results demonstrated that the nanoparticles are rapidly transformed once in contact
with natural organic matter in complex systems.
T18
Giant mine is a gold mine a few kilometers north of Yellowknife, NT that operated from 1949 to 1999. Gold was
extracted via roasting of arsenic-bearing sulphide minerals, a process responsible for the release of about 20,000
tonnes of arsenic aerosols in the environment from roaster stack emissions. Recent studies have shown elevated
levels of arsenic in lake sediments beyond the boundary of the property, raising questions about their origin and
associated risks to local ecosystems and public health.
This study has for purpose to determine whether the arsenic present in regional lake sediments is of natural or
anthropogenic origin, and whether these lakes act as a sink (capture) or a source (release) of arsenic in the
environment. This can be done by assessing the speciation of arsenic in both lake sediments and associated
porewaters using dialysis arrays, major and trace elements analysis, synchrotron-based micro analysis, and
advanced scanning electron microscopy. This study also involves sampling two different types of lakes: deep,
rockbound lakes with low organic content and shallow, organic-rich lakes. This will allow us to better constrain
various physical and chemical parameters of lakes geochemistry in relation to arsenic speciation.
Since toxicity risk to public health is a function of speciation and pathways of contaminants, understanding the
phases and long term mobility trends of arsenic in lake sediments will help constrain the risks to aquatic
ecosystems and public health for the peoples of Yellowknife.
T19
Two major drivers for Hg(II) reduction to Hg(0) are light (photochemistry) and the activity of microbes. Abiotic
photoreduction dominates in surface waters while microbial activity drives Hg reduction at depths where light
alone cannot account for the levels of Hg(0) observed. Much of the focus regarding microbially-mediated Hg redox
cycling has been on chemotrophic bacteria while phototroph-mediated pathways remain poorly understood. Our
objective was to provide mechanistic details for Hg(II) reduction using the metabolically-diverse purple non-sulfur
bacterium (PNSB) Rhodobacter capsulatus. We hypothesized that PNSB reduce Hg(II) via strategies for
maintaining redox homeostasis during photoheterotrophic growth such as shuttling excess electrons onto
exogenous electron acceptors and releasing reduced compounds into the environment. We compared Hg(0)
production for phototrophically-grown cells supplied with oxidized (acetate) or reduced (butyrate) carbon in the
presence or absence of HCO3- as an exogenous electron acceptor. Hg(0) production was highest for cells growing
on the most reduced carbon source, butyrate, with increasing HCO3- leading to decreased relative Hg(0)
production (12, 6 and 3 % for 0 mM, 10 mM and 20 mM HCO3- respectively). Hg(0) production from cells growing
on the more oxidized acetate was indistinguishable from the abiotic control. Our results suggest that i) Hg(II)
reduction is tightly coupled to phototrophic growth; ii) excess electrons obtained from reduced organic molecules
are used to reduce Hg(II) to Hg(0); and iii) a competition exists between Hg(II) and other exogenous electron
acceptors. These results highlight a novel phototroph-mediated Hg redox cycling pathway that may explain
metalimnetic peaks of Hg(0).
T20
Soil salinity negatively affects soil structure and poses toxic threats to plants and aquatic communities as mobile
Page 11 of 21
saline ions, particularly chloride, can migrate into surrounding surface waters. The landfilling of cement kiln dust
(CKD) by the cement manufacturing industry results in highly salinized landfills with high chloride concentrations.
The goal of this research was to determine whether phytotechnologies could be used to remediate and revegetate a CKD landfill in Bath, Ontario, where CKD was landfilled for nearly 30
years. Electrical conductivity (EC) values (1:5 soil to water ratio) at the site are up to 20 dS/m, and chloride
concentrations are nearly 1000 times that of average Canadian soils.
Two forms of phytotechnologies were investigated: 1) assisted re-vegetation with halophytic grasses and biochar,
and 2) phytoextraction with the resident invasive colonizer Phragmites australis (common reed). For assisted revegetation, germination, transplant, and in situ field studies were conducted with Puccinnellia nuttalliana
(Nuttall's Alkali Grass), Spartina pectinata (Prairie Cord Grass), and Agropyron elongatum (Tall Wheatgrass) in
control and 5% biochar amended treatments. In the field, biochar was found to improve germination of successful
species by 67% compared to the control. A temporal study of chloride concentration in the shoots of P. australis
was conducted to determine ideal harvest time and phytoextraction potential. It was determined that
phytoextraction with P. australis could remove up to 86 kg Cl per harvest, remediating the site to background
concentrations in seven years.
T21
The function of manganese oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles in the removal of phosphorus from industrial
wastewater will be described. Phosphorus is a nutrient present in wastewater that requires removal before the
wastewater can be disposed of into natural water bodies as it leads to the unwanted effect of eutrophication.
While several methods have been successfully established to achieve efficient removal of the inorganic form of
phosphorus from wastewater, increasingly stricter guidelines aiming at lower effluent concentrations demand
examination of removal methods of the organic form of phosphorus, such as phospholipids, adenosine
monophosphate and triphenyl phosphate.
A potential way of removing organic phosphorus involves its conversion to the inorganic form by oxidation,
followed by adsorption of the resultant material onto a suitable surface. Previous work has shown manganese
compounds to act as oxidants, and metal oxides to be good adsorbents. It is therefore expected that manganese
oxide, in particular, can act as both oxidant and adsorbent in the removal of phosphorus, and iron oxide can aid
in the adsorption.
A study of the physical and chemical conditions under which manganese and iron oxides can efficiently achieve
oxidation and adsorption of phosphorus, as well as subsequent coagulation (to allow the adsorbed phosphorus to
be removed by sedimentation) will be presented.
T22
Biochar has been found to be a cost effective and efficient sorbent for a variety of heavy metals. Made from the
pyrolysis of organic matter it has an abundance of functional groups on the surface that have the ability to bind
toxic free ions. Uranium-238 and radium-226 are of concern in surface and ground waters near uranium mines
globally; our method will attempt to find out if biochar can bind to these metals and remove them from solution.
This method will replace the most common current method used which is the co-precipitation with BaCl2 where
the radium gets precipitated out of solution. The BaCl2 is extremely expensive, and using locally produced woodwaste biochar instead of BaCl2 will save mining companies millions of dollars per year in remediation costs.
Biochar can be made directly on site with the right equipment and knowledge of which biochar is the most
efficient. Using two different biochars (maple and birch) pyrolyzed at three different temperatures (353, 380,
600°C) the influence of different environmental characteristics on sorption capacity were explored including
contact time, pH and concentration of biochar.
T23
Due to the use and improper disposal of chlorinated solvents in the 1960s and 1970s, many Canadian aquifers and
soil environments contain legacy contamination. Trichloroethene (TCE), one of the most common groundwater
contaminants in Canada, is a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) resulting in a challenging aquifer
remediation scenario. A new remediation method being investigated is the use of nanoscale zero-valent iron
(nZVI) injections for the de-chlorination of chlorinated solvents in groundwater. Onsite synthesis and injection of
nZVI has proven effective for targeting TCE in groundwater. Current synthesis methodologies use sodium
borohydride to reduce the valence state of iron nanoparticles to zero. Onsite synthesis of nZVI using sodium
borohydride produces large amount of hydrogen gas representing a safety risk, and requires large quantities of
nitrogen to be provided onsite. This study focuses on developing a green chemistry approach for the synthesis of
nZVI using natural antioxidants (potential reducers) such as fruits, herbs or weeds with high quantities of
polyphenols. Using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) assay and the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) assays,
preliminary data shows several fruit, herbs and weeds to have significant antioxidant potential. Further work will
quantify the effectiveness of these natural antioxidants to synthesize zero valent iron, with subsequent
nanoparticle characterization.
T24
Sophorolipid is one of the known biosurfactants produced by Candida species. Like many biosurfactants, low
toxicity, high biodegrability and successful industrial applications of this biosurfactant has raised attentions
toward its application for the pollution removal from the environment. To determine the feasibility of
Page 12 of 21
sophorolipid application as oil dispersant, treatment of seawater contaminated with light crude oil was examined
through dispersion and biodegradation. Dispersion and biodegradation experiments were conducted according to
adapted methods from the USEPA-“swirling flask dispersant effectiveness” and “bioremediation agent
effectiveness” tests with modifications. Results showed that the increase in dispersion of light oil with different
concentrations of sophorolipid was not significantly changed at different salinities and pH values. Detailed
examinations of dispersion mechanism, with and without sophorolipid, further suggested that increased dispersion
in the light oil was the results of the decrease of surface and interfacial tensions and encapsulation of light oil in
micellar aggregates. Biodegradation results also showed that the sophorolipid increased the biodegradation of
light oil by indigenous microbial communities in the weathered oil. Comparison of treatments with and without
sophorolipid highlighted the importance of both biological and dispersion effects on the light oil degradation. The
higher dispersion, by sophorolipid, stimulated the availability of oil to the microbial communities. In addition, it
was observed that the microbial cell surface hydrophobicity increased when such microorganisms were exposed to
the oil and various concentrations of sophorolipid. This study suggested that the sophorolipid biosurfactant was a
powerful biodispersant which enhanced dispersion and biodegradation of the weathered light crude oil.
T25
Increased manufacturing and mining costs in combination with the exhaustion of accessible stores of nutrients
(i.e. phosphorus and nitrogen) is threatening global food production; nutrients are irreplaceable components in
fertilizer and are required for growth of plants. The need for global food security has highlighted the necessity of
having alternate sources of the nutrients essential for food production. An opportunity exists in harvesting
nutrients from wastewater, a source rich in phosphorus and nitrogen. This study tested 11 commercial sorbents
for potential phosphorus and nitrogen recovery from synthetic wastewater through adsorption and desorption
studies. Commercially available sorbents (e.g. ion exchange resins (IEX), granular ferric oxide, hybrid IEX and
activated alumina) were collected from several companies and tested for nutrient removal in a 48 hour
adsorption test. Sorbents which exhibited nutrient removal were then tested for recovery using acidic (HCl), basic
(NaOH), salt (NaCl) and basic salt (NaOH + NaCl) desorption solutions (DS). Sorbents were evaluated by percent
nutrient recovery from both the spent sorbent (adsorbed fraction) and from the synthetic wastewater stream;
sorbents which show promise will be further studied through detailed column studies. The activated alumina
sorbent recovered the largest mass of P from the spent sorbent however recovery of P from the wastewater
stream ranged from 11 to 23 %. An ion exchange sorbent recovered the largest mass of P from the original test
solution recovering over 23% by application of the basic salt desorption solution. Nitrogen adsorption and
desorption results will also be presented and discussed.
T26
Biosorption involves the decrease in concentration or removal of metals from aqueous solution through the
passive sequestering of ions by active or metabolically inert biomass. In this study the potential use of Euglena
gracilis, a free-floating, flagellated unicellular species of protist, to remove Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous
solutions was investigated. Adsorption isotherms were used in a batch system to describe the kinetic and
equilibrium characteristics of metal removal. The effects of pH and initial concentration of metal ions on the
adsorption of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions were examined by fitting experimental data to the Langmuir and Freundlich
models. Preliminary results indicate that the sorption reaction occurs quickly (<30min) in both Cu(II) and Ni(II)
mono-metallic systems and adsorption follows a pseudo-second order kinetics model for both metals. Maximum
sorption capacities were found to be greatest at pH 5 for both metals. Removal efficiencies for Cu(II) decreased
with higher initial concentrations (3-30ppb) and conformed to both Langmuir and Freundlich sorption models.
Ni(II) removal was found to increase with greater initial concentration values (5-110ppm) and conformed to the
Freundlich isotherm. It is expected that final results will describe Cu(II) and Ni(II) removal efficiency in bimetallic systems with varied initial metal concentrations at optimum pH.
T27
The first pilot scale end pit lake (EPL) is now being assessed in Canada's oil sands region, using water capped
tailings technology (WCTT) for fluid fine tailings (FFT) management. Oil sands tailings are non-cohesive, finegrained, materials that host highly active and diverse microbial communities in addition to substantive organic
carbon, Fe and S constituents capable of consuming oxygen. The key to the viability of EPL as a reclamation
strategy will be the evolution of the water chemistry such that the EPL is capable of supporting aquatic biota.
Critical to achieving this goal is the extent and evolution of oxygen demand, both biological (BOD) and chemical
(COD) associated with the subaqueously deposited tailings layer over time. The objectives for this study are to:
1) determine in-situ oxygen consumption rates associated to BOD/COD components, spatially via three sites
within the EPL over annual time scales and 2) characterize the important biological and chemical constituents
involved (i.e. H2S, CH4, CH2O, Fe2+) establishing the impact that each has in the oxygen consumption of the EPL.
As a lead to field investigation of the pilot EPL system beginning in the summer of 2015, laboratory based, sterile
(abiotic reactions only) and biotic (endemic microbial activity possible) mesocosm experiments were established
evaluating the rates of oxygen consumption using oil sands tailings and process water.
T28
Sulfur is ubiquitous in our environment and its presence in our Oceans may have led to the development of life as
we know it (Shen and Pinti 2006). Sulfur has valence states ranging from -2 to +6 and is commonly found in
Page 13 of 21
minerals such as galena (PbS) and pyrite (FeS2) (Baker and Banfield 2003). These minerals are abundant in ores
which are mined and milled for metals which we are reliant on to conduct our everyday lives. Sulfur containing
compounds, post milling, become components of waste rock and effluent. Once these sulfur containing
compounds are exposed to atmospheric conditions, and the microbes which are abundant in those conditions,
problems may arise (Baker and Banfield 2003). These exposed sulfur containing compounds undergo increased
rates of reactions, both biotic and abiotic, which generate protons and can lead to decreasing pH and O2 values,
if not managed carefully (Bernier 2007). Decreasing pH and O2 values have substantial negative consequences on
the natural environment, such as compromised water quality and contamination of fresh waters.
Studies on sulfur-microbe interactions have been extensive; however such studies encounter a number of
difficulties. Microbial sulfur oxidizers create a large number of aqueous sulfur oxidation intermediates (SOI), with
valencies ranging from -1 to +5 (Bernier 2007). The quantification and qualification of SOI remains difficult due to
their high reactivity and difficulty maintaining the integrity of environmental samples. Increased knowledge of
these SOI will allow us to more accurately understand sulfur oxidizing bacteria and their role in mine waste
effulent management. Our research will investigate and assess the geochemistry of a tailings pond in the Sudbury
area by monitoring the various aqueous inputs currently feeding the pond. The assessment of these inputs will
focus on the enrichment of sulfur oxidizing microbes on both seasonal and annual cycles. This information will
more clearly identify the respective sulfur oxidizing capabilities each endemic microbe has with respect to SOI
presence and state. This innovative study has no precursors with regard to seasonal characterization of SOB and
the outcome will more thoroughly establish the geochemical variations in the aqueous inputs and the pond itself.
The end goal of our study is to further understanding and thus managing tailings pond environments.
T29
The fragile and pristine ecosystems of Northern Quebec (Canada) are under pressure from the ongoing and
expected development of mining activities. Despite governmental regulations for environmental protection and
restoration, metallic contamination is likely to occur and aquatic ecosystems are particularly at risk. Monitoring
metal contamination in streams is complex: trace metals in the water column show marked fluctuations in
concentrations over time, bioavailable concentrations are difficult to estimate, and commonly measured
parameters do not necessarily provide adequate information about the exposure and response of the biota.
Combining chemistry measurements and biomonitoring is a promising approach for adequate water quality
assessment. Previous studies have shown clear relationships between free metal concentrations (M+) in the water
and biofilms metal contents, suggesting that metal content in biofilm cells represents a robust indicator of metal
exposure and is a good proxy for M+ in water. Primary producers such as algae, ubiquitous in biofilms, are
particularly useful to assess metal accumulation and its potential transfer to higher organisms. Following the
promising results obtained in previous studies, 16 streams were sampled in a Nunavik mining area for water and
biofilm. The goals of this project are (1) to assess metal levels in water and biofilms at sites where mining
activities have already started and sites where mining development is planned in order to have a reference for
future investigations following mining intensification or restoration, and (2) to compare the relationship between
M+ and biofilm metal concentrations obtained in a northern environment with existing data to evaluate the
consistency and reliability of biofilm metal content as a proxy for bioavailable metal concentrations. The next
steps include sampling of the same Nunavik mining area in Summer 2015, to evaluate the variations within weeks
and the inter-annual fluctuations. Sampling in a southern mining area (Sudbury, ON) is also planned for
comparison with the metal response observed in the North. The data will ultimately be used for the development
of a multimetric index of metallic contamination, already initiated with data from southern Quebec.
T30
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major issue for the mining industry and a global environmental concern both
scientifically and socially to water bodies and the living organisms dependent upon them. AMD is caused by poorly
constrained bacterially driven sulphur reactions that produce acid. As pH drops, metal leaching also occurs
causing the potential for both acidity and metal contaminant impacts on the surrounding environment if
discharged offsite. The inability to effectively monitor these bacterial reactions impede the industry’s ability to
proactively manage their waste more sustainably. My research focuses on identifying markers of these bacterially
linked sulphur biogeochemical reactions using techniques in geochemistry, microbiology and genetics. By teaming
up with my industry partner and looking at real-life environmental base metal mine tailings impoundments along
with laboratory proxies (mesocosms/microcosms), we search to gain an important understanding with the
associated linkages between AMD and the microbes. Preliminary geochemical results have shown rapid
acidification of mine water from a pH of 7-8 to a pH of <3 in less than a month via pure strain microbes along with
drastic changes in sulphur speciation. While microbial data using metagenomics is currently being researched by
examining variability in endemic species among different mines and within different pH ranges similar to those
found in tailings ponds. These findings add to our limited knowledge on the pre-acidification of mine tailings and
will assist in the development of predictive monitoring tools for the industry.
T31
The importance of microbial activity in base metal mine tailings systems is widely recognized, however, these
communities remain poorly characterized such that their influence on water chemistry cannot be elucidated.
Preliminary results from a study focusing on the metagenomic characterization of the microbial communities
Page 14 of 21
associated with differing points within the water system (i.e. oxidation reservoir, waste rock runoff, tailings
input, neighbouring mine inputs, etc.) of a Ni, Cu mine in Sudbury, ON will be presented. Samples were collected
at two time points (September and November 2014) from eight locations within the mine water system, for both
geochemical and metagenomic analyses. Whole genome shotgun sequencing (Illumina) is currently being applied
to provide both phylogenetic (community structure) information and identification of metabolic function of these
communities. These results will provide new insight into the role of microbes in shaping geochemical conditions
in tailings systems, with the goal of identifying better tools to determine the impacts of these bacteria on water
quality in mining contexts.
T32
The mining industry is a very important business worldwide. It is a key factor in today's society and its operation
around the world is important reflecting the needs for metals and other extracted resources by industry.
However, an environmental problem called “Acid Mine Drainage” (AMD) occurs principally in left over materials
after extraction of the metals from ores. This reaction producing sulfuric acid contributes to the acidification of
rivers, lakes and other sites surrounding mining developments. This process happens because of microorganisms
capable of oxidizing sulfur in mine tailings. The metabolism leading to the oxidation of sulfur is still poorly
characterized because of the disproportionation of the different sulfur compounds that are produced by
enzymatic reactions. In order to characterize sulfur metabolism by AMD bacteria we are conducting an analysis of
the transcriptome of the reference bacterium Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (AT), using RNA-seq. In addition, we
analyze the expression of candidate genes encoding enzymes involved in its sulfur metabolism using qPCR. Also,
AT's growth on different sulfur compounds will be assessed by LIVE/DEAD fluorescence staining and Fluorescence
Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). The results of our work will lead to a better understanding of sulfur metabolism and
its contribution to acid formation in AMD. Finally, we plan to define a biomarker capable of identifying at which
moment this microorganism produces acidity. This will help the mining industry to better manage the AMD
process in tailings.
T33
The presence of sulfuroxyion compounds (sulphur oxidation intermediates, commonly referred to as thiosalts) in
mining wastewater is a significant industry-wide concern because of the potential for acidification and toxicity of
receiving water bodies and the current lack of monitoring tools to the industry. Bacterially catalyzed
transformation of sulphur species under real world, complex conditions remain poorly constrained, limiting the
development of biologically integrated indicators that could serve as new tools. Thus, the objective of this field
investigation is to investigate the microbial links to observed mine water S chemistry for the oxidation reservoir
of a Ni, Cu mine in Northern Ontario, which receives water from three mining companies, waste rock, and tailings
lines over seasonal/annual timescales.
Two sampling campaigns are planned annually over the course of two years. Water will be collected from the
oxidation reservoir and from each of the five input sources. These samples will be assessed for their microbial
bulk community structure (cultivation independent, 16S rRNA approaches), water chemistry, and total S, H2S,
SO42-, thiosalts species and abundances.
The seasonal characterization will establish whether geochemical (i.e. thiosalts speciation, abundance),
environmental (i.e. temperature, pH, O2) or microbial (community structure and/or abundance) factors are
linked to changes in thiosalt activity and will identify how robust these signals may be. The characterization of
the varied water inputs to the reservoir will delineate their relative importance in observed biogeochemical
dynamics and help guide monitoring and management practices in a proactive manner.
T34
As the technological interest for rare earth elements (REE) is growing, it becomes more important to assess their
environmental impact. Indeed, knowledge is required about the behaviour of these metals in rivers and soils, and
more precisely about the factors that influence their toxicity and bioavailability. In order to assess the
bioavailability of the rare earth elements, bioaccumulation experiments will be performed using a unicellular
freshwater alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and samarium (Sm). In a first series of bioaccumulation
experiments, three natural organic matter (NOM) standards, selected according to their hydrophobicities, will be
carefully added to solution of Sm to see if NOM reduces or enhances REE bioavailability for C. reinhardtii. Sm
uptake will be determined using ICP-MS analysis and internalization fluxes will be calculated. Subsequently,
experiments will be performed with natural water samples in order to compare the results to a model of metal
bioavailability, the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM). The influence of different environmental parameters, such as pH or
ionic strengh, will also be evaluated. Detailed methodology, preleminary results and future work will be
presented in order to prepare the next steps of the project.
T35
Diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) is a time-integrated, passive sampler technique for the in situ
determination of labile metals in natural waters. The toxicity of vanadium in aquatic environments is greatly
influenced by its chemical speciation and particularly the concentration of labile species. Dissolved organic
matter (DOM) can influence the mobility and toxicity of metals in natural waters. The aim of this study is to
investigate the temporal and spatial trends of dissolved and labile vanadium in relation with DOM. Twenty DGT
and 88 water samples were collected along Churchill River system (Manitoba) in late August 2013 and in early
Page 15 of 21
May, 2014. The application of excitation Emission Matrix Fluorescence with Parallel Factor Analysis showed 4
humic-like (C1-4) and 1 protein-like (C5) fluorescent components in 88 water samples. Strong negative linear
correlations were found between labile vanadium concentration and the three humic-like components (C1 - 3, R2
> 0.75, p < 0.05) and two other components (C4 - 5, R2 > 0.60, p < 0.05). Stronger relationships were found for
terrestrial humic-like DOM, indicating that the concentration of dissolved and labile vanadium in Churchill River
and Estuary depends highly on the amount and quality of DOM. These findings help to understand the influence of
different types of DOM (humic-like and protein-like) on speciation of dissolved vanadium and therefore the overall
toxicity of dissolved vanadium to human, algae and other aquatic species.
T36
Methylmercury contamination in aquatic systems is a pervasive problem primarily due to its widespread
generation by aquatic or sediment-associated bacteria. The bio-geochemical cycling of Hg is complex and
imperfectly understood despite decades of research; defying simple remediation solutions. Since many identified
mercury-methylating microbes are known to be reliant on sulfate or iron cycling in their metabolism, I intend to
investigate the relationship of bio-geochemical cycling of these elements to the net methylmercury production of
polluted systems. While past research has explored these relationships in pure-culture or controlled settings, to
improve the analogy of this project to natural systems and to retain the structure of endemic microbial
communities, the majority of my research will involve microcosms or field-based study to characterize mercury
methylation processes. In the first phase of the project, simple batch microcosms were used to develop a
preliminary understanding of the major bio-geochemical cycles underpinning the evolution of methylmercury
from mercury-spiked sediments, and how these cycles and the associated microbial communities change over
time. The relevant variables extracted include sulfur, iron, carbon, and mercury species from the water and
sediments, and will include future genetic analysis. Further research will branch out from these preliminary
findings to investigate the relevance of historic mercury contamination, microbial community composition and
evolution, as well as amendments with iron or sulfur species in more sophisticated instrumented column-based
microcosm experiments. This work will be conducted in collaboration with the Amyot lab at the Université de
Montréal.
T37
DOM plays an important role in aquatic environment. Humic and fulvic acid as the two major components of DOM
can bind heavy metal ions in order to minimize their toxicity. Metal toxicity is not depending on concentration of
metal but also on the form of the metal existing in the water environment. Free ion species and inorganic species
are the two main species that are considered to be responsible for metal toxicity due to their size. Diffusive
gradients in thin films (DGT), is a time-integrated, passive sampler technique for in situ monitoring of metal
speciation in aquatic environments. The aim of this study is to model the speciation of Athabasca River on a
temporal scale (2003-2012) with WHAM 7. Meanwhile, the influence of DOM composition on metal speciation will
be determined as well as the comparison between WHAM calculated concentration and in situ measured DGTlabile. This study will be the first work to model metal speciation over the past 10 years in the Athabasca River
and compare it with that of a pristine river. It will contribute to the future researches on toxicity of dissolved
metals in rivers and it would be helpful to environmental management in the Athabasca River and downstream,
AB.
T38
The proposed mining of Lanthanides (Ln) in Northern Canada may pose a health threat to aquatic ecosystems in
the vicinity of mining activities. However, the speciation information needed for risk assessment of these metals
is limited. The purpose of this study is to understand lanthanide interaction with dissolved organic matter (DOM)
by using fluorescence quenching as an analytical technique to determine Ln-DOM binding constants and
capacities. Samples of DOM from three natural sources (Kouchibouguac, Southampton and Luther Marsh) were
prepared and titrated with Sm3+ and Dy3+ at concentrations ranging from 0 µM to 100 µM and pH of 7.3±0.5, using
flow through cuvette and variable-angle synchronous fluorescence measurements. The quenching of intrinsic DOM
fluorescence was observed in the presence of both metals. Simple-To-Use Interactive Self-Modeling Mixture
Analysis (SIMPLISMA) technique was implemented to resolve the peaks corresponding to multiple fluorophores
within the DOM. Two components were identified, with only one of them exhibiting the distinct quenching
titration curve. The results from the resolved fluorescence quenching data can be fitted to an equilibrium
complexation model to estimate free lanthanide concentrations (i.e., [Sm3+] or [Dy3+]). A detailed understanding
of lanthanides interaction with DOM will eventually facilitate the development of quantitative bioavailabilitybased models to help manage the impacts of potential lanthanide mining operations in Northern Canada.
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ABSTRACTS – Poster presentations
P1
Several illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals and hormones are detected in treated municipal wastewater, which makes
its way into the environment and ultimately impact quality of drinking water sources. In this study, an advanced
sampling technique was utilized to better evaluate the removal of some target contaminants in various stages of
different wastewater treatment trains, taking into account the residence time distribution in each unit of the
treatment plant. The reliable experimental removal data obtained are instrumental to calibrate the model
developed for the removal of these compounds in different treatment units and facilities. The model can then be
utilized as a design and optimization tool to improve performance of wastewater treatment plants. Besides
chemical analysis required for the modeling, samples are also tested for both general toxicity using Microtox and
estrogenic activity using the YES assay, allowing the monitoring of an emerging measure of performance based on
the minimization of toxicity.
P2
Organic soils cover large areas of Canada's north and are vital to geochemical cycling. Organic matter can be
diversely classified with chemical moieties contributing heavily to the functional behaviour of soils. In areas
around northern mining operations, organic soils scavenge potentially toxic metal elements and sequester them in
relatively insoluble forms. There is evidence that remobilization of metals takes place during wet-dry and freezethaw cycling, which can be expected to cause seasonally elevated concentrations of metals in water discharging
from muskeg environments. Our project investigates the seasonal efflux of metals from peat soil during freezethaw cycling. To do this, we are focused on characterizing dissolved organic matter and the complexes it forms
with Cu and Ni, using mesocosms containing intact peat blocks. Accurate characterization requires developing
methods for detecting metal and organo-metal species, and fluorescence spectroscopy offers the most promising
means for rapid assays of key functional moieties of dissolved organic matter. Voltammetry techniques will be
used to determine chemical states of Cu and Ni, as well as ICP and NMR. Our studies offer critical information
that is currently lacking about factors controlling the mobilization of metals from wetland soils to downstream
environments.
P3
Due to the development of high tech industries and increasing populations of cities, water demand has greatly
increased. However, pollution and insufficiency of water resources necessitate the development of advanced
treatment methods for wastewater. Especially, accumulation of nutrients that gives rise to eutrophication caused
by sort of Nitrogen and Phosphorus as well as organic materials have come to the fore.
Photo-oxidation of contaminants using TiO2 is a very significant industrial-scale advanced oxidation process. This
reaction produces hydroxyl radicals, which has potential to oxidize organic matter including phosphorus
containing organic compounds not treated by traditional chemical addition processes.
The basis of the proposed treatment method here is that phosphate will bind to the TiO2 nanoparticles. Using
photo- oxidation, organic phosphorus in wastewater can be converted into phosphate and this phosphate will bind
to TiO2 surfaces. Adsorbed phosphorus can be recoverable by desorption in acidic solution. Preliminary
experiments involve sorption/desorption reactions of phosphate onto macroscale TiO2 mineral phase. The
objective being to test the pH range and quantify the strength of phosphate binding to oxygen functional groups
on TiO2 surfaces. Future experiments will test phosphate sorption from TiO2 photooxidized phosphorus containing
organics. Results from this project can apply to engineering field to increase of phosphorus removal efficiency.
P4
Metals are contaminants which are present in the environment due to natural or anthropogenic sources. The
deleterious effects of single metals on organisms have been well documented in the past years. However,
organisms inhabiting metal-contaminated media are almost always exposed to multiple metals. For this reason,
studies that consider the combined effects of different metals are of great interest. Nonetheless, the
interpretation of bioaccumulation or toxicity results from metal mixtures is complex because there are chemical
interactions with constituents in the media, interactions with physiological processes and interactions at the
site(s) of toxicity. These interactions vary depending on the metals, their concentrations, the exposure pathway
and duration and the species and organs studied.
The quantification of biomarkers, such as phytochelatins, metallothioneins or transcript expression is an
alternative means to assess metal stress. Phytochelatins (PC) are metal-binding, thiol rich peptides, enzymatically
synthesized by eukaryotes upon exposure to excessive amounts of several metals. Their main structure is (γ-GluCys)n-Gly where n=2-11. Phytochelatins are involved in metal homeostasis, tolerance and detoxification and are
considered to be a good bioindicator of metal stress. The main objective of this research project will be thus to
verify whether phytochelatin levels are well predicted by metal ion concentrations in solution, when in the
presence of binary or ternary metal mixtures. Both bioaccumulation and biological effects (PC levels) will be
measured in order to provide insight into the mechanism when a model organism (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) is
exposed to metal mixtures including (Ag, Cd and metals of the lanthanide series).
P5
The industrial production and application of nanopowders is growing rapidly every year. Currently, there are not
enough data on the physicochemical properties of industrial particles, which are required in order to predict their
potential effects on organisms in the environment. One of the most interesting methods for studying of
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nanoparticles is by single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which allows simultaneous
determinations of both dissolved metal concentrations and nanoparticle concentrations at environmentally
relevant concentrations (i.e. ng/L). Therefore, the main aim of this work is to development a method for studying
some industrially produced nanoparticles by SP ICP-MS. Preliminary results have indicated that the dilution of
stock solutions is ineffective to achieve a predetermined concentration of suspension of the industrial
nanoparticles (concentrations were too high or too low), which is associated with high tendency of the particles
to agglomerate due to their high surface energy and large instability. Thus, in order to study the properties of the
nanoparticles, it is likely that stabilizers such as surfactants or fulvic acid will need to be present in solutions.
P6
Recent growth of Canada's oil industries has led to substantial increases in the transport of diluted bitumen
(dilbit) from the Alberta oil sands, however, no published data on the toxicity of dilbit to fish currently exists.
Crude and refined oils have been tested extensively, but dilbit has not. Our aim is to identify the toxicity of a
sample dilbit, Access Western Blend (AWB), and characterize its impact on a model fish species, Japanese Medaka
(Oryzias latipes).
Fertilized embryos (n=260) were exposed to a range of both water accommodated fractions (WAF: 0.32-32%v/v) of
dilbit/water mix (1:9), and similar chemically-dispersed fractions (CEWAF: 0.0001-1%v/v, Corexit®9500 as
dispersant), and monitored until hatch (17 d). Incidence of blue sac disease (BSD) was scored and fish were
pooled (n=4) for gene expression analysis by qPCR. Relative mRNA levels of targets associated with the induction
of phase I and II toxicity (p53, cyp1a, sod, cat, gst, gsr, gpx, g6pdh), and the xenobiotic response (ahr, arnt) were
assessed. Dilbit exposure inhibited normal development, causing high incidence of BSD, but without mortalities.
Dose-related induction of mRNA was observed in general accord with a typical phase I toxic response. The mRNA
expression of downstream targets of oxidative stress showed general stimulation in response to dilbitcontaminated water at levels below relative EC50s.
Future work will further characterize key ecotoxicogenomic targets in developing Medaka to establish dilbitresponsive biomarkers using a transcriptional microarray. Validated genomic targets will then be used to identify
the sensitivity and risk of Canadian fish species to dilbit exposure.
P7
Nanomaterials are a class of emerging contaminant that are increasingly found in the natural environment. Their
environmental risk will depend on their persistence, mobility, toxicity and bioaccumulation. Each of these
parameters will depend greatly upon their fate (dissolution, agglomeration) in natural waters. The goal of this
paper is to understand the agglomeration and heterocoagulation of silver nanoparticles in the environment. Two
different silver nanoparticles (polyacrylic acid coated nanosilver <10 nm and citrate coated nanosilver 20 nm)
were covalently labeled with a fluorescent dye and then mixed with colloidal silicon oxides (SiO2) and clay
solution. The homo- and heterocoagulation of the silver nanoparticles were studied in waters that were
representative of natural freshwaters (pH 7; ionic strength 10-7 to 10-1 M of Ca2+). Sizes were followed by
fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and results were validated using hyperspectral imaging with enhance
darkfield microscopy in order to have a better comprehension of the agglomeration mechanism. Results have
demonstrated that the polyacrylic acid coated nanosilver was extremely stable under all conditions, including in
the presence of other colloids or at high ionic strength whereas citrate coated nanosilver formed
heteroaggregates in presence of SiO2 and clay particles.
P8
Remediation of closed mine sites that continue to produce acidic drainage from waste rock, underground
workings or tailings may require a commitment of decades of water management and treatment. The overall
objective of our research is to explore the possibility of decreasing the financial burden and environmental
impact of water treatment by recovering elements of significant market value or isolating elements that are
particularly problematic. Processes such as the concentration of elements of interest by precipitation of
efflorescent minerals and microbial sequestration and transformation of elements have been investigated.
We have sampled drainage waters, mineral precipitates and biofilms where present at El Indio, Lagunas Norte,
and Pierina mines. These are epithermal high-sulphidation gold deposits that tend to produce acid drainage and
have a distinctive suite of trace elements. Water samples were analysed for major and trace elements in aliquots
that were unfiltered, filtered to 0.45 µm and ultrafiltered to 0.01µm. Mineral samples were characterized using
SEM-MLA, XRD, EMPA and synchrotron-based microanalysis. Identification of the microbial population diversity in
solid and liquid samples has been carried out with DNA extraction and amplification.
Secondary sulphate minerals from these deposits sequester Cu, Zn, Cd, As and other trace elements. From
previous work, microorganisms are known to control the mobility of redox-sensitive trace elements such as As and
Te. The results of our research will provide a detailed geochemical and microbiological characterization of these
mineral-water-biofilm systems associated with epithermal high-sulphidation gold deposits and provide the basis
for innovative management approaches to ARD.
P9
Toxicological information and risk associated with to exposure many contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) is
limited to unknown. CECs have been found throughout various watersheds across Canada and wastewaters at
parts per billion to parts per million concentrations. Many CECs are poorly removed during conventional
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wastewater treatment. Furthermore, regulatory agencies are considering the implementation of new regulations
to include control of new contaminants. As such, better tools are needed for wastewater quality monitoring. In
this research, LuminoTox is explored as a tool for monitoring wastewater quality, more specifically, to capture
the range of toxicities exhibited by a mixture of CECs in wastewater. The LuminoTox biosensors including: PECs
and SAPS I and II have been tested in simple matrices using atrazine as a positive control. PECs and SAPS I
indicated IC5015 of 0.092µg/mL and0.025µg/mL, respectively. Phenol was also tested for the three biosensors and
was found to be not toxic in the tested range: 0.0001 µg/mL - 0.4 µg/mL. The same tests are currently run by
adding atrazine to a range of synthetic wastewater conditions with varied TSS, COD, TOC, colour, hardness,
alkalinity and conductivity measurements in order to determine the range of applicability for wastewater
monitoring. Future research will focus on toxicity testing of mixtures of CECs and monitoring of changes in
toxicity during lab-scale and pilot-scale ozonation using synthetic and real wastewater
P10
Arsenic is a metalloid that is found in the earth's crust and can be dangerous in high doses. It can be found in a
number of alimentary items and drinking water, including wine. Arsenic can make its way into wine as it can be
found in the soil of the vineyards, which can taken up into the grape. The purpose of this research is to determine
arsenic concentrations and species in wine. Based on literature review, the four species that are expected to be
present in wine are arsenate (As(V)), arsenite (As(III)), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid
(DMA). Over 100 samples of wine have been analyzed from around the world, targeting wines from Canada. The
total arsenic was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) with quantification by
standard addition and range from 1-30ppb. Samples with more that 4.5 ppb of total arsenic were then analyzed
for speciation, using anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-ICPMS. The arsenic species
found in the wine samples were As(V), As(III), and DMA. The data from the experimental portion will be compiled
with literature data and analyzed for any trends, such as location, wine colour or wine varietal.
P11
Samarium is present in high technology products such as magnets, lasers, etc., however little is known about to
what extent it can pollute environmental matrices. For divalent metals such as Cd2+, Cu2+ and Ni2+, toxicity has
often been closely correlated with the free ion concentration. Unfortunately, there are currently no techniques
available for evaluating the speciation of samarium in environmental matrices. In this study, an economical and
easy to use ion exchange technique (IET) has been studied for use in measuring free samarium. In order to
optimize the IET for free samarium determinations, equilibrium times were first determined for pH buffered
solutions of samarium (Sm 6.7x10-8 M, MES 0.001 M, pH 6.0) in the presence of different concentrations of sodium
nitrate (NaNO3: 0.01 M to 0.5 M). The impacts of different organic ligands such as EDTA, citrate and Suwannee
River fulvic acid (SRFA: 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mg/L) have been investigated. The calibration of the technique using
different concentrations of EDTA and citrate allowed determination of the partition coefficient, λ. λ values that
were calculated in the presence of EDTA appear to be well correlated to free samarium whereas in the presence
of citrate, complexes appeared to be bound by the resin. A strong correlation was found between Sm3+
concentrations (in case of SRFA) and those calculated using the Dowex resin. The IET should be associated to
other techniques for evaluating the bioavailable Sm concentrations in natural waters.
P12
Arsenic is a naturally occurring contaminant that can be found in drinking water throughout the world. Its
concentration in aquifers can be exacerbated by a series of chemical and biological processes resulting from mine
tailing runoffs, waste and open pits. In humans, chronic low-level intake of arsenic and other heavy metals can
induce anemia and immunosuppression. It can also cause a neurotoxic response and act as and agent directly
involved in carcinogenesis for the skin, lungs, liver and more. Moreover, estimations of the total concentration of
trace metals are far from a true estimation of their potential environmental toxicity. Natural environmental
change readily modify the speciation of arsenic. Additionally, laboratory speciation of arsenic is expensive and
requires collection methods to preserve in-situ conditions. Therefore, speciation of arsenic is rarely undertaken
unless required by risk management. Furthermore, wholecell biosensor assays have been designed to detect the
presence and quantity of a variety of chemicals. Bacterial reporters are customizable and reliable for the
measurement of the biologically relevant fraction of environmental contaminants. Our goal is develop a novel
arsenic bioreporter construct capable of determining the speciation of arsenic while rapidly estimating the
quantity of bioavailable arsenic at concentrations bellow the World Health Organization’s guidelines for arsenic in
drinking water.
P13
For airplanes to safely operate in the winter, aircraft de-icing fluid (ADF) is used by airports to prevent ice from
forming on aircraft surfaces. Once used on aircraft, the ADF, along with any stormwater, flows as runoff into a
drainage system where it is discharged. When improperly discharged into a freshwater system, such as a river,
this can cause oxygen sag reducing dissolved oxygen levels in the receiving water. This can pose a threat to
aquatic organisms.
Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Greenwood, an Air Force base located in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, has an active
airfield that utilizes ADF in their airport operations. CFB Greenwood has not yet developed a procedure to
discharge runoff contaminated with ADF without risk to the environment. The ADF runoff is discharged into
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nearby rivers, untreated and exceeding the Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment (CCME) guidelines.
The objective of the project was to find a solution for CFB Greenwood to discharge ADF contaminated runoff into
the surrounding freshwater system within CCME guidelines. To do this, four treatment options were considered as
potential solutions: activated sludge, activated carbon, membrane filtration and treatment wetland. The options
were then evaluated against a set of criteria: capital cost, operations/maintenance cost, footprint, effectiveness,
environmental impact, ancillary benefits and personnel requirements. Using a decision matrix to analyze the
options, the treatment wetland was determined to be the best overall solution to treat ADF contaminated runoff
at CFB Greenwood. This is due to its relatively small footprint, sustainable design, low operations/maintenance
cost, fewer personnel requirements and effective glycol treatment. A primary design layout was proposed. The
design for implementation at CFB Greenwood includes a primary clarifier, nutrient addition system and an
aerated sub-surface treatment wetland before discharge into receiving waters.
P14
In 2012 a total of 34.5 billion tonnes of CO2 were emitted into the atmosphere from anthopogenic sources, and
approximately 5% of these emissions were from the production of cement. Half of the cement industry’s
emissions are the result of the calcination of limestone to form lime, the primary raw material for cement, which
is then used to make concrete. We propose a method for recycling waste concrete that reverses the calcination
reaction, in order to sequester CO2 by carbonating the cement in waste concrete. Through the carbonation of
the calcium silicates in waste cement, calcium carbonate and silicon dioxide are produced. In addition, the
effect of grain size, temperature, reaction time, and chemical additive concentration on carbonation efficiency
were studied. The process utilizes sodium hydroxide to absorb CO2 directly from the atmosphere to form sodium
carbonate. The sodium carbonate then reacts with calcium sourced from the waste cement in an aqueous
solution, precipitating calcium carbonate and forming sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide is then recycled
back into the CO2 capture step. The calcium carbonate, if separated, could be sold to market as precipitated
calcium carbonate (PCC) in order to help overcome economic barriers to carbon sequestration. It was found that
the recovery of marketable calcium carbonate has proven to be more practical if the calcium is first leached from
the cement, and then is carbonated in a separate vessel.
P15
Recent developments in modern analytical techniques allow the measurement of trace amounts of thousands of
substances in the environment. However not much is known in regards to the impact of these compounds in
environmental waters. Current bioassays using endpoints such as mortality and reproduction dysfunction are only
able to detect differences between a control group and individuals exposed to pharmaceuticals at concentrations
> 10 µgL-1. Therefore, the development of a sensitive toxicity bioassay capable of measuring the effects of trace
amounts of xenobiotics in the environment and to facilitate the prioritisation of chemicals for testing is
necessary. We hypothesize that a metabolomics-based bioassay will be more sensitive than traditional
approaches. Since it is known that terpenoids and ecdysteroids are involved in moulting and reproduction in
Daphnia magna, these substances could be potential biomarkers for the detection of subtle toxic effects of
xenobiotic in this organism. However, previous attempts to directly measure steroid levels in D. Magna have been
hampered by the low level of these compounds (5-100 pg per individual).
We attempted the detection of three terpenoids (methyl farnesoate, 9-cis retinoc acid, all-trans retinoic acid)
and three ecdysteroids (ecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, ponasterone A) present in D. magna using time of flight
mass spectrometry (Maxis, Bruker). Estimated limits of detection (methyl farnesoate - 15 ng/mL, 9-cis retinoc
acid - 1 ng/mL, all-trans retinoic acid - 0.8 ng/mL, ecdysone - 1 ng/mL, 20-hydroxyecdysone - 2 ng/mL,
ponasterone A - 0.9 ng/mL) were not quite sensitive enough to tackle quantification of ecdysteroids and
terpenoids in D. Magna tissues. Sub ng/mL detection limit needed to be obtained to be able to quantify basal
levels using a reasonable amount of daphnias. We present here the optimization of key parameters such as mobile
phase composition, chromatography, column and sample preparation to improve method sensitivity. We also
explored derivatization and quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (Quattro Premier, Waters) to improve
detection limits.
P16
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known and probable carcinogens that are emitted into the
environment through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and steel production. Previous work has suggested
that double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) had a higher incidence of genetic mutations at sites in
Hamilton Harbour, ON, Canada, where higher PAH concentrations in the air and sediment occur. Although many
laboratory studies have studied the mutagenic potential of PAHs, few studies have related PAH exposure to
changes in the putative molecular pathways in free ranging wildlife. The aim of this project was to determine if
PAHs altered the TP53 (tumour suppressing gene) pathway, which affects apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and DNA
repair. Liver and lung tissue samples were collected from P. auritus at sites in Hamilton Harbour and Lake Erie
with differing levels of PAH exposure. Real-time RT-PCR was used to assess the expression of seven genes involved
in the p53 pathway. In both tissues, the mRNA level of ribonucleotide reductase (p53r2), a gene that regulates
DNA repair, was induced in the higher contaminated site. Similarly, in the liver tissue, the expression of Bcl-2associated X (bax), involved in the apoptosis pathway, was significantly induced in the highly contaminated site,
whereas, in the lung tissue the expression of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (mdm2), a negative regulator of the p53
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gene, was significantly suppressed in the most PAH-contaminated site. Data suggests that the cormorants may be
activating the p53 pathway to cope with increased exposure to mutagens found in birds.
P17
The presence of contaminants in urban water systems is a major concern for water quality. Contaminants such as
pesticides are of particular concern due to their toxicity towards aquatic organisms and potential disruption of
the endocrine system. Although there has been considerable interest in endocrine disruption, more specifically
estrogenicity, little work has been performed to investigate the potential of pesticides to disrupt androgenic
activity. In this study, in vitro yeast-based bioassays designed to measure estrogenic and androgenic activity were
utilized to measure the endocrine disruption caused by pesticides. Preliminary experiments with compounds
known to have estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, androgenic, and anti-androgenic properties have been completed and
their effective and inhibitory concentrations (EC50 and IC50, respectively) have been obtained. The estrogenic and
anti-estrogenic controls investigated are 17β-estradiol (EC50=0.4 nM) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (IC50=0.4 µM),
respectively. The androgenic and anti-androgenic controls investigated are dihydrotestosterone (EC50=7 nM) and
flutamide (IC50=15 µM), respectively. Currently, the estrogenic and androgenic activity of three pyrethroids
commonly found in household products and frequently applied in urban settings (e.g., golf courses) is being
investigated. So far, the results obtained emphasize the need for additional research examining the androgenic
disruption caused by contaminants of emerging concern and demonstrate the applicability of yeast-based
bioassays as a reliable bioanalytical tool for monitoring the presence of pesticides in urban environments.
P18
Hydropower is the second source of renewable energy which produces more than 3 percent of consumed energy in
the world. Low operation cost along with low GHG emission made the hydropower an attractive option for
governments and private sectors for investment. Despite its advantages, climate variability and climate change
have been considered as the greatest source of uncertainty on the hydropower production. Some recent studies
have indicated an increasing variability in the hydrologic processes such as precipitation, temperature, and
streamflow. The observed trends and changes in the hydrologic cycle have convinced planners to consider the
climate change issue in hydropower feasibility and planning studies. Statistical downscaling (SD) methods for
describing the linkage between global-scale climate variables and hydrologic processes at a given catchment scale
have been developed and used in these studies. However, most previous works applied single-site downscaling
techniques that are not capable to describe the interactions between hydrologic processes at different locations
concurrently and hence cannot preserve the spatial dependency among them. This problem of single-site
downscaling has triggered the necessity of multisite downscaling. In this context, this study proposes a statistical
procedure for downscaling the daily temperature extremes over many different sites concurrently, and to
compare the accuracy of this multisite downscaling approach over the single-site downscaling technique in
streamflow simulations and energy generation using the data available over the Romaine river basin located in
Côte-Nord region of Quebec province, Canada. The proposed multisite multivariate statistical downscaling (MMSD)
procedure was based on a combination of multiple linear regression model, singular value decomposition
technique and multivariate autoregressive model. Whereas, for single-site downscaling, one of the most widely
used statistical downscaling model called SDSM was used. In this paper, the climate change impacts on
streamflow were investigated using the future changes in precipitation and temperature given by six RCMs and
two GCMs under different climate scenarios (SRES). The Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model, a 3-layer
spatially-distributed macro-scale hydrologic model, was used for streamflow simulation and MODSIM model were
used for hydropower simulation. Results of this application show that the MMSD is more accurate than the SDSM in
the simulation of streamflow processes.
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