Tools to increase risk assessment accuracy of lead and mercury in contaminated soils

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Risklogic is an environmental consulting company specializing in management and analysis of contaminated industrial sites. They are experts in remediating sites that are contaminated with multiple heavy metals and have developed a novel method for simplifying how risky these sites really are to both wildlife and humans. However, their method requires experimental validation of two assumptions. First, that the effects of metals cause toxicity through the same mechanism and second, that the effects are additive. In order to test these assumptions, we propose that lead, inorganic mercury and organic mercury all cause cardiovascular effects (e.g. high blood pressure) by increasing oxidative stress or through epigenetic mechanisms. We will test these assumptions using rats exposed in drinking water to these metals, both alone and together. Finally, we will examine whether there are any sex differences in responses. Validating Risklogic's model will accelerate the process and reduce remediation costs associated with urban brownfields which in turn will reduce the costs to companies responsible for cleanup, decrease economic burden and help improve the Canadian economy.