Increased Precision of Methyl Mercury Analysis for Assessment of Processes Controlling Bioavailability

汞污染是一个全球性问题，在加拿大东部这个汞热点地区，汞的分布尤为显著。甲基汞（MeHg）是一种急性神经毒性和内分泌干扰化学物质，在食物网中生物放大，对高营养级生物造成神经和生殖影响。一些国家（如加拿大汞科学评估）和国际（环境署全球汞条约）举措导致对痕量汞物种形成分析的需求增加。阿卡迪亚的环境分析研究中心（CARE）是研究人员在加拿大东部检查汞污染物的合作中心。CARE提供先进的分析设备（来自五个成功的CFI应用），用于研究和测量痕量环境中的污染物。然而，阿卡迪亚目前的设施不允许推进科学所需的样品的可重复性和吞吐量。对现有设备的适度升级将提供最先进的分析，并将支持3名NSERC资助的加拿大研究主席（O'Driscoll博士，Mallory博士和Kidd博士）及其相关培训计划（未来5年将有50名学生）的工作，以及2个NSERC CREATE研究生计划，将大西洋各省的大学培训联系起来。综上所述，我们的三个项目研究了水中甲基汞的生物利用度、甲基汞的生物放大效应和甲基汞毒性对种群水平的影响。在这些研究项目中开发的预测模型将帮助监管机构减少汞对食物网的暴露，并最终有助于保护人类和生态系统的健康。

Mercury contamination is a global problem, and the distribution of mercury is particularly significant in Eastern Canada, a mercury hotspot. Methyl mercury (MeHg) is an acute neurotoxicant and endocrine-disrupting chemical that biomagnifies in food webs, resulting in neurological and reproductive effects in higher trophic level organisms. Several National (e.g. Canadian Mercury Science Assessment) and international (UNEP Global Mercury Treaty) initiatives are resulting in an increased demand for trace level mercury speciation analyses. Acadia's Center for Analytical Research on the Environment (CARE) is a collaborative hub for researchers examining mercury contaminants in Eastern Canada. CARE provides advanced analytical equipment (from five successful CFI applications) for studying and measuring contaminants in the environment at trace levels. However, the current facilities at Acadia do not allow for the reproducibility and throughput of samples required to advance the science. This modest upgrade to existing equipment will provide state-of-the-art analysis and will support the work of 3 NSERC-funded Canada Research Chairs (Dr. O'Driscoll, Dr. Mallory, and Dr. Kidd) and their associated training programs (>50 students over next 5 years), as well as 2 NSERC CREATE graduate programs linking university training across the Atlantic Provinces. Taken together our 3 programs address MeHg bioavailability in water, MeHg biomagnification, and population level effects of MeHg toxicity. The predictive models developed within these research programs will aid regulators in mitigating the exposure of mercury to food webs and will ultimately help to protect human and ecosystem health.