Pathways and fate of petrogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and mercury (Hg) in sea ice: Setting milestones for detection, management, and response to a potential oil spill in the Arctic O

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An increasing interest in the Oil and Gas (O"> via immediate acute population impacts and prolonged chronic effects through: 1) amplification of exposures through concentration of contaminants in brine (liquid fraction of ice), 2) sinking flux of particle-bound contaminants from the melting sea ice and subsequent toxicity to the organisms living at the seafloor upon release from sediment, and 3) high exposures to organisms that depend on sea ice for habitat, feeding and spawning (e.g., ice algae, ice amphipods, fishes, seals, polar bears, birds). Thus, the overriding goals of this research program are: 1) to improve our understanding of the pathways and fate of petrogenic PAHs and Hg in sea ice, and 2) to provide Canadian stakeholders with the necessary information, so that the O&G exploration and production in the offshore Arctic may proceed in a sustainable manner, that is with a high level of preparedness for detection, management, and response to a potential oil spill in ice-infested waters. This program will result in significant advancement of our understanding of environmental risks associated with a potential oil spill in ice-covered Arctic waters. The goals of this program will be executed through a series of experimental under-ice oil spills at the OSIDR (Oil in Sea Ice Detection and Remediation) test tank at the University of Manitoba's Sea-Ice Research Facility (SERF). At least 5 trainees will benefit from this program over the next 5 years, enhancing their experience, skills, and competitiveness on the job market. The stakeholders of this research include federal and provincial/territorial governments and O&G industry, and the Northern communities with immediate interest in the well-being of the land they depend on for e.g., hunting and habitat. In a broader perspective, all Canadians will benefit from outcomes of this research as the level of awareness, publicly available knowledge and preparedness for a potential oil spill under ice-covered conditions will increase.