Replacement of total mercury in solids analyzer for the analysis of mercury contamination in sensitive ecosystems

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Mercury contamination is a global problem, but the distribution of mercury is particularly significant in Eastern Canada, a mercury hotspot having many of the highest levels in biota in North America. Methyl mercury (MeHg) is an acute neurotoxicant and endocrine-disrupting chemical that accumulates rapidly in organisms and through food webs, resulting in neurological and reproductive effects in higher trophic level organisms such as loons. Several National (e.g. Canadian Mercury Science Assessment) and international (UNEP Global Mercury Treaty) initiatives are resulting in an increased demand for mercury analyses. Dr. O’Driscoll’s mercury lab in 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. However, Acadia’s mercury in solids analyzer has been discontinued and is no longer functioning. This is the only analyzer of its kind in eastern Canada and it is critical to the completion of many ongoing research projects and theses. The requested upgraded mercury analyzer will also allow for increased reproducibility and throughput of samples required for our current projects. This upgraded equipment will provide state-of-the-art analysis capabilities and will support the work of four Acadia professors three of which are NSERC-funded Canada Research Chairs (Dr. O'Driscoll, Dr. Mallory, and Dr. Stokesbury) and their associated training programs. Many students (>10 students per year over next 5 years) with benefit from this equipment which will link university training across the Atlantic Provinces through external collaborations and NSERC CREATE graduate programs. Taken together, our 4 programs address mercury distribution and transformation in water and sediments, mercury biomagnification, and population level effects of mercury toxicity. The science developed within these research programs is directly incorporated into predictive models that are being used for policy development at national and international levels and will ultimately help to protect human and ecosystem health.