Environmental micro-biosensor for detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil

多环芳烃（PAHs）包括数百种化学相关的环境持久性有机化合物，具有不同的结构和不同的毒性。它们大多是由石油和煤炭等工业的有机分子的热分解（热解）和随后的重组（热解）过程形成的，多环芳烃在加拿大土壤中无处不在，由于其致癌、诱变和免疫抑制剂的毒性，对人类和生态系统健康有影响。工业合作伙伴Qanari公司开发并验证了安全土壤测试仪，这是一种快速诊断工具，使用生物发光微生物定性检测污染土壤中多环芳烃的存在。当与全球定位系统相结合时，该诊断产生了指示污染“热点”的地图，以便进一步评估、风险评估和补救。目前市场对手持技术的需求促使卡纳里研究开发一种微型生物传感器系统的可能性，这种系统将是一种更小、更便携的设备，与无线技术兼容。Qanari和麦吉尔大学将合作演示微生物传感器和检测系统的概念验证，以确定现有技术的微型化可行性。鉴于上游油气场地、石油储罐场地以及其他商业和工业设施对多环芳烃污染的监管日益严格，这种快速检测系统具有巨大的商业潜力。加拿大公众将受益于快速筛选工具，以减轻多环芳烃对人类和生态系统健康的影响。

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) include several hundred chemically-related, environmentallypersistent organic compounds having various structures and varied toxicity. Most of them are formed by aprocess of thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) and subsequent recombination (pyrosynthesis) of organicmolecules from industries such as petroleum and coal PAHs are ubiquitous in Canadian soils and of concernfor human and ecosystem health due to their toxicity as carcinogens, mutagens and immunosuppressants. Theindustrial partner, Qanari Inc., has developed and validated the Safe Soil Tester, a rapid diagnostic tool thatuses a bioluminescent microorganism to qualitatively detect the presence of PAHs in contaminated soils. Whencoupled with global positioning systems, the diagnosis produces maps indicating 'hotspots' of contaminationfor further evaluation, risk assessment and remediation. Current market demands for hand-held technologieshave led Qanari to investigate the possibility of developing a micro-biosensor system that would be a smaller,portable device that is compatible with wireless technology. Qanari and McGill University will collaborate todemonstrate the proof-of-concept of a micro-biosensor and detection system, to determine the feasibility ofmicro-sizing the existing technology. Given the increasingly stringent regulations dealing with contaminationfrom PAHs in upstream oil and gas sites, petroleum storage tank sites, as well as other commercial andindustrial facilities, such a rapid detection system has tremendous commercial potential. The Canadian publicwill benefit from quick screening tools to mitigate the effect of PAHs on human and ecosystem health.