Sources and Environmental Fate of Contaminants of Emerging Concern

人类活动向自然环境释放许多人为化学物质。其中一些化学品在全球范围内大量生产和消费，可能在环境中持久存在，并对生态系统和人类构成风险。因此，人为化学物质的来源、途径和环境归趋受到科学界和公众的重大关注。近年来，人们越来越关注塑料添加剂、工业副产品和个人护理产品等新兴污染物（CEC）的环境行为。它们可能在制造、应用和废物处理过程中进入环境。其中许多物质在低浓度下对生物体和人类具有潜在毒性，但它们通常不受监控和监管。取代二苯胺抗氧化剂 (SDPA)、苯并三唑紫外线稳定剂 (BZT-UV) 和多卤咔唑 (PHCZ) 是三类化学品，存在于塑料、橡胶、燃料、润滑剂、染料、食品包装和个人护理产品等许多产品中。这些化合物在环境中具有潜在的持久性、生物累积性和毒性。然而，我们对这些污染物的生态风险的了解还不够。为此，本研究计划将调查：（1）水环境中目标CEC的来源和途径； (2)目标CEC在水生食物网中的生物放大行为； (3)目标CEC的生物转化过程。这项研究将使用圣劳伦斯河水系作为研究地点。通过了解这些 CEC 的来源、途径和环境归趋，我们可以了解人类和生物体对这些污染物的暴露风险，并制定合理的方法来保护人类和生态系统健康。

Human activities release many anthropogenic chemicals to the natural environment. Some of these chemicals are produced and consumed with high volumes globally, may be persistent in the environment and pose risks to ecosystems and humans. Thus, the sources, pathways and environmental fate of anthropogenic chemicals are of significant scientific and public concern. In recent years, there has been increasing attention paid to the environmental behavior of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as plastic additives, industrial byproducts, and personal care products. They may enter the environment during manufacture, application, and waste disposal processes. Many of these substances are potentially toxic to organisms and humans at low concentrations, but they are not commonly monitored and regulated. Substituted diphenylamine antioxidants (SDPAs), benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BZT-UVs), and polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) are three classes of chemicals that are present in many products such as plastics, rubbers, fuels, lubricants, dyes, food packages, and personal care products. These compounds are potentially persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic in the environment. However, our knowledge about the ecological risks of these contaminants is insufficient. To this end, this research program will investigate: (1) the sources and pathways of target CECs in the aquatic environment; (2) the biomagnification behavior of target CECs in aquatic food webs; and (3) the biotransformation processes of target CECs. This research will use the St. Lawrence River System as the study site. By understanding the sources, pathways, and environmental fate of these CECs, we can access the exposure risks of humans and organisms to these contaminants and develop rational approaches to protecting human and ecosystem health.