Solving emerging environmental challenges of the hydroelectric sector in partnership with utilities and Indigenous communities

水电是加拿大许多省份能源部门的基石，尤其是在魁北克省。几十年来，神经毒素甲基汞（MeHg）在大型水电水库鱼类体内的生物积累增加已被确定为该部门的环境问题。在加拿大，这些问题最常影响第一民族。在此，我们建议与Atikamekw、Innu和Inuit社区、Hydro-Quebec、Innergex和学术合作伙伴合作，应对与汞有关的意想不到的新挑战。这些挑战集中在以下问题上：(1)河流径流植物和景观干扰（伐木和野火）对食物网汞污染的综合影响是什么？(2)新建北方径流电厂对冻土退化和汞循环有何影响？(3)最近描述的大型拦坝河流冬季MeHg产量及其河口MeHg生物有效性的影响是什么？(4)能否通过食物制备改变人类甲基汞暴露？该项目与社区共同构建，以最大限度地提高EDI，整合社区关注和需求，共享知识，并为他们提供直接利益。我们组建了一个学者团队，他们在汞和碳生物地球化学、永久冻土物理、基因组学、微生物学、分析化学和食物网动力学方面的工作得到了认可。这个项目将促进土著社区参与研究并与公用事业公司合作。水电部门通过这笔赠款获得的知识将有助于制定减少汞足迹和保护野生动物和人类社区的战略。这将提高与使用其他能源的其他电力公司的竞争力。它还将增加水电技术和专门知识在全球市场上的可出口性。

Hydroelectricity is a cornerstone of the energy sector in many Canadian provinces, and particularly in Quebec. Increased bioaccumulation of the neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) in fish in large hydro-electric reservoirs have been identified as environmental issues for decades in this sector. In Canada, these issues most often affect First Peoples. Here we propose to tackle new unexpected challenges linked to mercury in partnership with Atikamekw, Innu and Inuit communities, Hydro-Quebec, Innergex and academic partners. These challenges focus on the following questions: (1) what is the the combined impact of run-of-river plants and landscape disturbances (logging and wildfire) on Hg contamination of food webs? (2) How will new northern run-of-river power plants affect permafrost degradation and Hg cycling? (3) What is the impact of recently described winter production of MeHg in large dammed rivers and MeHg bioavailability in their estuaries? (4) Can we modify human MeHg exposure through food preparation? This project has been co-constructed with communities to maximize EDI, integrate community concerns and needs, share knowledge, and provide direct benefits to them. We have assembled a team of academics recognized for their work in mercury and carbon biogeochemistry, permafrost physics, genomics, microbiology, analytical chemistry and food web dynamics. This project will promote Indigenous community involvement in research, and cooperation with utilities. The knowledge gained by the hydroelectric sector through this grant will help develop strategies to decrease its Hg footprint and protect wildlife and human communities. This will increase competitiveness against other power utilities using other energy sources. It will also increase the exportability of hydroelectrical technologies and know-how on the global market.