Automatic gamma counter

该提案要求拨款购买自动伽马计数器，为NSERC资助的S。Niyogi和S. D博士萨斯喀彻温大学的西西里亚诺。总的来说，这两个研究项目都集中在研究我们环境中痕量金属的命运和毒性。获得所要求的设备将有助于实现两个主要研究目标：（一）对鱼类和人类从饮食中摄取的微量金属的吸收和毒性进行机理研究;（二）估计北极土壤中汞甲基化的可能性。在这些调查中，使用不同痕量金属的放射性同位素是绝对必要的，因为它提供了一个可行的替代标准的“冷”金属估计方法，这是非常不精确的，不提供所需的分析灵敏度。所要求的伽马计数器允许使用伽马发射放射性同位素，因为它提供了分析放射性标记实验样品的能力。这些研究项目的发现将提高我们目前对鱼类和人类饮食中金属污染的毒性后果的理解，从而有助于保护我们的健康和野生动物。此外，加拿大北极地区的汞污染是近来令人极为关切的一个问题。甲基汞是一种毒性很强的汞，动物可以从食物和水中迅速吸收。因此，北极土壤汞甲基化潜力的研究将提供重要的信息，这将有助于我们了解汞污染在加拿大北极的毒理学影响。

This proposal requests funds for the purchase of an automatic gamma counter that will provide essential analytical support to the NSERC funded research programs of Dr. S. Niyogi and Dr. S.D. Siciliano at the University of Saskatchewan. In general, both research programs are focused to investigate the fate and toxicity of trace metals in our environment. The two main research objectives that will be facilitated with the acquisition of the requested equipment are: (i) mechanistic investigation of the absorption and toxicity of diet-borne trace metals in fish and humans; and (ii) estimation of mercury methylation potential of the Arctic soils. The use of radio-isotopes of different trace metals is absolutely imperative in these investigations since it provides a viable alternative to the standard 'cold' metal estimation approach, which is highly imprecise and doesn't provide the required analytical sensitivity. The requested gamma counter allows the use of gamma emitting radio-isotopes as it provides the capacity to analyze radio-labeled experimental samples. The findings from these research projects will enhance our current understanding of toxic consequences of the metal-contaminated diets in fish and humans, and thus will help to protect our health and wildlife. Moreover, mercury contamination in the Canadian Arctic is an issue of great concern in recent times. Methylmercury is a highly toxic form of mercury which animals can take up very rapidly from food and water. Therefore the study of mercury methylation potential of the Arctic soil will provide important information that will help us to understand the toxicological implications of mercury contamination in the Canadian Arctic.