High-Resolution Continuum Source Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for Environmental and Human Health Research

我们要求一种新型的高分辨率连续源原子吸收光谱仪(HR CS-AAS)来支持以下研究项目：(I)环境化学、工程和微生物学领域中的全氟烷基物质(PFAS)和多氟烷基物质(PFAS)的去向、迁移、影响和修复；(Ii)流行病学和暴露科学领域的室内外空气污染对人类健康的影响。该系统迫切需要用于两个主要应用：环境和生物样品中有机氟的灵敏定量，以及空气样品中多种金属元素的高通量分析。在第一个应用中，HR CS-AAS可实现灵敏、可靠和快速的有机氟检测，使我们能够对全氟辛烷磺酸污染的样品进行全面表征，跟踪打破C-F键的新型生化反应中的氟，并制定修复策略以保护饮用水供应。这种定性既耗时又具有挑战性；如果没有该工具，申请人目前的工作就无法确定关键参数，也无法以其他方式实现这一目标。所要求的系统将使麦吉尔著名的环境流行病学项目能够建立新的研究能力，以测量环境基质中的金属物种。仪器的可获得性和新的研究能力将把在其他地方进行的样本分析的很大一部分转移到我们的实验室，提高我们的生产率，并为高素质人员(HQP)提供新的培训机会。将得到支持的环境研究是非常及时和重要的，涉及评估已在人类、野生动物和环境中广泛检测到的持久性和有毒的全氟辛烷磺酸对生态和健康的影响。由HR CS-AAS促成的健康科学研究将解决空气污染流行病学、能源使用、工业化、城市化及其与疾病负担和人类福祉的直接和间接联系等全球性挑战。申请的工具将大大加强HQP培训及其研究质量，提高加拿大劳动力在解决紧迫的环境和人类健康问题方面的竞争力。所要求的仪器将用于正在进行的10个覆盖全球的跨学科项目，并将加强37名研究生和博士后研究员的研究和创新能力。

We are requesting a novel High-Resolution Continuum Source Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (HR CS-AAS) to support research programs that investigate: (i) the fate, transport, effect, and remediation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the fields of environmental chemistry, engineering, and microbiology; and (ii) impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution on human health in the fields of epidemiology and exposure science. The system is urgently needed for two primary applications: sensitive quantitation of organofluorine in environmental and biological samples, and high-throughput analysis of multiple metal elements in air samples. In the first application, HR CS-AAS, which enables sensitive, reliable and fast detection of organofluorine, will allow us to perform comprehensive characterization of PFAS-contaminated samples, for tracking fluorine in novel biochemical reactions that break C-F bonds, and for devising remediation strategies to protect drinking water supplies. Such characterization is time-consuming and challenging; without the instrument, determination of critical parameters is missing from the applicants' current work, and cannot be otherwise achieved. The requested system will enable the highly reputable environmental epidemiology program at McGill to build new research capacity for the measurement of metal species in environmental matrices. The availability of the instrument and the new research capacity will divert a significant portion of sample analysis performed elsewhere back to our labs, enhancing our productivity and providing a new training opportunity for highly qualified personnel (HQP). The environmental research to be supported is extremely timely and significant, and involves the assessment of ecological and health implications of persistent and toxic PFASs that have been widely detected in humans, wildlife and the environment. The health sciences research enabled by the HR CS-AAS will address global challenges of air pollution epidemiology, energy use, industrialization, urbanization, and their direct and indirect links with disease burden and human well-being. The instrument applied for will substantially enhance HQP training and the quality of their research, increasing the competitiveness of the Canadian workforce in addressing urgent environmental and human health problems. The instrument requested will be used in 10 ongoing interdisciplinary projects of global reach, and will enhance the research and innovation capacity of 37 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.