Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
University of Calgary
$191,552.00
Municipal waste water effluent impact on native fish: mechanisms of action and BIOMIC signatures
FY 2017-18
Summary
Calgary's economic growth has created a steadily expanding population, which is a major source of contaminants to the Bow River. Three municipal wastewater treatment plants discharge effluents (MWWE) that include a cocktail of chemicals, including over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and prescription drugs. This is of concern because some pharmaceuticals, including antipsychotic drugs, are designed specifically to have rapid effects in humans at very low concentrations, but the effect they may have on non-target fish species is currently unknown. Given the uncontrolled release of pharmaceuticals into rivers, which is projected to increase as the human population ages, it is imperative that we develop a thorough understanding of the pharmaceutical footprints and the associated impact on the native aquatic biota. The studies we propose are part of the critical path to develop solutions to protect ecosystem health, maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services upon which we depend. We propose a systems biology approach that uses quantitative techniques to measure global gene, protein, metabolite and epigenetic changes to construct biological networks in fish liver as a model for long-term and generational impacts due to MWWE exposure. Our exposure effects-based model will be further complemented by measurement of phenotypic changes, including stress and reproductive performances of native fish across multiple generations. This detailed appraisal of pharmaceutical footprints, performance-based phenotypes and construction of biological network models in native fish will provide critical baseline information on MWWE impact and the mode of action of emerging contaminants. Thismechanism-based approach will assist industries and governmental agencies to make informed decisions about the impact and develop solutions to protect and preserve the water resources and aquatic ecosystem health, especially given that very little is known regarding the effect of emerging contaminants on non-target organisms.
Program
Strategic Projects - Group
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
463163-2014
Name nom
Vijayan, Mathilakath
Department département
Biological Sciences
Organization id
11
Institution établissement
University of Calgary
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
191552
Program id
STPGP
Program name en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1565
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Environment
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Environnement
Area of application code
400
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
5504
Research subject group en
Animal biology
Research subject group fr
Biologie animale
Research subject en
Animal physiology and metabolism
Research subject fr
Physiologie et métabolisme des animaux
Partie
3
Nb partie
3
Application title
Municipal waste water effluent impact on native fish: mechanisms of action and BIOMIC signatures
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Calgary's economic growth has created a steadily expanding population, which is a major source of contaminants to the Bow River. Three municipal wastewater treatment plants discharge effluents (MWWE) that include a cocktail of chemicals, including over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and prescription drugs. This is of concern because some pharmaceuticals, including antipsychotic drugs, are designed specifically to have rapid effects in humans at very low concentrations, but the effect they may have on non-target fish species is currently unknown. Given the uncontrolled release of pharmaceuticals into rivers, which is projected to increase as the human population ages, it is imperative that we develop a thorough understanding of the pharmaceutical footprints and the associated impact on the native aquatic biota. The studies we propose are part of the critical path to develop solutions to protect ecosystem health, maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services upon which we depend. We propose a systems biology approach that uses quantitative techniques to measure global gene, protein, metabolite and epigenetic changes to construct biological networks in fish liver as a model for long-term and generational impacts due to MWWE exposure. Our exposure effects-based model will be further complemented by measurement of phenotypic changes, including stress and reproductive performances of native fish across multiple generations. This detailed appraisal of pharmaceutical footprints, performance-based phenotypes and construction of biological network models in native fish will provide critical baseline information on MWWE impact and the mode of action of emerging contaminants. Thismechanism-based approach will assist industries and governmental agencies to make informed decisions about the impact and develop solutions to protect and preserve the water resources and aquatic ecosystem health, especially given that very little is known regarding the effect of emerging contaminants on non-target organisms.
