Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Mercury (Hg) is an acute neurotoxicant and endocrine-disrupting chemical that biomagnifies in food webs, resulting in neurological and reproductive effects in higher trophic level organisms. Mercury pollution is a global problem that will pose increasing health risks to humans and food webs in mercury sensitive ecosystems into the foreseeable future. Dr. Nelson O'Driscoll joined Acadia in 2007 as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Environmental Biogeochemistry and is a leader in the field of environmental biogeochemistry, particularly in the area of mercury speciation. His group has published many new findings and fundamental insights into the speciation of mercury in ecosystems and its regional and global distribution. ******In order to measure mercury speciation at trace levels in water and other ecosystem components, a source of high-quality type I deionized water (DI) is necessary. Funds are being requested to purchase a new water purification system to generate the highest quality type I deionized water. Dr. O'Driscoll's existing DI system at Acadia is 15 years old and is now broken. It requires replacement parts which are no longer available from the supplier (the model has been discontinued), and in addition does not have the quality of water required for this research program. ******The requested ion-specific water system (Milli-Q IQ7003/Element) is critical to the undertaking of new projects and the successful completion of many ongoing research projects and undergraduate and graduate student theses. It will be the only available system of its kind in eastern Canada. It has many advantages that are particularly useful for the type of mercury photochemistry and flux research that is performed by Dr. O'Driscoll and his team. The requested upgraded deionized water system will allow for increased accuracy and reproducibility of analyses required for our current projects. This upgraded equipment will facilitate state-of-the-art analysis capabilities and will support the work of many students and the associated training of many visiting international collaborators and students. Many students (>10 students per year over next 5 years) will benefit from this equipment which will link graduate student training at several international universities. The science developed within this research program is directly incorporated into predictive models that are being used for policy development at national and international levels and will ultimately help to protect human and ecosystem health. **