Special Symposia
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Exposure of the beluga whale to contaminants and toxic effects
November 9, 2006 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM, Room 517A
This session focuses on the beluga whale, which is the species identified with the 27th annual meeting of SETAC North America. As it is located downstream from the industrialized and contaminated Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system, the St. Lawrence beluga whale has been the subject of active research for years and has become a symbol for the conservation of marine habitats in Canada. Elevated contaminant levels and a high prevalence of cancers have been reported in stranded individuals in this beluga population. Two complementary fields of research activities will be discussed during the session, namely (i) the exposure of the beluga to contaminants and (ii) the resulting toxic effects. In the first half of the session, exposure, including temporal trends, factors influencing bioaccumulation and/or biotransformation, the presence of new contaminants in beluga, and transfer of contaminants between mother and progeny will be discussed. The second half of the session will focus on the toxicity of contaminants as investigated by different approaches: epidemiological studies comparing biomarker responses or in vitro studies exposing beluga cells to single or complex contaminant mixtures. This session will bring together presentations on the Arctic and Canadian beluga populations, especially that from the St. Lawrence.
Predicting ecological effects of pollutants from biomarkers and omic responses
Part 1 - November 9, 2006 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM, Room 517B
Part 2 - November 9, 2006 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM, Room 517B
Physiological and biochemical responses to toxicants can usually be measured precisely than ecological variables. These “biomarkers” offer a much better signal to noise ratio than ecological monitoring, where spatial and temporal variability of populations and communities often mask ecological changes. As a consequence, they have been viewed as an attractive option for detecting the impacts of pollution in the field. Interest in the impact of pollutants at sub-organism levels has been greatly stimulated by the advent of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, sometimes referred to as “the ultimate biomarkers”. In ecotoxicology, “-omic” studies are identifying genes, proteins or metabolites that respond to toxin exposure, and composite patterns of change characteristic of exposure to a particular compound. They are also giving insights into toxicity mechanisms. But can they be used to address the much greater challenge of predicting whether a contaminant will produce ecological change in the field? If –omics and biomarkers are to contribute to this goal, we need to relate them to effects at the whole organism, population or community level. We also need to understand how environmental parameters other than contaminants alter molecular responses, as effects of such “nuisance parameters” can greatly limit the effectiveness of ecological and biomarker-based monitoring. The session will assess progress in understanding the links between the occurrence of ecological effects of pollutants and –omic and biomarker responses. Presentations include field based studies and those examining population level endpoints in laboratory populations. Presenters include biomarker and –omic enthusiasts as well as sceptics, and we hope to draw out some lessons about what can and cannot be achieved using these methods.
Invertebrate biomarkers: Applications and Limitations in the assessment of aquatic pollution
November 8, 2006 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM, Room 510AC
Biomarkers are defined as “a biological response” to a chemical or chemicals that give an indication of the level of exposure and hopefully the extent of the toxic effects. While they have been used for years in environmental research, no consensus currently on the use of biomarkers in environmental assessment. Indeed, several recent reviews have voiced both pros and cons for the use of biomarkers. Furthermore, due to the diversity of invertebrate organisms that can be impacted by contaminant exposure, the number and type of biomarkers that can be studied are overwhelming. Therefore, the goal of this session is to bring together experts in the field who will: (i) highlight the general elements of biomarker studies; (ii) examine the “classical” biomarkers that are used in order to assess exposure and effects in aquatic invertebrates; (iii) present studies that employ “new generation” biomarkers; (iv) examine the limitations of biomarkers and (v) highlight the impact of biomarker studies on environmental management. This session will examine the above goals and the state-of-the art in biomarker research using aquatic invertebrates.
Metals in the environment: speciation, geochemistry and bioavailability
Part 1 - November 6, 2006 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM, Room 513ABC
Part 2 - November 6, 2006 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM, Room 513ABC
Part 3 - November 7, 2006 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM, Room 513ABC
Part 4 - November 7, 2006 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM, Room 513ABC
The special session on metals in the environment will bring together international caliber researchers from academia, industry and government. Sessions will cover metal inputs, transformations and effects in soils, sediments, streams and the water column. Among other leading groups, talks will be drawn from some of the most recent results from several leading research networks, including the Canadian research Networks (MITE-RN, MITHE-RN and COMERN), the Centre for the Study of Metals in the Environment (CSME, funded by the US EPA and headquartered at the University of Delaware) and several ongoing EU metals risk assessments. Talks will examine the speciation, geochemistry, bioavailability and toxicity of metals in the environment with a particular emphasis on the development of models for the environmental risk assessment of metals such as the «Unit World Model». The talks will be integrated within an environmental risk assessment framework. Opening and concluding presentations by Dominic Di Toro and Peter Chapman will be one of the highlights of the session.
Fate and transport of emerging contaminants in aqueous systems
Part 1 - November 7, 2006 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM, Room 517A
Part 2 - November 9, 2006 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM, Room 516AB
The ubiquitous occurrence of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other newly recognized emerging contaminants has been demonstrated globally. However, identifying presence is not sufficient to determine the potential impacts of emerging contaminants on human and aquatic health. A quantitative understanding of the hydrologic, geochemical, photochemical, and abiotic and biotic degradation processes that govern the transport, persistence, and fate of these compounds through watersheds is vital. This session will explore the fate and transport of emerging contaminants, with a goal of achieving a better understanding of the processes that regulate the environmental concentrations of these chemicals in water. Presentations will include quantitative assessments of transport, photochemical controls on emerging contaminants in surface waters, sediment/ water partitioning, air/ water partitioning and airborne transport of compounds, parent/ degradate relationships, and quantitative assessments of potential sources, including land application of biosolids and manures as an emerging contaminant source.
Nanotechnology Nexus -- Science, Technology, Risk and Regulation
November 8, 2006 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM, Room 517B
Nanotechnology is currently a multi-billion dollar industry for which environmental aspects have only recently been considered. For example, while the technologies may provide significant advances in areas such as the environmental monitoring of pollutants and pollutant effects (e.g. development of novel microsensors, etc.), they may also be responsible for environmental degradation through the emission of novel synthetic nanoparticles, etc. In this special session, speakers from academia, business (industry and consultancies), regulatory authorities and NGOs that are actively engaged in the nanotechnology arena have been invited together to discuss the science, technology, risk and regulation of nanotechnology and possible paths forward. This session will end with a brief panel discussion where the speakers are able to 'face-off' with each other and with members of the audience. This assemblage and format is designed to provide for a lively and timely discussion of this highly relevant and controversial subject.
