Article
Environmental Sciences
YingYing Liu, Carol J. Ptacek, Laura G. Groza, Robin Staples, David W. Blowes
Summary: This study investigated the presence of emerging contaminants in pristine waterbodies in the Canadian subarctic region and found slightly elevated concentrations of these contaminants, suggesting the influence of mining activities. These results are important for the potential use of these compounds as co-indicators of anthropogenic pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
A. A. Persaud, C. L. Cheney, B. Sivarajah, J. M. Blais, J. P. Smol, J. B. Korosi
Summary: The study examined Cladocera subfossil remains in 23 lakes near Yellowknife, finding that lakes with high arsenic content were dominated by littoral and benthic taxa, while lakes with lower arsenic levels had pelagic Bosmina as the dominant species. Arsenic levels were positively correlated with Cladocera richness and diversity, except in lakes affected by pollution and urban development where significant changes in taxa occurred. Lakes heavily impacted by arsenic emissions did not show notable shifts in Cladocera assemblages, indicating the modulation of local limnological conditions and multiple stressors on Cladocera in mining-impacted subarctic lakes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kevan P. O'Connor, Michaela Montgomery, Randy A. Rosales, Katherine K. Whiteman, Christopher S. Kim
Summary: Weathering of arsenic-enriched mine wastes can result in the dispersal of contaminated sediments, with seasonal effects significantly impacting risk assessments of chronic arsenic exposure for residents. Research findings show a strong negative correlation between rainfall and arsenic bioaccessibility, indicating that bioaccessible arsenic proportion increases over time during dry periods.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Lauren N. Wiens, Robert Bajno, Jillian T. Detwiler, Muhammad Yamin Janjua, Ross F. Tallman
Summary: Research on Inconnu in and around Great Slave Lake revealed temporal stability in genetic structure, with higher genetic diversity in populations in the lower/upper Mackenzie River compared to those in Great Slave Lake. Five genetic groups were identified, with one representing fish from the lake, and three corresponding to distinct river systems. These results highlight the importance of maintaining genetically distinct stocks associated with different river systems for the sustainability of Inconnu populations.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Mark Seelos, Marc Beutel, Stephen McCord, Sora Kim, Katie Vigil
Summary: The study evaluated plankton dynamics and Hg uptake into the pelagic food web of four Hg-impaired California water reservoirs. Results demonstrated seasonal patterns in biological MeHg uptake.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Santhana V. Kumar, Rohan Kumar Raman, Anjon Talukder, Arabinda Mahanty, Dhruba Jyoti Sarkar, Basanta Kumar Das, Sanjay Bhowmick, Srikanta Samanta, Sanjib Kumar Manna, Bimal Prasanna Mohanty
Summary: The study found that different farmed fish species have varying levels of arsenic accumulation, with some species having low arsenic content and posing minimal risk of human exposure. Therefore, C. mrigala, C. idella, and M. rosenbergii are recommended as candidate species for aquaculture in arsenic-contaminated areas to lower the risk of human exposure through food chain.
BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dan David Ngoyo Mandemvo, Felix-Antoine Comeau, Jasmin Raymond, Stephen E. E. Grasby, Viktor Terlaky
Summary: This study aims to quantitatively assess the geothermal potential of an underground mine by developing a new method. Using a thermal power budget, the study considers the thermal inertia of water, surrounding rock, and water infiltration from nearby lakes. The results demonstrate that this approach could deliver 17,520 MWh y(-1) and 8234 MWh y(-1) of energy for heating and cooling purposes.
NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiqian Wen, Xiao Yang, Xiulan Yan, Linsheng Yang
Summary: The risk of arsenic contamination from gold mining is a long-term concern for mines worldwide. This paper focuses on the mineralogical and morphological features of different arsenic-bearing matrices (waste rock, ores, and tailings) and reveals the geochemical behavior of arsenic in these matrices. The results show that arsenic is mainly hosted in arsenopyrite and waste rock has a higher health risk compared to ores and tailings.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Glenna Thomas, Craig Sheridan, Peter E. Holm
Summary: This study investigated the impact of acid mine drainage (AMD) on soils in gold and coal mining regions near Johannesburg, South Africa. The results showed evidence of soil acidification, high sulfate and calcium contents, and the presence of high levels of arsenic. The total rare earth element (REE) content ranged from 51.7 to 110 mg/kg and favored the light REEs. These findings indicate the major challenges faced in post-mining land rehabilitation.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Correction
Ecology
James J. Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Vicki S. Blazer
Summary: A correction notice has been published for this paper, please refer to the link for details.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Phanwimol Tanhan, Kanjana Imsilp, Niyada Lansubsakul, Wachiryah Thong-asa
Summary: Bioaccumulation of heavy metals can lead to physiological and biochemical changes in aquatic animals. This study evaluated the accumulation of Cd and Pb as well as the oxidative response in the liver and muscle of four fish species. The liver showed significantly higher accumulation of Cd, Pb, and oxidative response compared to the muscle in all coastal fish species. The levels of antioxidative parameters varied among the species. S. argus exhibited the highest levels of Cd and Pb accumulation and showed simultaneous activation and depression of oxidative defense mechanisms in the liver.
ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Claudia Tanamal, Jules M. Blais, Emmanuel Yumvihoze, Hing Man Chan
Summary: A study conducted in Yellowknife, Canada, examined the arsenic concentrations in fish and the consumption habits of residents. The main arsenic species found in fish was nontoxic arsenobetaine, indicating low health risks associated with arsenic exposure.
HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Joanne U. Angai, Carol J. Ptacek, Eva Pakostova, Jeff G. Bain, Brent R. Verbuyst, David W. Blowes
Summary: The findings of laboratory column experiments suggest that a mixture of organic carbon and zero-valent iron has the potential to effectively remove arsenic, metals, and sulfate ions from acidic, mine-impacted water. The results indicate that under appropriate conditions, the mixture can significantly raise the pH of the water, remove over 99.9% of arsenic, and eliminate other pollutants such as metals.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Michael F. J. Pisaric, Emily R. Ham, Jessica I. Zugic, Jean-Philippe Martin
Summary: Organisms living at the periphery of their range experience increased environmental stress and show greater sensitivity to growth-limiting factors. This study compares the growth of strip-bark and whole-bark jack pine trees near Yellowknife, Canada, and finds that their growth differs at different time scales.
Article
Geography
I. Rod Smith, Christine Deblonde, Grant Hagedorn, Roger C. Paulen
Summary: This study developed a drift thickness model for the southwestern Great Slave Lake area of northern Canada using various lithostratigraphic records. The model achieved a root mean square error of 4.98 m and accurately identified areas of thick drift. The findings have implications for mineral exploration and petroleum industry operations, as well as groundwater modeling.
Article
Ecology
Khalil Abas, Jacques Brisson, Marc Amyot, Jacques Brodeur, Veronika Storck, Juan Manuel Montiel-Leon, Sung Vo Duy, Sebastien Sauve, Margit Koiv-Vainik
Summary: The addition of biochar to SSF TW substrate was highly effective in removing CAP, while planted mesocosms without biochar had low removal efficiency.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicolas Pelletier, John Chetelat, Sarah Sinon, Jesse C. Vermaire
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of two large wildfires on the sedimentation rate and metal accumulation in subarctic montane lakes in Canada. The results showed a significant increase in sedimentation rates and metal accumulation following the wildfires, and these impacts persisted for more than 20 years. This study highlights the long-term effects of wildfires on metal accumulation in affected lakes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John Chetelat, Melissa A. McKinney, Marc Amyot, Ashu Dastoor, Thomas A. Douglas, Lars-Eric Heimburger-Boavida, Jane Kirk, Kimmo K. Kahilainen, Peter M. Outridge, Nicolas Pelletier, Henrik Skov, Kyra St Pierre, Jussi Vuorenmaa, Feiyue Wang
Summary: This review summarizes the latest scientific research on how climate change affects the transport and biogeochemical cycling of mercury in Arctic terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. The review emphasizes the profound shifts in climate and cryosphere in the Arctic and their connections to mercury cycling.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Lindsay L. Trottier, John Chetelat, Chantal Vis, Paul B. Hamilton, Frances R. Pick, Jesse C. Vermaire
Summary: Over the past three decades, the Rideau River watershed in Ontario, Canada has undergone land-use change towards urban land and the presence of invasive species. This study shows that although there have been declines in nutrient concentrations, the periphyton biomass in the river has remained unchanged. This highlights the resilience of riverine periphyton in the face of ongoing anthropogenic changes.
JOURNAL OF LIMNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric Capo, Benjamin D. Peterson, Minjae Kim, Daniel S. Jones, Silvia G. Acinas, Marc Amyot, Stefan Bertilsson, Erik Bjoern, Moritz Buck, Claudia Cosio, Dwayne A. Elias, Cynthia Gilmour, Marisol Goni-Urriza, Baohua Gu, Heyu Lin, Yu-Rong Liu, Katherine McMahon, John W. Moreau, Jarone Pinhassi, Mircea Podar, Fernando Puente-Sanchez, Pablo Sanchez, Veronika Storck, Yuya Tada, Adrien Vigneron, David A. Walsh, Marine Vandewalle-Capo, Andrea G. Bravo, Caitlin M. Gionfriddo
Summary: Researchers have proposed a standardized protocol for detecting, identifying, and quantifying hgc genes from metagenomes, and have created a database containing information on hgc genes. They have also developed a user-friendly bioinformatic pipeline for accurately characterizing hgc genes from environmental samples. The results show that both approaches have similar efficiency in most environments, except for high diversity environments where the coassembly approach is preferred.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sofi Jonsson, Michelle Nerentorp Mastromonaco, Feiyue Wang, Andrea G. Bravo, Warren R. L. Cairns, John Chetelat, Thomas A. Douglas, Gretchen Lescord, Liisa Ukonmaanaho, Lars-Eric Heimburger-Boavida
Summary: Anthropogenic mercury undergoes long-range transport to the Arctic and can be transformed into methylmercury, potentially leading to high exposure in Arctic inhabitants and wildlife. Biogeochemical and ecological processes in the Arctic play a crucial role in determining the environmental exposure of mercury, particularly the bioavailability, methylation and demethylation, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of methylmercury. Recent scientific advances have provided insights into these processes and highlighted their importance in understanding the fate of anthropogenic mercury in Arctic ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melissa A. McKinney, John Chetelat, Samantha M. Burke, Kyle H. Elliott, Kim J. Fernie, Magali Houde, Kimmo K. Kahilainen, Robert J. Letcher, Adam D. Morris, Derek C. G. Muir, Heli Routti, David J. Yurkowski
Summary: Global climate change has had a significant impact on the Arctic environment and ecosystems, affecting mercury (Hg) levels in Arctic biota. The marine environment has higher Hg levels compared to terrestrial environments, leading to changes in Hg concentrations in herbivores and predators in the Arctic region.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Qin, Marc Amyot, Andrea Bertolo
Summary: The production of highly toxic monomethylmercury (MeHg) is unevenly distributed in the water column. The role of water column heterogeneity, especially zooplankton grazers, in mercury (Hg) cycling is still not well understood. This study found a significant association between the presence of zooplankton and the concentrations of dissolved total Hg (DTHg) and total Hg (THg) in the water. Results suggest that the heterogeneity of biotic factors, including phytoplankton and zooplankton, plays a key role in the cycling of total Hg and MeHg in boreal lakes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ines Peraza, John Chetelat, Murray Richardson, Thomas S. Jung, Malik Awan, Steve Baryluk, Ashu Dastoor, William Harrower, Piia M. Kukka, Christine McClelland, Garth Mowat, Nicolas Pelletier, Christine Rodford, Andrei Ryjkov
Summary: Limited information exists on mercury concentrations and environmental drivers of mercury bioaccumulation in high latitude terrestrial carnivores. In this study, wolverines in Arctic and boreal biomes of western Canada were analyzed for mercury concentrations and its environmental drivers. The results showed that diet was the strongest explanatory variable of mercury concentrations, followed by landscape variables and distance to the Arctic Ocean coast.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maxime Leclerc, Maxime Wauthy, Dolors Planas, Marc Amyot
Summary: The study reveals that the extracellular matrix of periphyton plays a crucial role in regulating the transfer of metals in aquatic food webs. The loosely and tightly bound fractions of the periphyton matrix have distinct fluorescence composition and different effects on metal transfer.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Holly Marginson, Gwyneth A. MacMillan, Eliane Grant, Jose Gerin-Lajoie, Marc Amyot
Summary: A collaborative community-based environmental monitoring program in Nunavik, Canada, addresses limited knowledge of REE distribution and bioaccumulation in subarctic environments. The study investigates REE anomalies across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, providing background values and demonstrating a species-specific bioaccumulation and distribution of REE in biota. The results support the use of Ce anomalies as bio-markers for REE processing in animal species and provide important data for establishing REE guidelines.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Bailey Bedard, Brian Hickey, John Chetelat, Jan A. Mennigen
Summary: The St. Lawrence River in Canada has been identified as an area of concern due to past industrial contamination and mercury transport. This study focused on the mercury exposure pathways for little and big brown bats, and whether their diet variation impacts local bat mercury concentrations. The results showed that big brown bats had higher mercury concentrations in their fur compared to little brown bats, despite consuming lower-mercury terrestrial insects instead of high-mercury aquatic insects.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marc Amyot, Emma Husser, Kathy St-Fort, Dominic E. Ponton
Summary: Fish and marine mammals are important sources of food for Indigenous communities in Canada, but they can accumulate toxic elements. By experimentally assessing the effect of cooking temperature, researchers found that elemental concentrations in fish and seal changed linearly, with some elements remaining in the food during cooking while others being transferred to cooking juices. The study also suggests that elemental behavior during cooking can be predicted based on chemical affinity, and the changes in elemental concentrations during cooking should be considered when assessing risk.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Marie-Christine Lafreniere, Jean-Francois Lapierre, Dominic E. Ponton, Francois Guillemette, Marc Amyot
Summary: In order to meet the demand for green and digital technologies, the production of rare earth elements (REEs) has increased significantly. However, the fate of REEs in large rivers with various gradients remains poorly understood.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dominic E. Ponton, Jorge Ruelas-Inzunza, Raphael A. Lavoie, Gretchen L. Lescord, Thomas A. Johnston, Jennifer A. Graydon, Megan Reichert, Caitlyn Donadt, Mark Poesch, John M. Gunn, Marc Amyot
Summary: The study found mercury and arsenic contamination in Canadian freshwater fish, but the presence of selenium may help mitigate the risks associated with these contaminants. Fish in reservoirs and lakes impacted by logging and urbanization had higher mercury concentrations, while fish in mining areas had lower mercury concentrations and were negatively correlated with selenium. Overall, there was a negative relationship between arsenic and mercury concentrations in fish.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2022)