Based on the meetings and discussions among PEOPLE’s members and partners as well as the comprehensive literature reviews, the following Themes (T) have been identified as the network’s R&D and training focal areas:
Detection, identification and quantification of PEOPs and their transformation products;
Fate and behaviors in cold marine and coastal environments (esp. with snow/ice);
Evaluation, improvement and development of source reduction and advanced clean technologies;
Enhanced and new control and remediation methods for PEOP contaminated shoreline and water through integration with nano/bio-technologies;
Vulnerability analysis, exposure/risk assessment, fate and transport modeling, and policy/decision making;
Toxicological and ecological effect assessment;
Health and community impact analysis; and
Evaluation and mitigation of socio-economic effects and engagement/training of northern and coastal communities.
Meet our Theme Leads:
Bing Chen
Interim Dean and Professor
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Memorial University, Canada
Baiyu Helen Zhang
Professor & Canada Research Chair
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Memorial University, Canada
Member, Royal Society of Canada (College)
President, Canadian Association on Water Quality (CAWQ)
Manuel J. Rodriguez
Professor & NSERC Industrial Research Chair
Faculty of Planning, Architecture, Art and Design
Université Laval, Canada
Feiyue Wang
Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1)
Department of Environment and Geography and Centre for Earth Observation Science
University of Manitoba, Canada
Pascale Champagne
Director General
Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre
National Research Council Canada, Canada
Pierre Bérubé
Professor and Associate Head
Faculty Affairs and Development
University of British Columbia, Canada
Stanislav Stoyanov
Research Scientist
CanmetENERGY-Devon
Natural Resources Canada, Canada
Uta Passow
Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Biological Oceanographic Processes
Ocean Sciences, Faculty of Science
Memorial University, Canada
Faisal Khan
Professor & Department Head
Chemical Engineering
Texas A&M University, USA
Rehan Sadiq
Professor
Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
Provost and Vice-President Academic
University of British Columbia (Okanagan), Canada
Paul Snelgrove
Professor
Ocean Sciences Centre
Memorial University, Canada
Viviane Yargeau
Professor and Chair
Department of Chemical Engineering
McGill University, Canada
Atanu Sarkar
Associate Professor
Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University, Canada
Peter S. Ross
Senior Scientist and Healthy Waters Program Director
Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Canada
Carlos Bazan
Associate Professor
Faculty of Business Administration
Memorial University, Canada
Dale Booth
Owner & President
Innovation Seven, Canada
Current topics of Working Groups are as follows:
This theme covers literature review, screening/selection of representative PEOPs, and historic data and sample inventory development. Topics include, but no limited to, occurrence, sources and origins, behavior and spatial-temporal variability, monitoring, toxicity and exposure, impacts on human and ecosystems, mitigation strategies, and regulation and policies. Close liaison with participants of the network is maintained.
This theme covers the identification of targeting PEOPs and their transformation products, biomonitoring tools (e.g. bio-assay-directed monitoring and quantitative measurement of biomarkers) for evaluating impact of PEOPs, and the characterization of microbial community structure for indication of PEOPs inputs especially in cold marine and coastal environments.
This theme covers the fate and behaviors of PEOPs such as transport, transformation and biological uptake under cold environmental conditions within the marine environment (including as assessment of their sensitivity to climate variabilities). Consideration is also given to the inclusion of organometallic contaminants to PEOPS.
Existing technologies are evaluated particularly for removal of PEOPs from drinking and wastewater. Selected methods are further refined along with new (e.g., nanotech and biotech) technology development developed based on the expertise of the network. Source-oriented approaches and green technologies are given special consideration.
This theme covers chemical and nano-remediation such as enhanced photolytic and chemical degradation, remote sensing, data collection and analysis, and response planning. It also covers biotechnologies for remediation such as bio-stimulation using gaseous and liquid nutrients and oxygen enhancement.
Vulnerability evaluation and health risk management are key components in the impact assessment and method development in terms of dealing with PEOPs. Risk/impact assessment, pollutant transport and fate simulation, and system optimization are integrated in order to provide a dynamic comprehensive risk-based decision-making support system.
The research focuses on evaluation of PEOPs on toxicology and marine ecology in order to gain better understanding of the mechanisms and impacts. The effects associated with treatment and remediation methods are also important to develop better technologies for pollution mitigation.
Accordion Content
The theme covers three major tasks: 1) understanding and evaluation of social and economic effects of pollution caused by PEOPs in both quantitative and qualitative ways; 2) the formulation of possible mitigation methods through participation of stakeholders; and 3) the development and provision of 3-tier educational and training programs for HQP, professionals and communities. Special attention and efforts are given to indigenous communities in northern and coastal regions.