Research on the biogeochemistry and ecotoxicology of contaminants in the environment.
This facility is associated to the Canada Research Chair in Global Change Ecotoxicology. It offers specific expertise in analyzing mercury and metal speciation in various types of environmental samples, including water, soil, sediments, invertebrates and vertebrates. The team follows trace-metal clean protocols and can measure extremely low levels in very small masses. For instance, researchers can measure mercury and other metals in one zooplanktonic individual. The facility also offers measurements of rare earth elements by using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS), allowing for the control of analytical interferences. A wide variety of more basic environmental measurements, such as nutrient and elemental analyses, is also available.
- Sample analysis from water, soils, sediments and biological tissues:
- Mercury and methylmercury
- Rare earth elements (RREs)
- Metals
- Arsenic speciation
- Selenium speciation
- Nutrients (total phosphorus and total nitrogen) (water samples)
- Elemental analysis (CHNS) (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur)
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Mining, minerals and metals
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Agilent 8900 Triple Quadrupole induced coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) | Determination of arsenic and selenium organic and inorganic species. |
| Agilent 8900 Triple Quadrupole induced coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) | Determination of total metals and rare earth elements (REEs). |
| Tekran Series 2600 Automated Sample Analysis System | Cold vapor atomic fluorescent spectrometer (CVAFS) for mercury determination in water samples. |
| Tekran Model 2700 Automated Methyl Mercury Analysis System | Cold vapor atomic fluorescent spectrometer (CVAFS) for methylmercury determination in soil, sediment, organic samples or tissues. |
| Anton Paar Multiwave 5000 Microwave Digestion Platform | Acid digestion of solids by microwave for metals analysis. |
| Thermo FlashSmart Elemental Analyzer | CHNS analysis to determine the percentage of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) present in a sample. |
| Lachat Quikchem 8500 Flow Injection Analysis System | Flow analyzer to determine nitrite/nitrate and total nitrogen in water samples. |
| Astoria-Pacific Astoria 2 Analyzer | Segmented flow analyzer (SFA) to determine total phosphorus in water samples. |
Private and public sector research partners
- Hydro-Québec
- Conseil des Abénakis de Wôlinak
- Pituvik Sarvaq Energie Inc. (Inukjuak)
- Pituvik Landholding Corporation (Inukjuak)
- Conseil des Innus d’Ekuanitshit
Additional information
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| Canada Research Chair in Global Change Ecotoxicology | https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/profile-eng.aspx?profileId=3396 |
| Researcher-Indigenous relationship: “We must proceed with humility and respect” | https://ici.radio-canada.ca/espaces-autochtones/1983319/pietacho-amyot-autochtones-recherche-scienc… |