|
FOCAL AREA #1:
MERCURY - CELLS TO SOCIETY Mercury is a global contaminant of concern. We study the chemical in ecosystems and people, and from the molecular to the global (policy) level. Our work mainly concerns using mercury to better under inter- and intra-species differences in sensitivity (e.g., polymorphisms, toxicokinetics). More recently, given the UN Minamata Convention, we have gotten involved in promoting evidence-based translation of science into policy. |
PROJECT AIMS
1) increase understanding of inter/intra-species variation in mercury exposure and risk, with emphasis on exposure science;
2) compare and contrast evidence between human health and ecosystem health; and
3) work towards an evidence-based and cross-disciplinary implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury Pollution.
1) increase understanding of inter/intra-species variation in mercury exposure and risk, with emphasis on exposure science;
2) compare and contrast evidence between human health and ecosystem health; and
3) work towards an evidence-based and cross-disciplinary implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury Pollution.
KEY PARTNERS
- Prof. Laurie Chan, University of Ottawa
- Dr. Dave Evers, Biodiversity Research Institute
- Prof. Cheryl Murphy, Michigan State University
- Profs. Rune Dietz and Christian Sonne, Aarhus University
- UN Mercury Partnership Advisory Group (PAG) & Minamata Convention Secretariat's office
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)
- select First Nations (e.g., Bigstone Cree) and Inuit (e.g., Inuvialuit Settlement Region) groups across Canada
- Prof. Laurie Chan, University of Ottawa
- Dr. Dave Evers, Biodiversity Research Institute
- Prof. Cheryl Murphy, Michigan State University
- Profs. Rune Dietz and Christian Sonne, Aarhus University
- UN Mercury Partnership Advisory Group (PAG) & Minamata Convention Secretariat's office
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)
- select First Nations (e.g., Bigstone Cree) and Inuit (e.g., Inuvialuit Settlement Region) groups across Canada
KEY PUBLICATIONS / RESOURCES
1) Basu, N., Horvat, M., Evers, D.C., Zastenskaya, R., Weihe, P., Tempowski, J. 2018. A State-of-the-Science Review of Mercury Biomarkers in Human Populations Worldwide Between 2000 and 2018. Environmental Health Perspectives. 126(10):106001.
2) Eagles-Smith C, Silbergeld EK, Basu N, Bustamante P, Diaz-Barriga F, Hopkins WA, Kidd KA, Nyland JF. 2018. Modulators of mercury risk to wildlife and humans in the context of rapid global change. Ambio. 47(2): 170-197.
3) Basu, N., Goodrich, J., Head, J. 2014. Ecogenetics of mercury: From genetic polymorphisms and epigenetics to risk assessment and decision-making. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 33: 1248-1258. LINK
4) Sherman, L., Blum, J.D., Franzblau, A, Basu, N. 2013. New insight into biomarkers of human mercury exposure using naturally occurring mercury stable isotopes. Environmental Science and Technology. 47: 3403-3409. LINK
5) Bradley, M., Barst, B. Basu, N. 2017. A review of mercury bioavailability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14,169. LINK
6) Ha, E., Basu, N., Bose O’Reily, S., Dorea, J., McSorley, E., Sakamoto, M., Chan. H.M. 2017. Current progress on understanding the impacts of mercury on human health. Environmental Research. 152: 419-433 LINK
KEY FUNDED PROJECTS
Funder: UM-NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) P30 CORE [2012-2015]
Title: Mercury Exposure, Epigenetics, and Cardiovascular Health in the American Dental Association Cohort
Use Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 Beadchip to explore associations/interactions between mercury exposure, cardiovascular health, and epigenetic markers in ADA members
Funder: Northern Contaminants Program [2013-2016]
Title: Genetic polymorphisms to improve interpretation of contaminant exposure and risk in Inuit
Gene-environment research program is to better understand how Inuit process contaminants so that biomarker information and linkages to health outcomes can be improved
Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative [2011-2015]
Title: Scaling the subtle effects of MeHg to perch population dynamics.
Develop a multi-tiered experimental approach that is guided by an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework which can be used to eventually assess ecological exposures and effects of mercury (and other contaminants) on Great Lakes fish and their potential impacts on their population dynamics.
Funder: Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s BearHealth Program [2009-2013]
Title: Does mercury pollution cause neurological stress in Arctic marine mammals?
Conduct field and laboratory experiments to characterize mercury exposure and neurochemical biomarkers in distinct brain regions of polar bears, ringed seals, narwhal, and pilot whales collected off Danish waters.
Funder: UM-NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) P30 CORE [2012-2015]
Title: Mercury Exposure, Epigenetics, and Cardiovascular Health in the American Dental Association Cohort
Use Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 Beadchip to explore associations/interactions between mercury exposure, cardiovascular health, and epigenetic markers in ADA members
Funder: Northern Contaminants Program [2013-2016]
Title: Genetic polymorphisms to improve interpretation of contaminant exposure and risk in Inuit
Gene-environment research program is to better understand how Inuit process contaminants so that biomarker information and linkages to health outcomes can be improved
Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative [2011-2015]
Title: Scaling the subtle effects of MeHg to perch population dynamics.
Develop a multi-tiered experimental approach that is guided by an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework which can be used to eventually assess ecological exposures and effects of mercury (and other contaminants) on Great Lakes fish and their potential impacts on their population dynamics.
Funder: Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s BearHealth Program [2009-2013]
Title: Does mercury pollution cause neurological stress in Arctic marine mammals?
Conduct field and laboratory experiments to characterize mercury exposure and neurochemical biomarkers in distinct brain regions of polar bears, ringed seals, narwhal, and pilot whales collected off Danish waters.