Research

Our laboratory investigates sources of anthropogenic contaminants into the environment, environmental exposure or contamination, ecological implications, and the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. We also work on method development to advance scientific research and management. Although the majority of our work revolves around plastic debris and associated additive chemicals, we also work on other anthropogenic stressors including climate change, road salt, and metals.

Sources, pathways and exposure of anthropogenic contaminants 

In our laboratory, one of our research objectives is to determine and quantify the sources, transport and fate of anthropogenic contaminants in freshwater and marine habitats. We also measure environmental fate in organisms as well as exposure concentrations so that we can better inform risk. Ongoing projects include understanding the sources of microplastics and macroplastics to local aquatic ecosystems in Toronto, measuring biological fate of microplastics in fish, and understanding the transport and fate of micro- and macro-plastics in rivers and lakes.

Ecological implications of anthropogenic stressors

Another main objective is to test hypotheses about the ecological effects of contaminants alone and in mixtures. We conduct research to understand the mechanisms of impact and how contaminants affect individual organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems. Current projects include measuring the direct and indirect effects of microplastics in a whole lake ecosystem, manipulative field experiments to measure the fate and effects of micro- and macroplastics in lakes and rivers, measuring the toxicity of different types of microplastics, including paints, assessing the risk of macroplastic on marine megafauna, and investigating how environmental pollutants affect fish hybridization.

Method Development to Quantify and Characterize Microplastics

Because measuring microplastics in environmental samples is not always easy, we also work on method development to improve extraction, quantification and identification techniques. Some of what we do includes work to reduce the limit of detection for microplastics, building spectral libraries relevant to microplastics, and helping inform field sampling and laboratory analyses for governments and agencies. You can find open-access resources here. Currently our lab is working on automation of microplastic analysis using Raman spectroscopy, and creating new a spectroscopy library for paint microplastics. We are also co-leading work with SCCWRP and the IJC to develop standardized laboratory protocols, sampling protocols and risk assessment and management frameworks for microplastics.

Applying Science to Policy

We believe that policies and management strategies should be informed by science. We conduct research that measures the effectiveness of different proposed mitigation strategies, particularly for preventing plastic debris or cleaning up plastic pollution from the environment. In addition to a lot of solutions-based research under the U of T Trash Team, our lab is working on an approach to understand pollution management in the great lakes, and ecotoxicological testing to inform risk assessments for microplastics.

Read more about what each lab member is working on by clicking here.