For more information contact:
Ministry of the Environment
Tel: (416) 235-5902; Fax: (416) 235-5903
E-mail: vince.taguchi@ene.gov.on.ca
Toronto
Area Mass Spectrometry Discussion Group (TAMSDG)
and
Canadian
Society for Analytical Sciences and Spectroscopy
(CSASS)
present
Dr. Susan
D. Richardson
(
“Emerging
Environmental Contaminants and Current Issues”
Much has
been achieved in the way of environmental protection over the last 30
years.
However, as we learn more, new concerns arise (including potential
adverse
health effects, bioaccumulation, and widespread distribution). This presentation will discuss emerging
environmental contaminants that the U.S. EPA and other agencies are
currently
concerned about. Emerging contaminants
include drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs),
pharmaceuticals,
perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)
flame
retardants, pesticide degradation products, sunscreens/UV filters, and
algal
toxins. Emerging DBPs include
iodo-acids, iodo-trihalomethanes, bromonitromethanes, haloamides, and
nitrosamines (including nitrosodimethylamine, NDMA).
New toxicological research is revealing that
some of these emerging DBPs are more genotoxic and cytotoxic than DBPs
currently regulated, and the use of newer alternative disinfectants
(chloramines, ozone, chlorine dioxide) can increase their formation. Concerns with PFOA and PBDEs include
widespread global distribution in the blood of the general population
and in
wildlife, as well as potential health effects, including cancer and
developmental toxicity. Pharmaceuticals
are of concern due to antibiotic resistance and potential endocrine
disrupting
effects. Some of the emerging
contaminants (e.g., nitrosamines, PBDE flame retardants, and pesticide
degradation products) are currently listed on the proposed Unregulated
Contaminants Monitoring Rule (UCMR2), which requires EPA to select five
or more
contaminants every five years to consider for regulation.
Other emerging contaminants are listed on the
Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), which identifies drinking water
contaminants
that might be regulated by EPA at a future date, and other emerging
contaminants are currently under consideration for the UCMR and the 3rd
CCL. The status and health/environmental
issues with these emerging environmental contaminants will be
discussed, as
well as analytical methods used to measure them. (Although this work
was
reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily
reflect
official Agency policy.)
AND
Dr. Damia
Barcelo
(Ministerio
de Ciencia
y Technologia, Barcelona,
Details to follow
Wednesday,
April 11th, 2007 (7:30 pm)
(Coffee
and donuts at 7:00 pm)
Ministry
of the Environment, Laboratory Services Branch – Auditorium
RSVP if
you plan to attend the meeting
(vince.taguchi@ontario.ca
or 416-235-5902)
Canadian
Society for Mass Spectrometry (CSMS) (www.csms.inter.ab.ca)