Research Activities

Soils + Plants

S2  Dr. William Hendershot (P.I.), william.hendershot@mcgill.ca
Natural Resource Science, McGill University
Bioaccessibility of Trace Elements in Agricultural Soils of Eastern Canada

Collaborators
Dr. Edward Berkelaar (Co-Inv.), eberkel@redeemer.on.ca
Department of Environmental Science, Redeemer University College
Dr. Francois Courchesne (Co-Inv.), francois.courchesne@umontreal.ca
Department of Geographie, Université de Montreal
Dr. Sheila Macfie (Co-Inv.), smacfie@uwo.ca
Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario
Dr. Sébastien Sauvé (Co-Inv.), sebastien.sauve@umontreal.ca
Department de Chimie, Université de Montreal

Current summary: A number of projects are underway focusing on trace element bioavailability to plants. Yong Hong Wu is currently writing up her Ph.D. thesis on the surface charge chemistry of pea roots and trace element toxicity. While Yong Hong’s project was based on hydroponic experiments, Dina Schwertfeger is taking the development of the TBLM to the greenhouse with a series of experiments on Cd and Cu enriched soils. Akiko Sato is working on Ce in both hydroponic and soil systems and will provide much needed data on the toxicity of Ce in soils. Will Hendershot will be using part of his six-month sabbatical (starting January 2007) on developing greater expertise on urban gardens: levels of contaminants in soils and food produced as well as gaining a greater understanding of whether the levels of trace elements in food represent a serious health risk.

Summary Archive: Current | 2007 | 2006

 

Project Metadata

Study/Sampling Design

Soil samples have been collected from a number of locations in eastern Canada. They are used in laboratory experiments to determine soil characteristics including trace element binding to soil particles. Some soils are artificially enriched with trace elements by spiking and leaching out excess salts. Hydroponic studies are used to determine solution speciation effects on toxicity (root growth inhibition).

Number of projects providing material for study: 0

Location of Field Site(s)

Belledune, New Brunswick (47° 54.5’ N, 65° 52.1’ W)
Valleyfield, Quebec (45° 14.2’ N, 74° 04.2’ W)
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec (45° 24.7’ N, 73° 56.1’ W)
Montreal, Quebec (45° 29.2’ N, 73° 34.0’ W)
Rouyn, Quebec (48° 15.0’ N, 79° 01.2’ W)
Sudbury, Ontario (49° 29.0’ N, 80° 58.5’ W)

Human Studies

Outcome or Process Studied
--- none provided ---

Exposure Medium, and Metals/Substances Quantified
--- none provided ---

Biological Endpoint(s) Monitored

Biota Studied

Species
Cucumber, chick pea

Metals, etc. Quantified
Cd, Ce, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn

Biological Endpoint(s)

Hydroponic experiments – root growth (length, weight)
Pot experiments – root, shoot and leaf growth (length, weight)

Physical Material(s) Studied

Medium/Media
Soil and Plant tissue

Metals, etc. Quantified
Cd, Ce, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn

Bibliographic References on-file with Secretariat: No

Data Available: Yes

Data Archived with MITHE-SN: No