Current Research Projects
The Lint Project: Removing Chemicals of Mutual and Emerging Concern from the Great Lakes
Sam Athey
Laundry – it's a chore, but because laundry lint contains low, but not insignificant levels of chemical contaminants that have been added to or accumulated on clothing and textiles, it presents an opportunity to divert indoor contaminants from entering the Great Lakes. As part of an ongoing project, dubbed the Laundry Project, we are investigating the effectiveness of chemical diversion using lint filters fitted to washing machines and dryers.
The goal of this project is to test the effectiveness of the diversion of chemicals of mutual and emerging concern using lint filters fitted to washers and dryers. Project objectives include:
Currently we have recruited households in Parry Sound and Toronto, Ontario and fitted their washers and dryers filters so that we can track diversion of anthropogenic microfibers and associated pollutants from laundering entering Lakes Huron and Ontario. Chemicals of interest for this study include: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), short-chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and more.
The Laundry Project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Great Lakes Protection Initiative. This project is a collaboration between the Diamond Lab, Peng Lab, Mitchell Lab and the Rochman Lab at the University of Toronto and Dr. Amila De Silva with Environment and Climate Change Canada, with assistance from Georgian Bay Forever (GBF), and the Town of Parry Sound
Related Publications
Athey, S., Diamond, M. L., Erdle, L. M., Lin, J., Rochman, C. M., and Sweetnam, D. Filters added to washing machines mitigate microfiber pollution. Microfiber Policy Brief, 2018. PDF.
McIlwraith, H. K., Lin, J., Erdle, L. M., Mallos, N., Diamond, M. L. and Rochman, C. M. 2019. Capturing microfibers - marketed technologies reduce microfiber emissions from washing machines. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 139, 40-45.
Collaborators:
Professor Chelsea Rochman (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - University of Toronto)
Liisa Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Professor Hui Peng (Department of Chemistry - University of Toronto)
Professor Carl Mitchell (Department of Physical and Environmental Science - University of Toronto Scarborough)
Amila De Silva (Environment Canada - Centre for Inland Waters)
Fashion Takes Action
Georgian Bay Forever
Sam Athey
Laundry – it's a chore, but because laundry lint contains low, but not insignificant levels of chemical contaminants that have been added to or accumulated on clothing and textiles, it presents an opportunity to divert indoor contaminants from entering the Great Lakes. As part of an ongoing project, dubbed the Laundry Project, we are investigating the effectiveness of chemical diversion using lint filters fitted to washing machines and dryers.
The goal of this project is to test the effectiveness of the diversion of chemicals of mutual and emerging concern using lint filters fitted to washers and dryers. Project objectives include:
- Release rate of CMCs per load of residential laundry (washers and dryers) and factors influencing those rates.
- Diversion rate of CMCs per load of residential laundry to wastewater treatment plants attributable to a washing machine filters and secondary dryer lint filters.
- Potential diversion rates realistically scaled up over the residential sector of the GL Basin.
Currently we have recruited households in Parry Sound and Toronto, Ontario and fitted their washers and dryers filters so that we can track diversion of anthropogenic microfibers and associated pollutants from laundering entering Lakes Huron and Ontario. Chemicals of interest for this study include: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), short-chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and more.
The Laundry Project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Great Lakes Protection Initiative. This project is a collaboration between the Diamond Lab, Peng Lab, Mitchell Lab and the Rochman Lab at the University of Toronto and Dr. Amila De Silva with Environment and Climate Change Canada, with assistance from Georgian Bay Forever (GBF), and the Town of Parry Sound
Related Publications
Athey, S., Diamond, M. L., Erdle, L. M., Lin, J., Rochman, C. M., and Sweetnam, D. Filters added to washing machines mitigate microfiber pollution. Microfiber Policy Brief, 2018. PDF.
McIlwraith, H. K., Lin, J., Erdle, L. M., Mallos, N., Diamond, M. L. and Rochman, C. M. 2019. Capturing microfibers - marketed technologies reduce microfiber emissions from washing machines. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 139, 40-45.
Collaborators:
Professor Chelsea Rochman (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - University of Toronto)
Liisa Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Professor Hui Peng (Department of Chemistry - University of Toronto)
Professor Carl Mitchell (Department of Physical and Environmental Science - University of Toronto Scarborough)
Amila De Silva (Environment Canada - Centre for Inland Waters)
Fashion Takes Action
Georgian Bay Forever
INTERFLAB
Yuchao Wan
INTERFLAB is an international inter-laboratory study on novel halogenated flame retardants, which is to assess the accuracy and precision of analyzing novel halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) among different laboratories in the context of household dust . Phase 1 involved the analysis of 6 unknown test mixtures for 24 HFRs and was completed in June 2014. Thirteen academic/government laboratories participated, and results were made available to participants in the form of a final report in October 2014. Phase 2 aimed to judge differences/improvements in the analysis of the HFRs that were included in Phase 1, and to evaluate laboratory performance and inter-laboratory variability at different stages of household dust analysis. Phase 2 included academic, government, private and commercial laboratories (20 labs).
Related publications:
MELYMUK L, GOOSEY E, RIDDELL N, DIAMOND ML. 2015. Interlaboratory study of novel halogenated flame retardants: INTERFLAB. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 407 (22): 6759–6769. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-8843-7
MELYMUK L, ML DIAMOND, N RIDELL, Y WAN, Š VOJTA, B CHITTIM. 2018. Challenges in the analysis of halogenated flame retardants in indoor dust: Results of the INTERFLAB 2 interlaboratory evaluation. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (16): 9295-9303. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02715
Collaborators:
Prof. Lisa E. Melymuk (RECETOX, Masaryk University)
Dr. Amandeep Saini (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Air Quality Research Division )
Yuchao Wan
INTERFLAB is an international inter-laboratory study on novel halogenated flame retardants, which is to assess the accuracy and precision of analyzing novel halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) among different laboratories in the context of household dust . Phase 1 involved the analysis of 6 unknown test mixtures for 24 HFRs and was completed in June 2014. Thirteen academic/government laboratories participated, and results were made available to participants in the form of a final report in October 2014. Phase 2 aimed to judge differences/improvements in the analysis of the HFRs that were included in Phase 1, and to evaluate laboratory performance and inter-laboratory variability at different stages of household dust analysis. Phase 2 included academic, government, private and commercial laboratories (20 labs).
Related publications:
MELYMUK L, GOOSEY E, RIDDELL N, DIAMOND ML. 2015. Interlaboratory study of novel halogenated flame retardants: INTERFLAB. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 407 (22): 6759–6769. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-8843-7
MELYMUK L, ML DIAMOND, N RIDELL, Y WAN, Š VOJTA, B CHITTIM. 2018. Challenges in the analysis of halogenated flame retardants in indoor dust: Results of the INTERFLAB 2 interlaboratory evaluation. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (16): 9295-9303. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02715
Collaborators:
Prof. Lisa E. Melymuk (RECETOX, Masaryk University)
Dr. Amandeep Saini (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Air Quality Research Division )
Kingston Cohort
Yuchao Wan
This project is about the epigenetic markers of allergy development. It aims to develop the potential relationship between asthma and selected SVOCs (PAH and phthalates).
Collaborators:
Dr. Michelle North (Queen's University)
Yuchao Wan
This project is about the epigenetic markers of allergy development. It aims to develop the potential relationship between asthma and selected SVOCs (PAH and phthalates).
Collaborators:
Dr. Michelle North (Queen's University)
Investigation of exposure to flame retardants among electronic waste recycling workers
Linh Nguyen
Linh Nguyen
​Collecting dust from an e-waste facility in Toronto
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​Collecting dust from an e-waste facility in Toronto
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This project is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour to address this knowledge gap on occupational exposure and work-related health by undertaking a detailed exposure assessment in the e-waste recycling industry.
This study aims to characterize the inhalation and skin exposure of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling workers to “old” flame retardant chemicals (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs) and two groups of “newer” replacement flame retardant chemicals, namely halogenated and phosphorus flame retardant chemicals (HFRs and PFRs, respectively). It is important to note that PBDEs are a type of HFR. This study seeks to answer two research questions:
- What levels of exposure do e-waste recycling workers have to flame retardants (PBDEs and replacement flame retardants) through skin and airborne exposure?
- Can we measure flame retardant exposure in the workplace using novel lightweight passive samplers?
Collaborators:
Prof. Victoria H. Arrandale (Occupational Cancer Research Centre - University of Toronto)
Dr. Marta Venier (Indiana University)
Dr. Lisa E. Melymuk (RECETOX)
Dr. Liisa M. Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Prof. Victoria H. Arrandale (Occupational Cancer Research Centre - University of Toronto)
Dr. Marta Venier (Indiana University)
Dr. Lisa E. Melymuk (RECETOX)
Dr. Liisa M. Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Occupational exposure in Ontario nail salons
Linh Nguyen
This project is funded by by the Ontario Ministry of Labour to better understand a range of occupational exposures in Ontario nail salons, including chemicals, ergonomics and psychosocial stress. This is achieved through the collection of air measurements, skin wipe samples and observations in Ontario nail salons. Workers who agree to participate also complete a questionnaire about psychosocial stressors and ergonomic hazards in their workplace. Results will lead to a better understanding of occupational exposures that impact nail salon technicians including any specific exposures that may require targeted prevention effort. This work also helps to increase awareness of hazardous exposures among nail salon owners and workers.
Collaborators:
Prof. Victoria H. Arrandale (Occupational Cancer Research Centre - University of Toronto)
Prof. D. Linn Holness (St. Michaels Hospital, University of Toronto)
Prof. Tracy Kirkham (Dalla Lana School of Public Health - University of Toronto)
Queen West – Central Toronto Community Health Centres (QW-CTCHC)
National Networks for Environment and Women’s Health (NNEWH)
Healthy Nail Salon Network (HNSN)
Linh Nguyen
This project is funded by by the Ontario Ministry of Labour to better understand a range of occupational exposures in Ontario nail salons, including chemicals, ergonomics and psychosocial stress. This is achieved through the collection of air measurements, skin wipe samples and observations in Ontario nail salons. Workers who agree to participate also complete a questionnaire about psychosocial stressors and ergonomic hazards in their workplace. Results will lead to a better understanding of occupational exposures that impact nail salon technicians including any specific exposures that may require targeted prevention effort. This work also helps to increase awareness of hazardous exposures among nail salon owners and workers.
Collaborators:
Prof. Victoria H. Arrandale (Occupational Cancer Research Centre - University of Toronto)
Prof. D. Linn Holness (St. Michaels Hospital, University of Toronto)
Prof. Tracy Kirkham (Dalla Lana School of Public Health - University of Toronto)
Queen West – Central Toronto Community Health Centres (QW-CTCHC)
National Networks for Environment and Women’s Health (NNEWH)
Healthy Nail Salon Network (HNSN)
Developing a multi-media fugacity model of bioretention cells (BCs)
Tim Rodgers
Tim Rodgers
Schematic Diagram of a storm water bioretention cell (BC)
(Zhang et al., 2015 Ecol. Eng. 87)
Storm water management is an often under-appreciated method to mitigate some of the environmental impact of urban areas on surrounding ecosystems. Some of the more obvious impacts of stormwater runoff are related to the volume and episodic nature of water flows. However, stormwater runoff is also an important vehicle by which pollutants enter the natural environment.
This project, with Professor Elodie Passeport, Professor Miriam Diamond and Professor Jennifer Drake, aims to develop innovative, low-cost solutions for effectively managing stormwater quantity and quality concerns. The project will use a combination of integrated field studies, laboratory experiments, stable isotope analysis, and modelling to improve BC effectiveness. Improving BCs is one way to enhance Canadian stormwater quality, reducing the ecosystem stress caused by contaminants in stormwater, and improving the condition of Canada’s urban or urban-adjacent ecosystems. The long term goals of the project are to improve urban stormwater management practices and better prepare us for coping with extreme climate events.
Development of a mathematical model of BC behaviour will provide synthesis of the data and knowledge collected in the course of this project, provide a tool for decision-makers to enable better stormwater management practices and optimize the design of stormwater BCs.
Collaborators:
Professor Elodie Passeport (Department of Civil Engineering - University of Toronto)
Professor Jennifer Drake (Department of Civil Engineering - University of Toronto)
This project, with Professor Elodie Passeport, Professor Miriam Diamond and Professor Jennifer Drake, aims to develop innovative, low-cost solutions for effectively managing stormwater quantity and quality concerns. The project will use a combination of integrated field studies, laboratory experiments, stable isotope analysis, and modelling to improve BC effectiveness. Improving BCs is one way to enhance Canadian stormwater quality, reducing the ecosystem stress caused by contaminants in stormwater, and improving the condition of Canada’s urban or urban-adjacent ecosystems. The long term goals of the project are to improve urban stormwater management practices and better prepare us for coping with extreme climate events.
Development of a mathematical model of BC behaviour will provide synthesis of the data and knowledge collected in the course of this project, provide a tool for decision-makers to enable better stormwater management practices and optimize the design of stormwater BCs.
Collaborators:
Professor Elodie Passeport (Department of Civil Engineering - University of Toronto)
Professor Jennifer Drake (Department of Civil Engineering - University of Toronto)
Former Research Projects
Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in Canadian homes.
Congqiao Yang
Congqiao Yang
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As a part of the Ontario Environment and Health Study, a case control study of breast cancer patients, we conducted a household exposure study focusing on brominated and organophosphate flame retardants (BFRs and OPEs) and phthalate esters (PAEs) in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ottawa homes. Our goal is to better understand and quantify exposure by: 1) measuring concentrations of selected BFRs, OPEs, and PAEs indoors; 2) elucidating indoor emissions and fate; and 3) in combination with questionnaire responses, identify products as sources of BFRs, OPEs, and PAEs.
Collaborators: Health Canada (Ottawa) Cancer Care Ontario (Toronto) |
Home set-up
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In-home assessment
Taking hand wipe samples
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Developing passive air samplers for SVOCs indoors
Joseph Okeme
Joseph Okeme
In contrast to active air samplers, passive air samplers (PAS) are cheap, produce no noise, and require no power and minimal skill from the user. This project aims to develop PASs for measuring indoor SVOCs. Here, we:
- Calibrate different types of stationary PASs including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), styrene divinylbenzene copolymer (XAD) and polyurethane based PASs.
Collaborators:
Drs. Mahiba Shoeib, Liisa M. Jantunen, Atousa Abdollahi (Environment Canada)
Dr. Jiping Zhu (Health Canada)
Prof. Jana Klánová, Dr. Foppe Smedes (RECETOX) - Characterize PDMS as a personal PAS, part of a collaborative public health project between the University of Toronto, University of Utrecht and Chinese University in Hong Kong.
Collaborators:
Profs. Greg Evans, Jeff Brook, Paul Demers, Arthur Chan (University of Toronto)
Dr. Michelle North (Queen's University)
Profs. Roel Vermeulen, Jelle Vlaanderen, Lutzen Portengen, Anke Huss, Gerard Hoek (University of Utrecht)
Shelly Tse, XianQiang Lao, Kin-Fai Ho, Feng Wang (Chinese University of Hong Kong). - Measure and estimate PAS-air partition coefficients and uptake capacities of PDMS and PUF.
Collaborators:
Dr. Liisa Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Prof. J. Mark Parnis, Dr. Eva Webster (Trent University)
Measuring physical and chemical properties of SVOCs
Joseph Okeme
The physical and chemical properties such as vapour pressure (VP) and octanol-air partition coefficient (KOA) of SVOCs influence how they behave in the environment. VP and KOA values are key input parameters used in models to predict the environmental behaviour of SVOCs. However, measured data of VPs and KOAs are limited. The project focuses on measuring VPs and KOAs for selected SVOCs, to fill this gap.
Collaborators
Dr. Liisa Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Joseph Okeme
The physical and chemical properties such as vapour pressure (VP) and octanol-air partition coefficient (KOA) of SVOCs influence how they behave in the environment. VP and KOA values are key input parameters used in models to predict the environmental behaviour of SVOCs. However, measured data of VPs and KOAs are limited. The project focuses on measuring VPs and KOAs for selected SVOCs, to fill this gap.
Collaborators
Dr. Liisa Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Role of clothing in exposure to SVOCs in indoor environment
Aman Saini
Aman Saini
Deployment of fabric samples - March 2015
Fabrics have an assortment of uses in daily life such as the clothes we wear, upholstery we sit on or the duvets we snuggle in. Depending on their source of origin such as natural or man-made, fabrics differ in their physical as well as chemical properties. From anecdotal evidence, we know that fabric absorbs odours from the surrounding environment and can release them even after the removal of the source. Depending upon physical and chemical properties of fabrics, sorption of chemicals to a natural fabric can be different from a synthetic fabric. Thus, it stands to a rationale that semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) such as flame retardants and plasticizers that are found in high levels in indoor environment, will also partition to clothing according to the physical-chemical properties of the SVOCs as well as fabric. To test this hypothesis, I am characterising the sorption behaviour of SVOCs to natural and synthetic fabrics in controlled conditions and ambient indoor environment. Also, the chemicals that have sorbed onto fabric/clothing can release in laundry water while washing, especially ones that are hydrophilic in nature such as organophosphate esters, and then reach outdoor aquatic environment though waste water. We (Clara Thaysen & I) will also determine if the whole sorbed mass of chemicals is lost through washing or if some of the sorbed chemicals survive washing and stay on our clothing, thus potentially serving as a source of exposure.
Collaborators:
Liisa Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Rachel McQueen (University of Alberta)
Related Publications:
SAINI A, C THAYSEN, L JAUNTNEN, RH MCQUEEN, ML DIAMOND. 2016. From clothing to laundry water: Investigating the fate of phthalates, brominated flame retardants and organophosphate esters. Environ Sci Technol DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02038
SAINI A, C RAUERT, MJ SIMPSON, S HARRAD, ML DIAMOND. 2016. Characterizing the sorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) to cotton and polyester fabrics under controlled conditions. Sci Total Environ 563-564: 99-107. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.029
Collaborators:
Liisa Jantunen (Environment Canada - Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments)
Rachel McQueen (University of Alberta)
Related Publications:
SAINI A, C THAYSEN, L JAUNTNEN, RH MCQUEEN, ML DIAMOND. 2016. From clothing to laundry water: Investigating the fate of phthalates, brominated flame retardants and organophosphate esters. Environ Sci Technol DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02038
SAINI A, C RAUERT, MJ SIMPSON, S HARRAD, ML DIAMOND. 2016. Characterizing the sorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) to cotton and polyester fabrics under controlled conditions. Sci Total Environ 563-564: 99-107. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.029