What can a half century of research achieve? This question was top of mind at the fiftieth Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop (previously the Aquatic Toxicity Workshop), sponsored by the University of Waterloo, on 6-9 October 2024 in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario.
This series of meetings began in the 1970s directly after the formation of the federal government department, Environment Canada, in 1971; completion of a major revision of the federal Fisheries Act in 1973; the initiation of new national environmental legislation; and the establishment of a network of federal government aquatic toxicology and chemistry laboratories across Canada. The annual meetings became an important venue for the practitioners to come together to discuss methods, measure progress in tackling industrial pollution, and communicate key findings and concerns to federal and provincial decision makers and managers responsible for pollution control. The scientific data assembled through these initiatives quickly became the foundation for strengthened pollution regulations and guidelines for each industry, coast to coast, and the meetings became an early example of a functioning, dynamic science-policy-management interface to protect Canadian aquatic environments.
The theme of the 2024 meeting, “Reflecting on the Past, Charting the Future,” was designed to promote discussion of progress in water pollution control in Canada, along with the supporting research and continued needs to monitor water quality with the latest toxicological techniques. The three days of sessions were well attended, especially by graduate students from universities across the country. Topics ranged from aquatic impacts of wastewater effluents, minerals, radionuclides, emerging contaminants, microplastics and pesticides, to wildlife ecotoxicology, environmental DNA research and applications, and application of emerging technologies. Learning about the advanced techniques and seeing the dedication of the young investigators was very encouraging. In addition, many water quality and pollution control managers attended the sessions to stay current with the science and its applications.
I attended sessions on microplastics as it is a growing serious issue to ecosystem and human health and as yet little understood. Today, microplastics are pervasive in many species, in soils and sediments, and in human foods. It is, therefore, important to determine the risks and implement appropriate policies and controls.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the meeting began with an overview of a half-century of progress in toxicity methods, monitoring, micro bio-tests, genomics, and ecology. Having been associated with the workshops since 1974, I was honoured to be invited to round off the plenary session with a talk on a current interest (see abstract below). I spoke on “Health of the ocean: The intersection of marine ecotoxicology, marine pollution, and human health research in an era of climate change,” which I co-authored with Michael Depledge, University of Exeter Medical School, England, a long-term colleague with whom I co-taught an annual course on Marine Ecotoxicology for about a decade. Further details about the workshop are included in the program booklet.
The next annual Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop will be held in Victoria, British Columbia, 5-8 October 2025, with the theme: “Holistic protection of our ecosystems: Integrating ecotoxicology science into coastal and inland management.” Aquatic and ecotoxicology practitioners are keen to see their work directly contribute to continued and improved legislation for effective management of Canada’s aquatic ecosystems, coast to coast to coast. See, for example, the proceedings of past workshops (1974-2022). The science of ecotoxicology is being directly linked to policy development and effective management, which is an example of a science-policy interface at work on behalf of Canadians.
Reference
Wells, P. G., & Depledge, M. (2024). Health of the ocean: The intersection of marine ecotoxicology, marine pollution, and human health research in an era of climate change. Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop, Waterloo, Ontario, 6-9 October 2024.
Abstract: The oceans are suffering from many threats to their natural biodiversity and to coastal communities which benefit from their many resources. Amongst those threats are pollution (chemicals, plastics and microbial), over-fishing, invasive species, natural toxins, and above all, climate change with its effects such as rising sea temperatures and levels and ocean acidification. Advancements in marine ecotoxicology help to identify the key chemical threats and encourage appropriate regulation and control. This knowledge helps to protect people from well-recognised pollutants, emerging chemicals of concern, natural toxins, and microbial threats.
Clearly, cleaner seas benefit both people and natural flora and fauna. This talk discusses where we are currently in the fields of ocean health, ocean and human health, and marine ecotoxicology, and where critical new approaches and understanding are needed to ensure a healthier ocean for all its inhabitants and users. The urgency of a stronger connection between these endeavours and cooperation of its practitioners cannot be underestimated, given climate change, growing numbers of people living along the coasts, high demand for marine protein, and the time delay between understanding a marine threat and its resolution by policy and decision makers and ocean managers. Clean seas protect people. Importantly, the science and applications of marine ecotoxicology contributes to protecting both marine ecosystem health and human health.
Author: Peter G. Wells
Tags: Marine & Ocean Issues, Public Policy & Decision Making, Science-Policy Interface
Images: Photograph credit: P. G Wells
