CORNWALL, Ontario – This Wednesday, Mar. 1, Science and Nature on Tap will delve into the topic of toxic birds and their relation to high levels of flame retardant chemicals being found in Montreal region gulls.
Jonathan Verreault is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Comparative Avian Toxicology, Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l ‘environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC will be the evening’s panel expert.
Gulls have been useful sentinels of environmental toxins and exposure-related toxicological effects across the globe. Flame retardants have become infamous in recent years due to their presence in many consumer products (e.g., electronic and electric equipment, vehicles, upholstered furniture, etc.) These include the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), but also a growing number of substitutions to the recently banned PBDE mixtures (so-called emerging flame retardants).
The focus of the discussion will be the occasionally high concentrations of PBDEs in gulls from commercial areas including the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River near Montreal.
During this presentation, Verreaul will share his research on flame retardants in gulls and other wildlife from the St. Lawrence River, and discuss the quandaries of these toxic chemicals.
Sessions are held at Schnitzels European Flavours and take place on the first of each month at 7:00 p.m.
If you would like more information or to reserve a seat please call (613) 936-6620.
