Mandate: Ecotoxicological information on substances is required to assess the hazard potential of commercial products (e.g. pesticides), contaminated sediments and soils, and industrial wastewaters.

The Toxicology Laboratory of the Environmental Science Centre provides toxicological support and advice to all Environment Canada programs in the Atlantic Region (NS, NB, PEI, and NF). The main programs supported are: toxics, emergencies, enforcement (Fisheries Act and CEPA); ocean disposal; industrial compliance; and environmental assessments. Toxicity support is also provided to other Federal and Provincial government departments. Advice and expert testimony are provided during prosecutions.

The laboratory contains highly specialized aquarium facilities for aquatic animal culture and acclimation. Flowing water systems include systems for temperature-controlled fresh and natural salt water, as well as treatment systems for dechlorination ultra-violet sterilization. Culture laboratories are temperature-controlled and contain constant temperature incubators and temperature-controlled water baths. Lighting is photoperiod-controlled and doors are double lockable for legal testing purposes. Floors are concrete and contain trench drains in the event of water leakage. Instrumentation includes meters to measure oxygen, pH, chlorine, conductivity, salinity, temperature, and specific ions (i.e. ammonia and sulfide). The laboratory contains a Microtox Toxicity Testing System which has been modified for conducting the chronic test and the genotoxicity test, as well as conducting the acute screening tests. The laboratory is fully accredited for toxicology tests by the Canadian Association of Environmental Analytical Laboratories (CAEAL).

The laboratory has the capability to conduct a full range of acute and chronic toxicity tests using fish, invertebrates, and bacteria. Test media include freshwater, saltwater, sediments, industrial wastewaters, and commercial products. Testing services are offered to federal and provincial government departments on a cost-recovery basis. Where private sector capability does not exist, testing services are available to private industry on a cost-recovery basis.

Specialized laboratory toxicology testing capabilities include:

Sediment Toxicology: Amphipod acute lethality, sea urchin fertilization on sediment porewater, Microtox, Hyalella growth and survival, and chironomid growth and survival.

Chronic Sublethal Sediment Test: With marine amphipods (Leptocherius plumulosus) - only Canadian government laboratory, federal or provincial, with this capability.

Sublethal Aquatic Toxicity: Daphnia magna reproduction (only Canadian laboratory which participated in OECD round robin tests).

Legal Testing and Expert Testimony: Provide testing and testimony for the Atlantic and Ontario Regions of Environment Canada (both the Fisheries Act and CEPA). Also provide assistance/advice to the Provinces of NS and NB. The laboratory has a wide range of freshwater and marine acute and chronic toxicity test capabilities.

Quality Control/Quality Assurance: Provision of assistance/advice to the Canadian Association of Environmental Analytical Laboratories, to the Standards Council of Canada, and to private consulting toxicity labs in Eastern Canada.

Product Testing: Toxicity testing of oils and oilspill treatment agents for Environment Canada’s Technology Development Branch (Edmonton, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario).

Cost Recovery: Provision of toxicity testing services on a cost recovery basis to all Regions of Environment Canada, and other federal and provincial government departments.

Polycheate Test Methods Development: Four years of research on the development of an Environment Canada chronic sublethal sediment toxicity test using estuarine and marine polychaete worms. Research topics included: relative species sensitivity to toxicants; species selection; tolerance to grain size, salinity, and ammonia; development of techniques to culture selected species in the laboratory; comments on the draft test method; and design of a round robin validation of the test.

New Bioassay for Environmental Effects Monitoring: A co-operative research project has been initiated between Dr. Wayne Fairchild of DFO, Moncton, and the Toxicology and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratories of ECB in Moncton. The research is aimed at developing a sublethal Environmental Effects Monitoring bioassay for rock and gravel areas downstream of industrial sites where the more traditional Environment Canada sediment bioassays cannot be conducted. The assay involves feeding amphipods with periphyton scraped from rocks at various points downstream from the site being monitored. The theory is that periphyton bioaccumulate contaminants, which will then be available to higher organisms during feeding. The tests will be measure effects on survival, growth, reproduction, and bioaccumulation of contaminants.

Methods Application Research: (I) Research on the use of sediment toxicity tests in assessing non-target effects of oilspill bioremediation techniques; (ii) Research on utility of the Microtox test for soil (terrestrial) samples; (iii) Research on the application of a battery of sediment tests in the Ocean Disposal Program.

Accreditation

The chemistry and toxicology laboratories are fully accredited by the Standards Council of Canada/Canadian Association of Environmental Analytical Laboratories (SCC/CAEAL) for a variety of toxicology, organic, and inorganic parameters. The laboratories participate in Performance Evaluation round robins for these parameters twice a year, and undergo a site evaluation once every two years. The most recent Site Evaluation was in 1997.

In addition, two staff members from the chemistry and toxicology laboratories have been trained as certified auditors, and provide assistance to SCC/CAEAL by participating in Site Audits of private laboratories several times each year.

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