Papers

Interaction of toxic chemicals with microplastics: A critical review

This critical review examined how toxic chemicals interact with microplastics in the environment, synthesizing evidence on adsorption, desorption, and the conditions under which microplastics either increase or decrease the bioavailability of co-occurring pollutants.

Beluga whale stewardship and collaborative research practices among Indigenous peoples in the Arctic

This review documents the stewardship and collaborative research practices of Indigenous peoples across the Arctic regarding beluga whales, examining how traditional knowledge and community-based harvesting practices contribute to conservation and how they are being integrated with scientific monitoring programs.

A review of methods for measuring microplastics in aquatic environments

This review critically evaluates methods used to measure microplastics in aquatic environments, covering sampling design, sample processing, and spectroscopic identification, and identifies the most significant sources of methodological variation. Standardizing these methods is essential for generating comparable data across studies and enabling robust environmental risk assessment.

Machine Learning of polymer types from the spectral signature of Raman spectroscopy microplastics data

Machine learning models were applied to Raman spectroscopy data to improve polymer type identification in environmentally weathered microplastics, which are harder to classify than pristine samples. The approach achieved better accuracy by accounting for spectral changes caused by UV exposure and physical degradation.

A survey of metal contaminants in an urban snow disposal facility

This paper is not about microplastics; it surveys heavy metal contamination levels in an urban snow disposal site in Canada, using roadside snow as a proxy for automobile traffic-related metal pollution.

Editorial: Current and future threats to marine zooplankton in changing polar oceans and their potential for adaption and coping

This editorial reviews current and future threats to marine zooplankton in changing polar oceans, synthesizing research on how anthropogenic climate change affects food-source availability, distribution, reproductive success, and survival of polar zooplankton communities, while considering their adaptive potential.

Seasonal Patterns of Viromes in Urban Aquatic Environments of Manitoba

Researchers characterised the taxonomy, functional profiles, and seasonal patterns of viral DNA and RNA communities in urban aquatic environments in Winnipeg, Manitoba using metagenomics and quantitative PCR, sampling 11 sites along the Red and Assiniboine rivers across spring, summer, and fall to assess virome distribution in wastewater-receiving waters.

Microplastics in the Terrestrial Environment

Development and Validation of an Efficient Method for Processing Microplastics in Biota Samples

A new one-step laboratory method was developed to efficiently digest and extract microplastics from mussel and fish tissue samples. Standardized extraction methods are critical for making microplastic studies comparable across different labs and species.

Report of the Pollution 2025 - Cumulative Effects - Multiple Stressors IWC Intersessional Workshop

This report summarizes proceedings and findings from the IWC Intersessional Workshop on Pollution 2025, focusing on cumulative effects and multiple stressors on cetacean populations, including plastic pollution, chemical contaminants, and their interactions with other environmental pressures.

Wet Prairie: People, Land and Water in Agricultural Manitoba