Forestry is a major economic sector in New Brunswick. For many years, forestry management practices have been subject to controversies, and different positions persist. Aerial spraying of glyphosate as part of forest management practices emerged over the last decade as a contentious issue in the province. In this chapter, we present an analysis of the narrative created by the forest industry in support of glyphosate use. We argue that premier Blain Higgs’ policy record is coherent with this narrative that reconciles the oft-heard opposition between “the environment” and “the economy” through ever-more advanced technologies such as glyphosate. The first section provides background information on glyphosate use in forest management in NB. In the second section, we discuss the regulatory context of glyphosate use. The third and fourth sections present a structural discourse analysis of a small corpus of industry discourse, mainly focused on the presentation by the company JD Irving at the 2021 public hearings held by the Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmenta Stewardship. We conclude by looking back at the Higgs government’s (in)action following the public hearings that hints at a causal link between industry discourse and government policy.

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge associated with the analysis of transdisciplinary research. We use a narrative centered approach, focusing on hybridity, sensemaking and the potential for transdisciplinary research to foster agency.When confronted with changes, people – as individuals – and local communities – as groups – make sense of them in the light of their own knowledge, beliefs and experiences. The process by which communities make sense of changing institutional and natural environments can be defined as the interaction between their own frame of reference and the perception of the situational demands inherent to changes, together with their interpretation of these changes. Such a dynamic process of sensemaking constantly redefines the boundaries of the narratives that community members can call on to give meaning to their past, present and future. In this paper we use five case studies to analyze how this sensemaking plays out in situations of changing climate risk and changing frames of reference associated with the presence of transdisciplinary scientists. We identify the central challenge of ambiguity. We define ambiguity as situations where narratives of change assign different meanings to the changes observed. In such situations, we observe three potential outcomes in our case studies: (1) communities appear to be forced into inaction – as a consequence of agency-depriving senselessness; (2) communities appear to be cornered into maladaptation – as a consequence of a misguided sense of agency; and (3) communities try to resolve ambiguity and effectively move forward – as knowledge-based agency-fostering exercise. In light of these results, we argue that by contributing to the clarification of such ambiguities, climate science may contribute to increases in local agency, thus enhancing adaptive capacities. We conclude by proposing that climate science be place-based and community–centered. The purpose of such a shift would be aimed at building the agency-enhancing sensemaking of local communities.

Background: Manganese is an essential nutrient, but in excess, can be a potent neurotoxicant. We previously reported findings from two cross-sectional studies on children, showing that higher concentrations of manganese in drinking water were associated with deficits in IQ scores. Despite the common occurrence of this neurotoxic metal, its concentration in drinking water is rarely regulated. Objective: We aimed to apply a benchmark concentration analysis to estimate water manganese levels associated with pre-defined levels of cognitive impairment in children, i.e. drop of 1%, 2% and 5% in Performance IQ scores. Methods: Data from two studies conducted in Canada were pooled resulting in a sample of 630 children (ages 5.9-13.7 years) with data on tap water manganese concentration and cognition, as well as confounders. We used the Bayesian Benchmark Dose Analysis System to compute weight-averaged median estimates for the benchmark concentration (BMC) of manganese in water and the lower bound of the credible interval (BMCL), based on seven different exposure-response models. Results: The BMC for manganese in drinking water associated with a decrease of 1% Performance IQ score was 133 mu g/L (BMCL, 78 mu g/L); for a decrease of 2%, this concentration was 266 mu g/L (BMCL, 156 mu g/L) and for a decrease of 5% it was 676 mu g/L (BMCL, 406 mu g/L). In sex-stratified analyses, the manganese concentrations associated with a decrease of 1%, 2% and 5% Performance IQ in boys were 185, 375 and 935 mu g/L (BMCLs, 75, 153 and 386 mu g/L) and 78, 95, 192 mu g/L (BMCLs, 9, 21 and 74 mu g/L) for girls. Conclusion: Studies suggest that a maximum acceptable concentration for manganese in drinking water should be set to protect children, the most vulnerable population, from manganese neurotoxicity. The present risk analysis can guide decision-makers responsible for developing these standards.

Work that addresses the cumulative impacts of resource extraction on environment, community, and health is necessarily large in scope. This paper presents experiences from initiating research at this intersection and explores implications for the ambitious, integrative agenda of planetary health. The purpose is to outline origins, design features, and preliminary insights from our intersectoral and international project, based in Canada and titled the “Environment, Community, Health Observatory” (ECHO) Network. With a clear emphasis on rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, environments, and health, the ECHO Network is designed to answer the question: How can an Environment, Community, Health Observatory Network support the integrative tools and processes required to improve understanding and response to the cumulative health impacts of resource development? The Network is informed by four regional cases across Canada where we employ a framework and an approach grounded in observation, “taking notice for action”, and collective learning. Sharing insights from the foundational phase of this five-year project, we reflect on the hidden and obvious challenges of working across scales, sectors, and sites, and the overlap of generative and uncomfortable entanglements associated with health and resource development. Yet, although intersectoral work addressing the cumulative impacts of resource extraction presents uncertainty and unresolved tensions, ultimately we argue that it is worth staying with the trouble.

To assess radium (226Ra) as a potential indicator of impact in well waters, we investigated its behavior under natural conditions using a case study approach. 226Ra geochemistry was investigated in 67 private wells of southeastern New Brunswick, Canada, a region targeted for potential shale gas exploitation. Objectives were to i) establish 226Ra baseline in groundwater; ii) characterize 226Ra spatial distribution and temporal variability; iii) characterize 226Ra partitioning between dissolved phase and particulate forms in well waters; and iv) understand the mechanisms controlling 226Ra mobility under natural environmental settings. 226Ra levels were generally low (median = 0.061 pg L-1, or 2.2 mBq L-1), stable over time, and randomly distributed. A principal component analysis revealed that concentrations of 226Ra were controlled by key water geochemistry factors: the highest levels were observed in waters with high hardness, and/or high concentrations of individual alkaline earth elements (i.e. Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba), high concentrations of Mn and Fe, and low pH. As for partitioning, 226Ra was essentially observed in the dissolved phase (106 ± 19%) suggesting that the geochemical conditions of groundwater in the studied regions are prone to limit 226Ra sorption, enhancing its mobility. Overall, this study provided comprehensive knowledge on 226Ra background distribution at local and regional scales. Moreover, it provided a framework to establish 226Ra baselines and determine which geochemical conditions to monitor in well waters in order to use this radionuclide as an indicator of environmental impact caused by anthropogenic activities (e.g. unconventional shale gas exploitation, uranium mining, or nuclear generating power plants).

Serotonin plays a crucial role in mussel survival and reproduction. Although the serotonin system can be affected by metals, the effects of environmental concentrations of metals such as manganese (Mn), lead (Pd), and cadmium (Cd) have never been studied in blue mussels. The present study aimed to determine the effects of exposure to Mn, Pb, or Cd on serotonin levels, monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, and serotonin transporter (SERT) levels in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Mussels were exposed in vivo to increasing and environmentally relevant doses of Mn (10-1000 nM; 0.5-50 mu g/L), Pb (0.01-10 nM; 0.002-2 mu g/L), or Cd (0.01-10 nM; 0.001-1 mu g/L) for 28 d. Serotonin levels, MAO activity, and SERT expression were analyzed in the mussel mantle. Expression of SERT protein was significantly decreased, by up to 81%, following Mn, Pb, or Cd exposure. The activity of MAO in females was almost 2-fold higher, versus males, in nonexposed control mussels. In mussels exposed to 0.1nM of Pb (0.02 mu g/L), MAO activity was increased in males and decreased in females. In Cd-exposed mussels, a sex-dependent, inverted nonmonotonic pattern of MAO activity was observed. These results clearly indicate that low environmental concentrations of Mn, Pb, and Cd affect the serotonin system in blue mussels. (C) 2017 SETAC

We evaluated hair, toenails, and saliva (whole and supernatant) as biomarkers of exposure to manganese (Mn) in 274 school age children (6-13 years) consuming well water in southeastern New Brunswick, Canada. Mn concentrations in tap water ranged from <0.03 to 1046μgL-1 (geometric mean 5.96μgL-1). The geometric mean of Mn intake resulting from the consumption of water was 0.25 (0-34.95) μg kg-1day-1. Both Mn concentration in water and Mn intake were significantly correlated with Mn in hair (r=0.60 and r=0.53, respectively), Mn in toenail (r=0.29 and r=0.37 respectively) and to a lesser extent with Mn in saliva supernatant (r=0.14 and r=0.18, respectively). Mn in whole saliva did not correlate with Mn in water or Mn intake. Both Mn in hair and Mn in toenail allowed to discriminate the most exposed group from the least exposed group, based on Mn in water and Mn intake from water. In this group of children with low level Mn exposure, Mn concentrations in hair, and toenails reflected reasonably well Mn exposure from drinking water, whereas Mn content in saliva correlated less strongly.

Background: Manganese (Mn) is an element found in the environment and certain geographic areas have elevated concentrations in soil and water du to natural conditions or anthropic activities. A growing body of data suggests that exposure to manganese in drinking water could be neurotoxic. Objective: Firstly, we aimed to examine the association between exposure to manganese from drinking water and cognition in children consuming well water. Secondly, we also aimed to examine the relation between cognition and manganese concentrations in children's hair, nail, and saliva. Methods: A total 259 children from 189 households consuming well water were included in the present study (ages 5.9 to 13.7 years). We assessed children's cognition with the WISC-IV, and we used five indicators of manganese exposure: concentration in tap water, intake from the consumption of water divided by child's weight, manganese concentration in children's hair, toe nail, and saliva. We used General Estimating Equation analysis to assess the relation between manganese exposure indicators and IQ scores, adjusting for potential confounders, and taking into account family clusters. Results: Drinking water manganese concentrations were generally low, with 48% of children consuming water <51.1 mu g/L, 25% >50 mu g/L, and 4% >400 mu g/L. Results differed by sex. In girls, higher manganese concentration in water, hair, and toe nail were associated with poorer Performance IQ scores but this was significant only for toe nail (for a 10-fold increase in manganese, beta: -5.65, 95% CIs: -10.97, -0.32). Opposite associations were observed in boys, i.e., better Performance IQ scores with higher manganese concentration hair, toe nail, and water, the latter being significant beta: 2.66, 95% CIs: 0.44, 4.89). Verbal IQ scores did not seem to be associated with manganese exposure indicators. Conclusions: Drinking water manganese levels were considerably lower than in previous studies reporting neurotoxic effects. There was no clear indication of an association between exposure to manganese and cognitive development in this sample of school-age children although the data suggest there might be sex-specific associations. Given the low levels of exposure and sex-specific associations, a larger sample size would have been required to increase the statistical power and better characterize the relations. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Radium (Ra) at environmental relevant levels in natural waters was determined by ICP-MS after an off-line pre-concentration procedure. The latter consisted of Ra selective elution from potential interfering elements (i.e. other alkaline earth cations: Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, Mg2+) on a series of two different ion exchange resins (AG50W-X8 and Sr-resin). The overall analytical method was optimized according to the instrumental performance, the volume of water sample loaded on resins, and the sample salinity. Longer acquisition time (up to 150 s) was required to ensure stable measurement of Ra by ICP-MS at ultra trace level (1.0 pg L-1). For a synthetic groundwater spiked with Ra at 10.0 pg L-1, the analytical procedure demonstrated efficient separation of the analyte from its potential interfering elements and a complete recovery, independent of the sample volume tested from 10 up to 100 mL. For synthetic seawater spiked at a level of 10.0 pg L-1 of Ra, the total load of salts on the two resins should not exceed 0.35 g in order to ensure a complete separation and recovery of Ra. The method was validated on natural waters (i.e. groundwater, freshwater and seawater samples) spiked with Ra at different levels (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 pg L-1). Absolute Ra detection limits were determined at 0.020 pg L-1 (0.73 mBq L-1) and 0.12 pg L-1(4.4 mBq L-1) respectively for 60.0 mL of freshwater sample and for 10.0 mL of seawater.

Sexing methods of blue mussels are mostly based on the presence or absence of gametes, and do not take into account reproductive cycle stages. Exposure effects can be affected by the sex of mussels, thus the aim of this study is to determine an efficient sex determination protocol taking into account the reproductive cycle stage. Eight mussel sexing methods were compared. This study demonstrates that the first step in discerning sex in blue mussels should be assessing the reproductive stage, which can be done by mantle histology. During gametogenesis, histology allows the differentiation of males from females by the observation of gametes. However, when mussels are in sexual rest, the only method that should be used is the sex-specific gene method.

A novel approach for the synthesis of head-to-tail cyclic peptides has been developed and used to prepare two mimics of the urotensin II-related peptide (URP) cyclic core. Mimics 1 and 2 (c[Trp-Lys-Tyr-Gly-ψ(triazole)-Gly] and c[Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Gly-ψ(triazole)-Gly]) were respectively prepared using a combination of solid- and solution-phase synthesis. The silyl-based alkyne-modifying (SAM) linker enabled installation of C-terminal alkyne and N-terminal azide moieties onto linear peptide precursors, which underwent head-to-tail copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) in solution. In an aortic ring contraction assay, neither 1 nor 2 exhibited agonist activity; however, both inhibited selectively URP- but not UII-mediated vasoconstriction. The core phenylalanine residue was shown to be important for enhancing modulatory activity of the urotensinergic system.

Background: Manganese is a naturally occurring element and can be found in underground water at high concentrations. This element is a known neurotoxicant, although this has mostly been documented with workplace airborne exposure. A growing body of data suggests that exposure to manganese in drinking water could be neurotoxic. Our objective was to examine the association between exposure to manganese from drinking water and cognitive function in children. Methods: We recruited 262 children consuming groundwater, and assessed their cognition with the WASI (yielding Performance, Verbal and Full Scale IQ scores). To estimate exposure, we measured manganese concentration in home tap water and in children's hair and toenail. We used linear regression analysis to assess the relation between log10 manganese exposure indicators and IQ scores in boys and girls, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Drinking water manganese concentrations were generally low, with 48% of children consuming water below 5 μg manganese/L, 25% above 50 μg/L, and 4% above 400 μg/L. In girls, higher levels of exposure as indicated by all indicators (manganese concentration in water, hair, and toe nail) were consistently associated with poorer Performance IQ scores. However, these relations were not statistically significant after covariate adjustment, except for the association between log10 toe nail manganese concentration and Performance IQ (: -5.9, 95% CI: -11.8, -0.04). In boys, there was no clear association between manganese exposure indicators and IQ scores. Conclusions: Drinking water manganese levels were considerably lower than in previous studies reporting neurotoxic effects. Manganese exposure appeared associated in a dose-dependent way with lower Performance IQ scores in girls but not in boys. Studies should further examine the risks of manganese-contaminated drinking water, with a sample size sufficient to detect sex-specific effects.

As the rate of plastic production increases globally, we see the problem of plastic debris in oceans and coastal zones also increasing, even in areas under rigorous environmental protection. Drawing from a case study situated within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, this chapter shares the example of an ongoing, collaborative partnership between community members, researchers, and decision makers, working together to confront the problem of plastic pollution locally. Since plastic debris is a complex global issue, it cannot be resolved at the local level alone. Here we also introduce a burgeoning regional working group, Communities-Based Observatories Tackling Marine Litter (COASTAL). The goal of COASTAL is to coordinate community-based efforts underway to address plastic pollution at various sites within the larger North Atlantic–Mediterranean system, and thereby expand our understanding of the plastic debris problem, and its potential solutions, at regional and local scales.

Mytilus edulis are sensitive to environmental contamination like metals, such as silver (Ag), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg), which are bioavailable for this species [...]