Dr. David Lean of the Department of Biology is leading a three-year investigation into mercury levels in the St. Lawrence River. The multi-year, $450,000 study will focus on the walleye, a major fish species in the river, and why walleye in different parts of the river have widely divergent levels of mercury.
Mercury can bioaccumulate in the food chain, and is a highly toxic chemical that can lead to serious effects on the nervous system, birth defects, and other problems.
Dr. Lean teaches ecotoxicology and is an internationally recognized expert in his field. The project will involve a number of partners from the university sector, the federal and provincial governments, and the Akwesasne First Nation.
