Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) include several hundred chemically-related, environmentallyx000D
persistent organic compounds having various structures and varied toxicity. Most of them are formed by ax000D
process of thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) and subsequent recombination (pyrosynthesis) of organicx000D
molecules from industries such as petroleum and coal PAHs are ubiquitous in Canadian soils and of concernx000D
for human and ecosystem health due to their toxicity as carcinogens, mutagens and immunosuppressants. Thex000D
industrial partner, Qanari Inc., has developed and validated the Safe Soil Tester, a rapid diagnostic tool thatx000D
uses a bioluminescent microorganism to qualitatively detect the presence of PAHs in contaminated soils. Whenx000D
coupled with global positioning systems, the diagnosis produces maps indicating 'hotspots' of contaminationx000D
for further evaluation, risk assessment and remediation. Current market demands for hand-held technologiesx000D
have led Qanari to investigate the possibility of developing a micro-biosensor system that would be a smaller,x000D
portable device that is compatible with wireless technology. Qanari and McGill University will collaborate tox000D
demonstrate the proof-of-concept of a micro-biosensor and detection system, to determine the feasibility ofx000D
micro-sizing the existing technology. Given the increasingly stringent regulations dealing with contaminationx000D
from PAHs in upstream oil and gas sites, petroleum storage tank sites, as well as other commercial andx000D
industrial facilities, such a rapid detection system has tremendous commercial potential. The Canadian publicx000D
will benefit from quick screening tools to mitigate the effect of PAHs on human and ecosystem health.