with
Scott A. Mabury, University of Toronto
Fluoroalcohols, the basic industrial building
blocks of many popular water and stain repellents, contribute
significantly to the global burden of chemical pollution.
The chemicals are widespread in the atmosphere, persistent
enough to travel long distances, and their breakdown products
are increasingly appearing in high concentrations in humans
and in Arctic mammals. With one of these byproducts –
perfluorooctanoic acid – recently identified as a
"likely human carcinogen," the entire chemical
family has become the focus of intense scientific and regulatory
scrutiny.
Professor Scott A. Mabury tracks the source
of these materials and their chemical pathways through the
environment and our bodies. He is also a leader in proposing
ways to modify the chemicals to prevent their unintended
spreading, and the negative health effects that might result.
Steps to solve the contamination problem while preserving
these useful materials for commerce may include removing
residual chemical impurities from products, shortening the
"tails" of the polymers, and strengthening the
chemical bonds that hold the polymers together.
Dr. Mabury is a Professor of Environmental
Chemistry and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the
University of Toronto. He and his research group have garnered
significant national and international attention for work
on fluorinated pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial
compounds. He has also won multiple teaching awards.
Organized by: The Partnership Group for Science
and Engineering (PAGSE)
Sponsored by:
--the Speaker of the Senate
--the Speaker of the House of Commons
--Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2006 from 7:30
am - 9:00 am
Place: Room 200, West Block, Parliament Hill
Cost: No charge to Members of the House of Commons, Senators
and Media. All others $10
Registration: Please register by contacting Donna Boag,
PAGSE Coordinator: 613-991-6369, pagse@rsc.ca
Registration Deadline: September 25th
