User: Florence Pagé-Larivière (Environnement et Changement climatique Canada) et Kristin Mueller (ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs)
Canadian lakes and rivers may contain chemicals that could be harmful to wildlife and humans. Government scientists are working to establish guidelines on the concentrations of chemicals to prevent any harmful effects on the environment. However, the lack of data on the toxicity of individual chemicals in fish and frogs complicates this task. Therefore, researchers are seeking alternative methods to assess the toxicity of chemicals without resorting to tests on vertebrate animals. This project uses the genetic expression of fish and frog larvae to determine the minimum concentration of chemicals that cause a biological change. The species studied are all native to Canada, including some endangered species. This work could help government regulators make informed decisions about chemicals more quickly, thus improving the protection of aquatic wildlife in Québec.