Page 2 - Eureka! Spring 2007

to your health!
Message from the Dean Wenvironmental toxins that might have caused you to be there, the chemistry bans make a difference. Although there Hot topic
are few comparable Canadian data, the
US tracks blood levels of a large num-
hen sitting in a doctor’s office or clinic, you will not likely be thinking of the
ber of contaminants in a representative
sampling of its population. For ex-
involved in the development of therapeutic drugs, the algorithms used in dose
ample, metabolites of DDT were about
calculation, or the physics underlying the functioning of sophisticated medical
10 times lower in 2001–2002 compared
scanning devices. Your doctor might not either.
to 1976–1980 among Americans aged 12
But doctors—chemists, physicists, biologists, mathematicians—at Carleton are.
years or older.
Researchers in our Faculty of Science are making fundamental scientific discov-
The Canadian Environmental
eries and developing innovative tools and technologies to improve human health
Protection Act did mark a turning
and medical care. Some of their leading-edge research is highlighted in this issue.
point because Parliament asked that
For example, you will read about physicists working on safer and more effective
methods of cancer treatment and the quest of biochemists to preserve organs. The
be considered in the management of
family of alumna toxicologist Claire Franklin is profiled, and David Miller, NSERC
chemicals. Additionally, the legisla-
Industrial Research Chair on Fungal Toxins and Allergens, highlights some of the
tion directs against the approval and
issues surrounding environmental toxins in the Hot topic section. both human and environmental health
In addition, this issue summarizes some recent and forthcoming events and continued use of persistent compounds
news, which reflect the vigorous “health” of the Faculty, such as the upcoming that bioaccumulate. This is important
anniversary celebrations for the Department of Chemistry, several on-campus David Miller participates in the World Health Organization bodies that evaluate carcinogens and toxic because although regulatory toxicology
Science public lectures and conferences, announcements of research funding compounds and is on the Board of Directors of the Toxicology Forum in Washington, D.C. has improved a great deal in 50 years,
and awards, and new appointments. common sense dictates that if the
After serving as Dean for five years, I will be stepping down at the end of June The modern legacy chemical cannot persist in the environ-
and returning full time to teaching and research as Professor of Biology at Carleton. ment or accumulate in the food chain
The formal search for my successor is ongoing, and we anticipate an appointment or human body, we are on inherently
to be made shortly. This space will therefore carry a message from the new Dean in of Rachel Carson safer ground.
the fall issue of the newsletter! Lead, mercury, abandoned waste
It has been a privilege and a rewarding experience for me to have served the disposal sites and persistent pesticides
Faculty of Science and the University as Dean. There have been many positive By J. David Miller are all examples of public health is-
developments in the Faculty over the past five years that have contributed signifi- orty-five years ago, Rachel Carson organic and inorganic pollutants in rela- sues stemming from past actions that
cantly to its mission in teaching, research and community service. I have had the Fpublished Silent Spring, a book in tion to the reliable evidence. The conclu- require our urgent attention today.
pleasure of meeting many alumni and friends of the Faculty during my term as which she challenged the practices of sions they reach are worth pondering. Traffic pollution and indoor air quality,
Dean, and am grateful for the generous support of numerous donors to the Faculty agricultural science and the govern- The authors summarize knowledge especially allergens, soil and outdoor
and the University. I hope that you will continue to look forward to reading future ment, focusing attention on the effect of of associations between child health air contaminants ending up indoors, are
issues of EUREKA! and to staying in touch with our Faculty through this medium pesticides on human and animal health. and development outcomes and a examples of major environmental health
wherever you may reside. In retrospect, it is hard to believe that number of environmental exposures problems that we are still compounding
50 years ago, little testing of chemicals including lead, methylmercury, pesti- and that require much more effort.
was done in a way that would be use- cides, environmental tobacco smoke Despite our progress in philosophy
ful to the current regulatory process. (ETS), allergens, outdoor air pollu- and science, there is still much to be
Indeed it took until the early 1980s to tion, sunlight, residential proximity to done in protecting the health of the
Jean-Guy Godin frame the early modern response to hazardous waste disposal sites, and pa- ecosystem and all living within it.
Dean, Faculty of Science regulatory toxicology. In 1999, Canada ternal workplace exposure to solvents.
responded fully to Carson’s appeal with After a great deal of systematic effort J. David Miller is a Professor of Bio-
the passage of the Canadian Envi- in reviewing the literature, the authors chemistry and an NSERC Industrial
Research Chair on Fungal Toxins and
EUREKA On the cover ronmental Protection Act, which sets conclude that the priority assigned by Allergens.
government agencies to outdoor (traffic
out to protect human health and the
NEwslEttER OF thE FAcUlty OF scIENcE ecosystem on which life depends. pollution) and indoor quality (aller-
Clockwise from top right:
Undergraduate student Tarek Seldom does a day pass that there gens, air contaminants from outdoors),
carleton.ca/science/ !
Abd El Halim, Associate is not a media report suggesting that lead, water contaminants, and ETS is Fast fact...
Editorial Advisory Board Professor Bill Willmore, and some man-made chemical results in in- “well justified”. There is clear evidence
Dean, Faculty of science: Jean-Guy Godin Canada Research Chair in creased human disease. Most often the that taking action on these would
Associate Dean (Undergraduate Affairs): John Armitage Medical Physics David Rogers. report is contradicted in short order by improve population health and quality For more information, the Institute of
Population Health papers can be found in
Associate Dean (Research): Jörg-Rüdiger sack
eureka.carleton.ca chief Advancement Officer: serge Arpin @ your input Please send your feedback, letter cision-makers and the public confused. effects of organic chemicals, including EurEka!’s Hot topic is a place for
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental
senior Development Associate: David timms, BA/85
of life, and reduce current and future
a new study, or the chemical is not used

Health, Part B, 10 (1):1-
or does not occur in Canada, leaving de-
health care costs.
!
Most of the evidence for the health
Director, Alumni services: Nancy lynn, BA/91
to the editor or story ideas to
is important!
Editor: Amanda costen
In March, our colleagues at the
newsletter_editor@carleton.ca.
Design: Nicole Rochford, Richard Bootsma
pesticides, comes for those that persist
Institute of Population Health at the
website: Darin cosgrove, BA/95
University of Ottawa published a series
in the environment, many of which
Carleton faculty to educate readers on
Newsletter Mission Statement
were not permitted or seldom used in
of papers on the effects of environmen-
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some of the big-picture issues shaping
EUREKA! is published for the alumni, faculty, staff, friends and partners of the Faculty of
tal chemicals on child health in Canada.
Canada when they were in production.
Science today. Share your thoughts at
science. the newsletter is intended to communicate the Faculty’s goals, strategic direction
collaboration with the Department of University Advancement.
eur eka.carleton.ca 3
2 and activities in order to connect alumni to each other and the university. It is published in Visit eureka.carleton.ca to share your opinions. Briefly, they examine a number of Most of these are banned and such eureka.carleton.ca.
EUREKA! SPRING 2007