Air and water samples were collected from on board the CCGS Amundsen in the fall of 2013 as a part of ArcticNet and the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP). These samples were collected to determine the occurrence and levels of legacy pesticides and new and emerging priority compounds under the Canadian Chemical Management Plan. Analysis was done by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MSD) and liquid-chromatography mass spec mass spec (LC-MS/MS).

Air, water (grab and passive) and sediment samples were collected from on board the CCGS Amundsen in the summer of 2015 as a part of ArcticNet and the Northern Contaminants Program. These samples were collected to determine the occurrence and levels of legacy pesticides and new and emerging priority compounds under the Canadian Chemical Management Plan.

Air, water, phytoplankton and zooplankton samples were collected on board the CCGS Amundsen in October 2011 as part of ArcticNet between Kugluktuk, NT and Quebec City, QC via Baffin Bay. The samples were analysed for legacy organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), current use pesticides (CUPs), per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers (OPs). The purpose of collecting air and water samples in the Canadian Archipelago was i) to continue the time trends of OCPs and CUPs, ii) to confirm the presence of PFAS observed in recent years and iii) establish baseline concentrations of OPs. The phytoplankton and zooplankton samples investigation will allow quantification of the above compounds in the lower food web and observe how these compounds move from the abiotic to biotic environment. Analysis was done by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MSD) and liquid-chromatography mass spec mass spec (LC-MS/MS). Four OPs, tri-phenyl phosphate (TPP), tris-(2-chloro ethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris-(2-chloro propyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tris-(1,2-dichloro propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) were identified in air samples for the first time in Canadian Arctic air and levels are very high compared to levels of total PBDEs and other brominated flame retardants at Alert (Xiao et al., 2012). Due to these findings, archive samples from Alert and previous ArcticNet cruises were also analysed for OPs, thus establishing baseline concentrations in Canadian Arctic air in which future trends can be compared.

We collected air, water, sediment samples in the summer of 2019 from on board the CCGS Amundsen in the central and eastern Canadian Archipelago. We also collected air and water (grab and passive) from the CCGS Laurier in the Beaufort Sea and the R/V William Kennedy in the western Hudson Bay and Chesterfield Inlet. Air samples were continuously collected form the very front of the bow of the ship to reduce contamination from the smoke stack. The air sampler consisted of a filter to collect the particulate followed by a cartridge containing a sandwich of polyurethane foam and XAD resin to sorb the gas phase. Several types of water samples were collected: target compounds were concentrated from grab surface samples (200-L) by filtering through a column of XAD resin. Grab samples for flame retardants were collected in glass bottles and shipped back to the lab for processing. Grab samples for per-fluorinated compounds were collected at the surface and at two-three depths in plastic bottles and shipped back to the lab for processing. Sediment samples were collected from the box corer, the top 0-5cam was collected. Samples were frozen and shipped back to the lab for processing.

Air, water and sediment samples were collected from on board the CCGS Amundsen and passive water samplers were deployed on the moorings in the summer of 2014 as a part of ArcticNet and Northern Contaminants Program (NCP). These samples were collected to determine the occurrence and levels of legacy pesticides and new and emerging priority compounds under the Canadian Chemical Management Plan. Analysis was done by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MSD) and liquid-chromatography mass spec mass spec (LC-MS/MS).