Colin MacDonald

Background

About Colin MacDonald

Colin R. Macdonald, B.Sc, M.E.Sc, Ph.D, received his B.Sc. at the University of Guelph, M.E.Sc in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Western Ontario and his Ph.D in Zoology from the Guelph. Research areas: metal accumulation in arctic marine mammals, pesticide transport to Ontario lakes and organochlorine distribution in waterfowl in the Great Lakes. Environmental toxicologist at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) Whiteshell Laboratories where he led projects on the uptake, distribution, dosimetry of radionuclides in biota, and ecological risk from contaminant exposure. Since 1998, he has led projects on data analysis, critical review and environmental study design for federal/territorial agencies and First Nations, to the designing, conducting and analysing field programs for Phase I and II contaminated site assessments for AANDC and PWGSC and ecological risk assessment for wildlife. Projects have also included ecological and human health risk assessments from radioactivity in northern environments. Mine site assessments in the NWT involved the design of field programs, soil/plant, fisheries and wildlife collections, statistical analysis and interpretation of trends and risks to wildlife and humans.He has been a contributing author to state-of-the-environment reviews for the Gov't of the NWT, the Athabasca Tribal Council, the Fisheries Joint Management Committee of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Lutsel K’e First Nation, co-management boards and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program. Projects in northern communities relate to the effects of climate change and the presence of contaminants in traditional foods and the local environment. Critical review of federal and international programs to develop strategic plans for future projects. Specialties: Environmental Research, toxicology of metals, hydrocarbons, radioactivity; statistical analysis of field surveys; environmental program design and review; ecological risk analysis