Dr. Mark Hanson

ENVR2810 - Environmental Critical Thinking and Scientific Research
ENVR3180 - Methods in Ecotoxicology
ENVR4180/GEOG7010 - Ecotoxicological Risk Characterization
ENVR4000/GEOG7010 - Environmental Effects Monitoring

Dr. Hanson is an aquatic ecotoxicologist and ecological risk assessor who focuses on fate and effects of pesticides, wastewater contaminants (e.g., nutrients, pharmaceuticals, microplastics), and unconventional oil. The impacts of these contaminants on non-target species and the ways in which these can influence responses (direct and indirect) observed at the population, community, and ecosystem-level are studied at the laboratory to field-level. The use of mesocosms, model freshwater ecosystems, along with developing new toxicity bioassays in a rapid and effective manner are a core feature of his research program. Dr. Hanson and his team also develop methods to critically evaluate data quality and reporting in the peer reviewed literature for inclusion in risk assessment, including weight of evidence approaches to assign causality.

Gasque-Belz, L., Carrière, K., Humeniuk, B., Park, B., Colville, C., Siciliano, S., Hogan, N., Weber, L., Campbell, P., Peters, R., Hecker, M., and Hanson, M.L. 2024. Application of a novel approach method to assess the hazard of complex legacy contaminated groundwater mixtures on fathead minnows in outdoor mesocosms. Science of The Total Environment. 176081.

Hanson, M.L., Madronich, S., Solomon, K., Sulbaek Andersen, M.P., and Wallington, T.J., Trifluoroacetic Acid in the Environment: Consensus, Gaps, and Next Steps. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 43(10):2091-2093

Madronich, S., Bernhard, G.H., Neale, P.J., Heikkilä, A., Andersen, M.S., Andrady, A.L., Aucamp, P.J., Bais, A.F., Banaszak, A.T., Barnes, P.J., Bornman, J.F., Bruckman, L.S., Busquets, R., Chiodo, G., Häder, D.P., Hanson, M.L., et al., 2024. Continuing benefits of the Montreal Protocol and protection of the stratospheric ozone layer for human health and the environment. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. 23: 1087–1115.

Jansen, M.A., Andrady, A.L., Bornman, J.F., Aucamp, P.J., Bais, A.F., Banaszak, A.T., Barnes, P.W., Bernhard, G.H., Bruckman, L.S., Busquets, R., Häder, D.P., Hanson, M.L., et al., 2024. Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. 629: 629–650.

Desrochers, D., Prosser, R.S., Hanson, M.L., and Rodríguez-Gil, J.L. 2024. Exposure assessment of pesticides in surface waters of Ontario, Canada reveals low probability of exceeding acute regulatory thresholds. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 112(4): 53.