Dr. Mark Hanson

ENVR 3180 - Methods in Ecotoxicology 
ENVR 4110 - Critical Thinking and the Environment
ENVR 4180/GEOG 7010 - Ecotoxicological Risk Characterization
ENVR 4000/GEOG 7010 - 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.

Challis, J.K., Humeniuk, B., Cantin, J., Lahiji, M., Giesy, J.P., Hanson, M.L., and Rodriguez Gil, J.L. 2026. Fate, dissipation, and mass balance of antipsychotic pharmaceuticals in outdoor aquatic mesocosms. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 45(7): 1758-1773 

Andersen, M.P.S., Wallington, T.J., Burkholder, J., Madronich, S., Hanson, M.L., Van Hoomissen, D., and Solomon, K.R. 2026. Yields of perfluorocarboxylic acids from the atmospheric oxidation of Montreal Protocol related gases. Environmental Science: Atmospheres. 6(4): 473-483. 

Stoyanovich, S., Saunders, L.J., Tugulea, A.M., Hnatiw, J., Strathern, R., Hanson, M., Hollebone, B.P., Orihel, D.M., Palace, V., Rodriguez-Gil, J.R., and Blais, J.M. 2025. Early mass transfer of monocyclic aromatics to water following diluted bitumen spills in freshwater limnocorrals. ACS ES&T Water. 5(11): 7051-7061. 

Perry, M., Hanson, M., Ankley, P.J., Palace, V., Paterson, M.J., Black, T.A., and Higgins, S.N. 2025. The effects of diluted bitumen, the shoreline washing agent Corexit EC9580A, and bio-stimulation on the lower food web of a boreal lake. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 305: 119260. 

Neale, P.J., Hylander, S., Banaszak, A.T., Häder, D.P., Rose, K.C., Vione, D., Wängberg, S.Å., Jansen, M.A., Busquets, R., Andersen, M.P.S., Madronich, S., Hanson, M.L., et al., 2025. Environmental consequences of interacting effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, ultraviolet radiation, and climate: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2024. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. 24: 357–392.