Derek C.G. Muir

Email: 
dmuir@uoguelph.ca
Phone number: 
(905) 319-6921

Education

 B.Sc. General Science, McGill University, 1970.

M.Sc. Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, 1973. 
Ph.D. Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, 1977

Research

Derek's scientific interests focus broadly on the environmental chemistry and biogeochemistry of persistent organic contaminants, mercury and other metals. His research has focussed on understanding bioaccumulation and bioavailability of persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals in the aquatic and terrestrial environments under field and laboratory conditions with special emphasis on food chain transfer. Recent projects in the Arctic include studies in the Arctic  on the bioaccumulation of mercury in landlocked Arctic char and the uptake of brominated flame retardants and other contaminants in Arctic marine food webs. Other projects involve studies of the fate of new brominated flame retardants in outdoor mesocosms at the University of Guelph and measurements of these contaminants in the Great Lakes


Publications

Gantner, N., Veillette, J., Michaud, W. K., Bajno, R., Muir, D. C. G., Vincent, W. F., Power, M., Dixon, B., Reist, J. D., Pienitz, R.,Hausmann, S. 2012. Physical and biological factors affecting mercury and perfluorinated contaminants in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) of Pingualuk Crater Lake (Nunavik, Canada). Arctic. Accepted.

Köck, G., D. Muir, F. Yang, X. Wang, N. Gantner, C. Talbot, D. Moser. 2012. Bathymetry and Sediment Geochemistry of Lake Hazen (Quttinirpaaq National Park, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut). Arctic. In press.
 
Borgå, K., Kidd, K.A., Berglund, O., Conder, J.M., Gobas, F.A.P.C., Kucklick, J.R., Kay, D., Malm, O. Powell, D.E., Muir, D.C.G. 2012. Trophic Magnification Factors: Impact of Ecology, Ecosystem and Study Design. Integ. Environ. Assess. Manag. 8: 64–84.
 
Drevnick, P.E., D. R. Engstrom, C. T. Driscoll, E. B. Swain, S. J. Balogh, N. C. Kamman, D.T. Long, D.C. G. Muir, M. J. Parsons, K. R. Rolfhus, R. Rossmann. 2012. Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Mercury Accumulation in Sediment Records from Across the Great Lakes Region. Environ. Pollut. Accepted
 
Conder, J.M., F. A.P.C. Gobas, K. Borgå, D.C.G. Muir, and D. Powell. 2012. Trophic Magnification Factors in a Regulatory Context. Integ. Environ. Assess. Manag. 8:85-97.
 
Müller, C.E., A.O. De Silva, J. Small, M. Williamson, X. Wang, A. Morris, S. Katz, M. Gamberg, D. C.G. Muir. 2011. Biomagnification of Perfluorinated Compounds in a Remote Terrestrial Food Chain: Lichen-Caribou-Wolf. Environ Sci Technol 45: 8665-8673.
 
Fair, P. A., M. Houde, T. C. Hulsey, G. D. Bossart, J. Adams, L. Balthis, D.C.G. Muir. 2012. Assessment of Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) in Plasma of Bottlenose Dolphins from Two Southeast U.S. Estuarine Areas: Relationship with Age, Sex and Geographic Locations. Mar. Poll. Bull. 64: 66–74.
 
De Silva, A.O., B.F. Scott, S. Backus, D.C.G. Muir. 2011. Perfluoroethylcyclohexane Sulfonate in the Great Lakes of North America. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45 (19), 8060–8066
 
Houde, M., De Silva, A., Muir, D.C.G., Letcher, R.J. 2011. Biological assessment and biomagnification of polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in aquatic ecosystems : an updated review. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45 (19), 7962–7973
 
Villanger, G.D., B.M. Jenssen, R.R. Fjeldberg, R.J. Letcher, D.C.G. Muir, M. Kirkegaard, C. Sonne, R. Dietz. 2011. Exposure to mixtures of organohalogen contaminants and associative interactions with thyroid hormones in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Environ. Internat. 37 (4), 694-708.
 
Howard, P.H. and D.C.G. Muir. 2011. Identifying New Persistent and Bioaccumulative Organics Among Chemicals in Commerce II: Pharmaceuticals. Environ Sci Technol 45, 6938–6946.
 
Kurt-Karakus, P.B., C. Teixeira, J. Small, T.F. Bidleman, D. Muir. 2010. Current-Use Pesticides In Ontario Inland Lakes, Precipitation, Air And Zooplankton Samples. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 30: 1539–1548.
 
Rigét, F., B. Braune, A.Bignert, S. Wilson, J. Aars, E. Born, M. Dam, R. Dietz, M. Evans, T. Evans, M. Gamberg, N. Gantner, N. Green, H. Gunnlaugsdóttir, K. Kannan, R. Letcher, D. Muir, K. Ólafsdóttir , P. Roach, C. Sonne, G. Stern, Ø. Wiig. 2011. Temporal trends of Hg in Arctic biota, an update. Sci. Total Environ. 409: 3520-3526.
 
Swanson, H., N. Gantner, K. A. Kidd, D.C.G. Muir, and J. D. Reist. 2011. Comparison of mercury concentrations in landlocked, resident, and sea-run Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from the West Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, Canada. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 30: 1459–1467.
 
Kirk, J.L., D. Muir, X. Wang, D. Antoniades, M. Douglas, M. Evans, T. Jackson, H. Kling, S. Lamoureux, D.S.S. Lim, R. Pienitz, J. Smol, K. Stewart, X. Wang,F. Yang. 2011. Climate Change and Mercury Accumulation Rates in Canadian high and sub Arctic Lake Sediments. Environ Sci Technol 45 (3), 964–970.

Awards

Environment Canada 2011 Citation of Excellence in the Teamwork, Partnering and Collaboration category for work on the Chemicals Management Plan

Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, Gold Medal. 2005.  In recognition of achievements and contributions in the field of environmental science.

Royal Society of Canada, Miroslaw Romanowski Medal, 2004. For work on persistent organic pollutants  and mercury in Canada's North

Society of Canadian Limnologists. Rigler Lecture Award. 2003. Annual award given to a leading Canadian scientist working in the field of limnology.

Head of the Public Service Award. 2001. Negotiating Team for the Global Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Shared with 28 other Federal government scientists and managers.

SETAC Founder’s Award. 2000. Highest scientific award of the Society of Environment Toxicology & Chemistry, November 2000.

Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation. 1997-2000.  For Research on Arctic Contaminants.

Francis W. Karasek Award for Achievements in Environmental Chemistry, Presented by University of Waterloo and Ontario Ministry of Environment, November 6, 1992.