Atlantis Mobile Laboratory for Population Survey

Abstract

P-526 Introduction: The Atlantis Mobile Laboratory was created as a novel, unique infrastructure to meet emerging environmental and health challenges in remote settings. This self sufficient laboratory can travel by boat or ground transportation to any destination that needs complete laboratory facilities for field-based environmental monitoring, environmental health issues or research activities in related disciplines. The facility comprises modules built in standard size containers. Three modules are laboratories (microbiology, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry/cell culture) and three others are dedicated to support the facility and transport of material. Objectives: The objectives of Atlantis are environmental and public health monitoring, prevention and intervention in any remote country districts. The Atlantis scientists use new, easy-to-utilize techniques to measure the concentrations and assess the effects of environmental contaminants, natural toxins and pathogens that may threaten public health and the ecosystem. Human toxicology, ecotoxicology and environmental microbiology studies are also carried out. Moreover, the mobile laboratory promotes and facilitates the interaction and training with local professionals, researchers and science students, as well as education and technology transfer dedicated to children and the general public. Research and education activities. The first pilot study of Atlantis was conducted during fall 2003 in Bermuda where a well-equipped research station supported the field work. The following program was conducted within a two-month period and include the following components: A prenatal assessment of human exposure to persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals, an ecotoxicology study on the local marine fauna in a semi-immerged dump site, an assessment of drinking water microbiological quality in Bermudas homes, the development of new polymerase chain-reaction techniques for the rapid detection of pathogens in water and the implementation and testing of an integrated database using Geographic Information System tools. Results of these assessments were available to the population and government agencies in setting priorities for action. The second mission, in collaboration with ArcticNet (a network of Arctic researchers), was conducted in the 14 communities of Nunavik (Northern Québec, Canada), on the ice-breaker Amundsen, during fall 2004. Two Atlantis units were used on the ship to detect neurotoxicity markers in the Inuit population, conduct cytogenetic damage analyses in lymphocytes in relation to food-chain contaminant exposure, and to investigate the contamination of freshwater ecosystems. The third mission was conducted in Mistissini, a Cree community of the James Bay Territory (Northern Québec, Canada), during summer 2005. The aims were to conduct on site analyses of some environmental contaminants, to investigate the contamination of freshwater ecosystems and to promote efficient communication and education on sciences and health issues to youth.