University of Winnipeg Report to the Community 2012

Dr. Charles Wong

Dr. Charles Wong

Photo by Dan Harper of DanHarperPhoto.com

Dr. Charles Wong studies emerging chemical pollutants, such as nanomaterials. These microscopic substances are found in many items, such as Teflon-coated pans. While we use items containing flame retardants everyday, little is known about how these collect in the environment and what their long-term effects might be. As Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology, Dr. Wong is developing new and better ways of measuring chemicals to determine how they act in the real world. Traditional pollutants such as
pesticides, PCBs and DDT are also of interest. Understanding how to measure these chemicals and how they behave in the environment will lead to better ways to assess human and ecosystem chemical exposure — and ultimately better means by which to protect the environment and our way of life.