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Research Viewpoint: Group Chair, Zanna Chase; Rapporteur, Maeve Lohan
Participants representing the academic research and development sector are motivated to adopt
and/or design new tools to help them understand and elucidate the biogeochemistry of metals in
natural and perturbed systems. They felt that at present there is a general lack of public awareness
as to the importance of metals in ecosystem function and in particular what metal ion species
exhibit bioactivity. As such, their priority monitoring needs for which
in situ
sensor systems
would be useful were identified as: the study of benthic boundary layer processes (sediments are
important metal source/sinks and can influence overlying WQ, e.g., Sundby et al, 2005),
developing capacity for event response (storm runoff, dredging and erosion effects on metal
mobilization), compatibility with adaptive sampling programs to enhance spatial and temporal
resolution of metal dynamics and continuous near real time monitoring capacities in order to
study biotic and abiotic effects on metal dynamics. This group recognized substantial differences
in the regulatory compared to science monitoring needs, but felt that developing instrumentation
with inherently low limits of detection would benefit both applications. Capacities for robust and
reliable measurement of free ion activities was essential for demonstrating their bioactivity, and
ultimately increasing reliable databases of this information could be leveraged to influence
development of future regulatory targets and standard methods of metal analysis. Ideally, new
generations of analytical systems will provide simple, cost effective, portable and secure analysis
of total, labile and free ion concentrations of targeted dissolved metals. Multi-element detection
capabilities (e.g. Luther et al. 1998) would also enhance biogeochemical research efforts.
Concurrent measurement of ambient conditions (temperature, conductivity, pressure, pH,
dissolved oxygen, redox) was viewed as necessary to fully interpret the habitat-specific control
of dissolved metal speciation processes. This information could also be used to support
development of improved computation chemistry based modeling of metal toxicity.
Private Sector Viewpoint: Group Chair, Tom Mitchell; Rapporteur, Andrea Zappe
Representatives from companies developing and marketing environmental monitoring equipment
focused their discussion on identification of market drivers required to direct investment in
research and development towards field deployable trace metal analytical systems. Ultimately
potential market size will determine their risk to R&D investment. For small companies, the
group felt that an identified market of at least $1M was needed. Larger companies, with capacity
to enter into OEM agreements with smaller companies, would require an identified market of at
least $3M. Market definition will be dependent upon identification of priority metal species and
governmentally mandated WQ criteria goals for those metal species. It was recognized that a
disconnect exists between mandated goals and detection levels for metal species of interest to the
research community and that limited investment may be available to support a bottom up
influence on modifying regulatory guidelines. Additionally streamlined pathways for approval of
new methodology would spur development.
The group also identified possible development times for the analytical systems discussed during
the plenary sessions. Near horizon targets (present to 3 years) for commercial development of
field deployable analytical systems include both voltammetric and flow injection analyzers.
ACT Workshop on Trace Metal Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12