Miriam L Diamond

• PhD
• Professor at University of Toronto

We report anthropogenic particles (APs) >100 µm, including microplastics and microfibers, from 70 surface snow samples collected from the urban Greater Toronto Area, remote and sparsely inhabited regions in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and the unpopulated high Arctic. Concentrations and proportions of particles of anthropogenic origin were...

Background: Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are added to consumer products to meet flammability standards and are inevitably released into the environment over time. Previous research shows firefighters have high OPE exposure. Paramedics could also be exposed during long hours in vehicles where OPE levels are thought to be high. Research Aim: To det...

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) were listed for elimination under the Stockholm Convention in 2017 due to their persistence and toxicity. Although Canada and other Stockholm signatories have prohibited the manufacture, usage and import of SCCPs since 2013, they can still be detected at high concentrations in indoor dust. To identify the s...

A suite of analytical techniques was used to obtain a comprehensive picture of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in selected Canadian food packaging used for fast foods (n = 42). Particle-induced gamma ray emission spectroscopy revealed that 55% of the samples contained <3580, 19% contained 3580–10 800, and 26% > 10 800 μg F/m². The highes...

Climate change, biodiversity loss and chemical pollution are planetary-scale emergencies requiring urgent mitigation actions. As these "triple crises" are deeply interlinked, they need to be tackled in an integrative manner. However, while climate change and biodiversity are often studied together, chemical pollution as a global change factor contr...

Cities are drivers of the global economy, containing products and industries that emit many chemicals. Here, we use the Multimedia Urban Model (MUM) to estimate atmospheric emissions and fate of organophosphate esters (OPEs) from 19 global mega or major cities, finding that they collectively emitted ~81,000 kg yr⁻¹ of ∑10OPEs in 2018. Typically, po...

Chemicals have improved the functionality and convenience of industrial and consumer products, but sometimes at the expense of human or ecological health. Existing regulatory systems have proven to be inadequate for assessing and managing the tens of thousands of chemicals in commerce. A different approach is urgently needed to minimize ongoing pro...

Background Understanding, characterizing, and quantifying human exposures to environmental chemicals is critical to protect public health. Exposure assessments are key to determining risks to the general population and for specific subpopulations given that exposures differ between groups. Exposure data are also important for understanding where in...

The manufacture and production of industrial chemicals continues to increase, with hundreds of thousands of chemicals and chemical mixtures used worldwide, leading to widespread population exposures and resultant health impacts. Low-wealth communities and communities of color often bear disproportionate burdens of exposure and impact; all compounde...

Chemical pollution poses a threat to biodiversity on a global scale. This has been acknowledged in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which proposes to regulate the release of chemicals to the environment and names specific indicators focusing on pesticides, nutrients and plastic waste. We fully welcome the inclusion of these substances b...

Cities are drivers of the global economy, containing products and industries that emit many chemicals. We used the Multimedia Urban Model (MUM) to estimate atmospheric emissions and fate of organophosphate esters (OPEs) from 19 global “mega or major cities,” finding that they collectively emitted ~ 81,000 kg yr − 1 of ∑ 10 OPEs in 2018. Typically,...

Numerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) occur in consumer food packaging due to intentional and unintentional addition, despite increasing concern about their health and environmental hazards. We present a substance flow analysis framework to assess the flows of PFASs contained in plant fiber-based and plastic food packaging to the was...

Planetary functions are destabilized by the releases of large quantities and numbers of anthropogenic chemicals, which go beyond planetary boundaries and threaten the safe operating space for humanity. Here, we call for urgent action to mitigate these threats and identify opportunities for intervention along the impact pathway of anthropogenic chem...

We analyzed 72 children's textile products marketed as stain-resistant from US and Canadian stores, particularly school uniforms, to assess if clothing represents a significant route of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Products were first screened for total fluorine (total F) using particle-induced γ-ray emission (PIGE) spect...

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), "famous" as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have been managed nationally since the 1970s and globally under the Stockholm Convention on POPs since 2004, requiring environmentally sound management (ESM) of PCBs by 2028. At most, 30% of countries are on track to achieve ESM by 2028. Globally over 10 million ton...

Microplastic categorization schemes are diverse, thereby posing challenges for cross‐study comparisons. Further, categorization schemes are not necessarily aligned with, and thus useful for applications such as source reduction initiatives. To address these challenges, we propose a hierarchical categorization approach that is “fit for purpose” to e...

Bioretention cells are a stormwater management technology intended to reduce the quantity of water entering receiving bodies. They are also used to reduce contaminant releases, but their performance is unclear for hydrophilic persistent and mobile organic compounds (PMOCs). We developed a novel eight-compartment one-dimensional (1D) multimedia mode...

Synthetic materials, increasingly used for indoor and outdoor surfaces including homes and playgrounds, may contain toxic chemicals. Infants have a higher potential of exposure to chemicals in these materials, which may pose a risk to their health. To understand potential risks related to outdoor surface coverings, based on a review of the literatu...

Evidence suggests that human exposure to airborne particles and associated contaminants, including respiratory pathogens, can persist beyond a single microenvironment. By accumulating such contaminants from air, clothing may function as a transport vector and source of "secondary exposure". To investigate this function, a novel microenvironmental e...

Despite enormous national, regional, and global efforts on chemical management, the widespread use of hazardous chemicals continues in many parts of the world even after decades of there being well-known risks to public and/or ecosystem health. This continued supply and use, despite strong evidence of negative impacts, is not unique to chemicals ma...

The Stockholm Convention is key to addressing the global threats of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to humanity and the environment. It has been successful in identifying new POPs, but its national implementation remains challenging, particularly by low- and middle-income Parties. Concerted action is needed to assist Parties in implementing th...

Personal exposure of nail salon workers to 10 phthalates and 19 organophosphate esters (OPEs) was assessed in 18 nail salons in Toronto, Canada. Active air samplers (n = 60) and silicone passive samplers, including brooches (n = 58) and wristbands (n = 60), were worn by 45 nail salon workers for ∼8 working hours. Diethyl phthalate (median = 471 ng...

Residents from low‐income social housing are vulnerable to adverse health effects from indoor air pollution. Particle‐bound concentrations of eight phthalates and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor air were measured using quantitative filter forensics with portable air cleaners deployed for three one‐week periods from 2015 to 2017...

We submit that the safe operating space of the planetary boundary of novel entities is exceeded since annual production and releases are increasing at a pace that outstrips the global capacity for assessment and monitoring. The novel entities boundary in the planetary boundaries framework refers to entities that are novel in a geological sense and...

Background In 2016 we identified a regulatory gap in Israel reflecting a lack of restrictions on lead in children’s jewelry. We conducted surveys that found high levels of lead in children’s jewelry. Following the findings, a new standard restricting lead content was introduced in 2018. Objective The goal of this study is to assess whether the new...

Background Canadian children are widely exposed to phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from indoor sources. Both sets of compounds have been implicated in allergic symptoms in children. Objective We characterize concentrations of eight phthalates and 12 PAHs in floor dust from the bedrooms of 79 children enrolled in the Kingston...

Background: To date, the toxicity of organophosphate esters has primarily been studied regarding their use as pesticides and their effects on the neurotransmitter acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Currently, flame retardants and plasticizers are the two largest market segments for organophosphate esters and they are found in a wide variety of products,...

Indoor environments have elevated concentrations of numerous semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Textiles provide a large surface area for accumulating SVOCs, which can be transported to outdoors through washing. A multimedia model was developed to estimate advective transport rates (fluxes) of 14 SVOCs from indoors to outdoors by textile washi...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a highly persistent and potentially toxic class of chemicals, are added to cosmetics to increase their durability and water resistance. To assess this potential health and environmental risk, 231 cosmetic products purchased in the U.S. and Canada were screened for total fluorine using particle-induced gam...

We investigated the association between exposure to 29 organophosphate esters (OPEs) and the onset of childhood asthma and recurrent wheeze. Using a case-cohort design nested in the Canadian CHILD Cohort Study, we included a random sample of children (n = 429), all children with asthma at 5 years (n = 128), and all children with recurrent wheeze be...

We report the first Canadian Arctic-wide study of anthropogenic particles (APs, >125 μm), including microfibers (synthetic, semi-synthetic and anthropogenically modified cellulose) and microplastics, in marine sediments from 14 sites. Samples from across the Canadian Arctic were collected between 2014 and 2017 from onboard the CCGS Amundsen. Sample...

(word count = 349) BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated an association between phthalate exposure and childhood asthma, although results have been inconsistent. No epidemiological studies have examined exposure during the first year of life. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between phthalate exposures in the home environment during the fi...

Major gaps in current efforts limit policy responses

A critical review of the current state of knowledge of chemical emissions from indoor sources, partitioning among indoor compartments, and the ensuing indoor exposure leads to a proposal for a modular mechanistic framework for predicting human exposure to semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Mechanistically consistent source emission categories...

Eleven organophosphate esters (OPEs) were detected in surface water and sediment samples from yearly sampling (2013−2018) in the Canadian Arctic. In water samples, ∑chlorinated-OPEs (Cl-OPEs) concentrations exceeded ∑non-chlorinated-OPEs (non-Cl-OPEs) with median concentrations of 10 ng L −1 and 1.3 ng L −1 , respectively. In sediment samples, ∑Cl-...

Landfills represent important sources of local emissions of organic contaminants, including halogenated (HFR) and organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants used in a large variety of consumer products. Gulls foraging in landfills may be exposed to elevated atmospheric concentrations of HFRs and OPEs that may vary spatially and temporally within...

Silicone passive samplers were assessed for measuring personal exposure to 37 flame retardants at three Quebec e-waste recycling facilities. Silicone brooches (n = 45), wristbands (n = 28), and armbands (n = 9) worn during a ∼8 h work shift accumulated detectable amounts of 95−100% of the target compounds. Brooch concentrations were significantly c...

Bioretention cells are a type of low-impact development technology that, over the past two decades, have become a critical component of urban stormwater management. Research into bioretention has since proliferated, with disparate aims, intents and metrics used to assess the "performance" of bioretention cells. We conducted a comprehensive, systema...

At any moment, approximately half of the world’s population is wearing blue jeans and other denim garments. We examine the footprint of our modern blue jean society by investigating the environmental distribution, pathways, and sources of indigo denim microfibers shed by denim clothing. Microfibers comprised 87−90% of the anthropogenic particles fo...

Empirical evidence suggests that human occupants indoors, through their presence and activities, can influence the dynamics of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). To better understand these dynamics, a transient multimedia human exposure model was developed [Activity-Based Indoor Chemical Assessment Model (ABICAM)]. This model parameterizes ma...

Exposure to phthalates is pervasive and is of concern due to associations with adverse health effects. Exposures and exposure pathways of six phthalates were investigated for 51 women aged 18-44 years in Ontario, Canada, based on measured phthalate concentrations in hand wipes and indoor media in their residences. All six phthalates had detection f...

Microfibers are a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that can originate from the wear and use of textiles, upholstery and carpet. Microfibers can be categorized as synthetic, semi-synthetic or natural according to the origin of the material and production process. Though natural textiles fibers, such as cotton, are harvested from natural sources,...

The hypothesis that plastics can transfer chemical pollutants to organisms after ingestion has been supported by several lab and field studies. However, models indicate that this transfer could be bidirectional and that whether chemicals move from plastics to the animal or vice versa, depends on several factors, including the relative concentration...

The subcooled liquid-phase vapor pressures (pL298/Pa) and octanol–air partition coefficients (KOA298) at T/K = 298, enthalpies of vaporization (ΔVAPH/kJ·mol–1), and internal energies of phase transfer from octanol to air (ΔOAU/kJ·mol–1) were estimated for synthetic musks, novel brominated flame retardants (N-BFR), organophosphate esters, and ultrav...

Flame retardants and phthalates are commonly used in consumer products and building materials, and as such, are prevalent in indoor air. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can have both indoor and outdoor sources, and can also be found in indoor air. Flame retardants, phthalates and PAHs were measured in indoor air in 71 units in low income so...

It is hard to believe, but some of the chemicals in our couches, computers, and even phones can travel all the way to the Arctic. How is that possible? That is exactly what we were asking when we found chemicals that are used in everyday items—like computers, phones, and couches—in the Canadian Arctic. In this article, we will tell you about our re...

Silicone (polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS) wristbands and cotton T-shirts were used to assess the exposure of e-waste recyclers in Dhaka, Bangladesh to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), dechlorane plus (DPs), and organophosphate esters (OPEs). The median surface-normalized uptake rates of PBDEs, NBFRs,...

Scientists and decision makers need accurate, accessible and fast tools to assess and prioritize the persistence (POV) and environmental long-range transport potential (LRTP) of chemicals. Here we evaluated the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) POV and LRTP Screening Tool ("the Tool") with respect to the POV and LRTP est...

Few studies have examined phthalate exposure during infancy and early life, critical windows of development. The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study, a population-based birth cohort, ascertained multiple exposures during early life. To characterize exposure to phthalates during infancy and early childhood. Environmental q...

As the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and the entire class of organohalogen flame retardants, is declining, the use of organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPFRs) is increasing. In this paper, we ask whether OPFRs are a better choice than PBDEs. To address this question, we compared OPFRs with PBDEs for a wide range of properties...

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential, omega-3, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that is a key component of cell membranes and plays a vital role in vertebrate brain function. The capacity to synthesize DHA is limited in mammals, despite its critical role in neurological development and health. For humans, DHA is most commonly obtained by...

Silicone wristbands are being increasingly used to assess human exposure to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). However, it is unclear what exposure pathways wristbands integrate. To test the hypothesis that wristbands integrate inhalation and dermal exposures, we measured 38 chemicals from four compound groups (PAHs, PBDEs, nBFRs, and OPEs) i...

Background: In response to a worldwide increase in production of electronic waste, the e-recycling industry is rapidly rowing. E-recycling workers are exposed to many potentially toxic contaminants, among which flame retardants (FRs), mainly suspected of being endocrine disruptors, are thought to be the most prevalent. Objective: To conduct an e...

Semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) emitted from consumer products, building materials, and indoor and outdoor activities can be highly persistent in indoor environments. Human exposure to and environmental contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was previously reported in a region near a former PCB production facility in Slovakia. H...

Exposure of e-waste workers to eight halogenated and five organophosphate ester flame retardant chemicals (FRs) was studied at a Canadian e-waste dismantling facility. FR concentrations were measured in air and dust samples collected at a central location and at four work benches over five-24 hour periods spanning two weeks. The highest concentrati...

Passive air sampling is increasingly used for air quality monitoring and for personal sampling. In a novel experimental exposure chamber study, 3 types of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, including sheet and wristband) and 1 type of polyurethane foam (PUF) passive air samplers were tested for gas-phase uptake of 200 semi volatile organic compounds (SVOC...

Here we report on the concentrations of 79 flame retardants (FRs)and plasticizers, including 34 polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDE congeners, 17 “novel” brominated FRs (NBFRs), 15 dechloranes, and 13 organophosphate esters (OPEs)in air (n = 9)and dust (n = 24)samples from an active waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)dismantling fac...

Plastic pollution in the marine environment is well documented. What remains less recognized and understood are the chemicals associated with it. Plastics enter the ocean with unreacted monomers, oligomers and additives, which can leach over time. Moreover, plastics sorb organic and inorganic chemicals from surrounding seawater, e.g., polychlorinat...

Coal tar-based sealcoat (CTSC) products are an urban source of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) to the environment. However, efforts to assess the environmental fate and impacts of CTSC-derived PACs are hindered by the ubiquity of (routinely monitored) PACs released from other environmental sources. To advance source identification of CTSC-deri...

The occurrence and potential sources of synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) in the urban and surrounding environment were investigated. We analyzed air, soils and surface waters from a wide array of land-use types and urban densities including air from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), indoor, urban, rural, and remote Arctic sites; surface waters fr...

BACKGROUND: Exposure to organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants and plasticizers is widespread and is of concern due to their toxicity. OBJECTIVES: To investigate relationships between and within OPE concentrations in air, dust, hands, electronic product wipes and urinary metabolites with the goal of identifying product sources and exposure pa...

Purpose Aluminum (Al) is an abundant, non-essential element with complex geochemistry and aquatic toxicity. Considering its complex environmental behavior is critical for providing a reasonable estimate of its potential freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity in the context of Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). Methods Al characterization factors (CFs) a...

Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, we identified tri(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl) phosphate (TDTBPP) in e-waste dust. This is a previously unsuspected pollutant that had not been reported before in the environment. To assess its abundance in the environment, we measured its concentration in e-waste dust, house dust, sediment from the Chicago Ship an...

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) in air have been found to be captured entirely on filters of typical active air samplers and thus designated as being in the particle phase. However, this particle fraction is unexpected, especially for more volatile tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris (chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP). We evaluated gas-pa...