S&T Laboratories, 335 River Road

The 335 River Road laboratories are home to a number of research, monitoring and operational support programs. ECCC scientists undertake an assortment of work, providing valuable input in support of various ECCC mandates and priorities. Studies involve air quality, water and wildlife research. The labs work in support of ECCC priorities, such as the Chemicals Management Plan, the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999, and ECCC’s Environmental Emergencies Program.

The following unique facilities and expertise found at the Centre include:

• One of the world’s leading oil spill research laboratories, specializing in oil forensic analysis and the only scientific authority in Canada with expertise in oil spill treating agent research and evaluation. These laboratories section also undertake chemical spill research and development; provide scientific and operational field support teams for response to environmental emergencies; hazmat capability; leadership of the Canadian Safety and Security Program’s Chemical Community of Practice, and related security-focused science activities; as well as remote sensing expertise.
• Testing facilities for vehicle, engine and equipment emissions. The capability ranges from small lawn mower engines to class 8 trucks at standard and cold temperatures; it is one of only two facilities of its kind in North America. The lab also has the capacity to characterize the emissions from mobile sources operating in the field-including ocean-going vessels, aircraft, locomotives and off-road construction equipment. Research activities are undertaken to enhance scientific capacity to inform decision-making and regulations regarding the impacts and effects of vehicles and engines using renewable fuels, different control technologies and propulsion systems under representative Canadian conditions.
• A contaminant Level 2 Biosafety laboratory for soil toxicity research, involving risk group 2 pathogens.
• It is the ECCC headquarters for the research and monitoring responsibilities for the federal/provincial/territorial air quality monitoring network at urban and rural sites. This is made possible by the use of technologies for continuously measuring criteria air pollutants: ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and fine and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10, respectively). The laboratories are accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 international standard for laboratory quality assurance to determine trace contaminants: polycyclic aromatic compounds, heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and cadmium, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to smog formation.