Simran Persaud
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Research and Professional Interests
My research investigates if the common dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, can function as a bio-monitor of trace metal deposition. The project involves collecting samples of Taraxacum officinale from 50 parks in Mississauga, Ontario. I will compare trace metal concentrations from the collected Taraxacum officinale samples against ground-level concentrations calculated using RLINE 1.2 dispersion modelling with imputed road parameters and meteorological data. If the collected and calculated trace metal concentrations correspond, this supports the notion that Taraxacum officinale is an effective bio-monitor of trace metal deposition.
This thesis has two key impacts. First, most work on the impact of roadways on ecosystems focuses on exhaust emissions, and this thesis will highlight the importance of accounting for non-exhaust emissions, particularly when policymakers propose constructing new roadways. Second, if Taraxacum officinale proves to be an effective bio-monitor for trace metals, it paves the way to cost-effectively monitor non-exhaust emissions across most transportation systems in Southern Ontario due to the abundance of this species.
Awards
- 2022 Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- 2022 RBC Future Launch Scholarship
- 2021 Centre for Urban Environments Undergraduate Research Award
Presentations
- 2022 Persaud, S & Adams, M. Deposition patterns of non-exhaust emissions on Taraxacum officinale as a potential urban biomonitor. International Society of Exposure Science (Lisbon, Portugal)
- 2022 Persaud, S & Adams, M. Deposition patterns of non-exhaust emissions on Taraxacum officinale as a potential urban biomonitor. University of Toronto Missisauga Graduate Research Colloquium (Mississauga, Canada)
- 2022. Persaud, S & Adams, M. The Effect of Transportation-Related Air Pollutants on Surrounding Vegetation and Bodies of Water. Canadian Association of Geographers- Annual Meeting (Virtual)
- 2022. Persaud, S & Adams, M. The Effect of Transportation-Related Air Pollutants on Surrounding Vegetation and Bodies of Water. American Association of Geographers- Annual Meeting (Virtual)