2005 / 01
Dear Reader !

Welcome to the March edition of the Speciation Newsletter provided by the European Virtual Institute for Speciation  Analysis (EVISA).

The month started with the PittCon event, where also a well attended symposia dedicated to speciation analysis took place. EVISA director Michael Sperling gave an overview about the state-of-the-art speciation analysis, legislation and industrial applications.  Next month will again be very interesting with respect to events dedicated to speciation analysis (please consult our diary of events !). 

Regarding legislation, some movement can be observed with respect to mercury emission control. Government authorities have recognized the role of speciation (e.g. mercury - methylmercury), which has to be taken into account for modelling environmental cycling and risk assessment (please consult our news section !).  

This Newsletter is meant to inform you about the current trends in elemental speciation analysis with respect to research, techniques, methods, industrial applications, and rules and legislation. If you would like to continue to receive this newsletter, please visit our website and register as a member of EVISA's usergroup. Registration is free !
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Additional you will profit from most current information regarding events, training activities, and vacancies. Direct linkage to the EVISA web portal http://www.speciation.net connects you immedeately to our highly frequented services, like EVISA's directory of scientists, EVISA's agenda of events and EVISA's hot-link database.

We hope that our newsletter will attract your interest, and would be happy to receive your suggestions, comments or criticism.

The EVISA team wishes "Happy Eastern" to all members of its user group.
NEWS | EVENTS | TRAINING | VACANCIES | DIRECTORY | LINKS
NEWS

EVISA is keeping you updated  with what is going on in speciation analysis. In this section you will find news about the most current research results, about trends, legal issues and informations from manufacturers in the field of speciation analysis.



New results on the distribution of mercury in the USA is fueling the discussion on the necessity of the reduction of its emission
Mercury contamination is more pervasive in New England than researchers previously believed. This is the result of a four-year study in Northeastern United States and eastern Canada, in which more than 50 scientists analyzed data from thousands of locations.
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Phasing out of chromated copper arsenate as a wood preservative
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has now ruled (see the new from March 18) that treated pine timber would be phased out for use in play equipment, outside seating and domestic decking by next March although it would continue to be used for general construction, fencing, signage and telephone poles.
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Selenoprotein P is required for normal sperm development
A paper in print in the journal Biology of Reproduction offers evidence that a protein circulating in the blood of mammals delivers the dietary micronutrient selenium to germ cells, enabling these cells to develop into normal sperm.
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1 Mio $ prize offered for a solution against arsenic in drinking water
WASHINGTON -- The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced 1st of February the establishment of the Grainger Challenge Prize for Sustainability. This prize will award $1 million for a practical technology that can prevent the slow poisoning of people throughout the world as a result of arsenic contamination of drinking water.
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NEW PRODUCTS

PUBLISHING NEXT MONTH - Handbook of Elemental Speciation
2 Volume Set -
Special Introductory Price

This two-volume handbook provides comprehensive coverage of the sample preparation methods and analytical techniques utilised for the speciation of different elements in environmental, food, and clinical samples.

 
Handbook of Elemental Speciation II - Species in the Environment, Food, Medicine and Occupational Health provides a comprehensive survey of chemical speciation of the elements in a systematic way

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Order your copy today at a Special Introductory Price

  • 2 Volume Set:£275.00 /412.50 / $510.00 valid until June 2005, £295.00 /442.50 / $550.00 thereafter
  • Volume 2:£175.00 /262.50 / $ 325.00 valid until June 2005 £195.00 /292.50 / $365.00 thereafter

EVENTS

With a list of about 50 entries EVISA is informing you about interesting events and keeps you updated with their deadlines. By consulting our list of deadlines you won't miss the opportunity for early registration at reduced fee or the chance to submit your contribution in time.

more infos...

8th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements (ICOBTE)
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Date: 03.04.2005 - 07.04.2005
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Spectr'Atom 2005
Location: Palais Beaumont, Pau, France
Date: 06.04.2005 - 08.04.2005
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CIA 2005: Conference über Ionenanalyse
Location: Techn. Universität Berlin, Germany
Date: 06.04.2005 - 08.04.2005
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X IAEAC Workshop on Progress in Analytical Methodologies in Trace Metal Speciation
Location: Luxembourg
Date: 06.04.2005 - 09.04.2005
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Beryllium: Sampling and Analysis
Location: Hilton Reno Resort; Reno, NV
Date: 21.04.2005 - 22.04.2005
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2005 Asia-Pacific Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry
Location: Chiangmai, Thailand
Date: 25.04.2005 - 30.04.2005
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1st International Workshop on Antimony in the Environment
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Date: 16.05.2005 - 19.05.2005
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15th Annual Goldschmidt Conference
Location: Moscow, Idaho, USA,
Date: 20.05.2005 - 25.05.2005
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TRAINING

EVISA is supporting the field with educational and training activities meant to improve in the medium- and long-term the knowledge and know-how of users. Well known scientists working in the field are giving the lectures as well as transferring the know-how during the hands-on part of the training courses.
For learning about EVISA's current training activities please consult the following list of events.
 

Sample Preparation for Speciation Analysis
Location: Technical University Vienna / Austria
Date: 05.04.2005 - 05.04.2005
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Arsenic speciation in foodstuffs and water in relation to legislative requirements
Location: The Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Søborg, Denmark
Date: 12.09.2005 - 13.09.2005
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Speciation analysis applied to environmental issues
Location: Pau / France
Date: 12.09.2005 - 15.09.2005
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Fundamentals of coupling techniques in speciation analysis
Location: Pau, France
Date: 19.10.2005 - 20.10.2005
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Organic mass spectrometry in speciation analysis
Location: Pau / France
Date: 21.10.2005 - 21.10.2005
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Selenium speciation in foods and food supplements
Location: The Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Søborg, Denmark
Date: 14.11.2005 - 15.11.2005
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Speciation analysis and food security
Location: Pau, France
Date: 24.11.2005 - 25.11.2005
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Speciation analysis applied to industrial issues: Waste management, Semi-conductors, Petroleum products, Car and electroplating industries, Cement industries, Mining industries
Location: Pau, France
Date: 05.12.2005 - 08.12.2005
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Accuracy and quality assurance in speciation analysis by isotope dilution mass spectrometry
Location: Pau, France
Date: 23.02.2006 - 24.02.2006
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VACANCIES

EVISA provides information about open positions for Ph.D. students, PostDocs and permanent staff in the field of speciation. Looking to fill a vacancy or needing a new career challenge? Either way this service is FREE. If you would like to post an open position here, please contact us at info@speciation.net !


Doctorates

Call for Marie Curie Fellowships at MiTAC
The XMBA research group is part of MiTAC, the Centre for Micro- and Trace Analysis. MiTAC is a multidisciplinary research institute with ca 70 scientists and 15 senior/staff researchers. MiTAC recently was recognised by the EU as a Host Institute for Marie Curie fellowships in the framework of the INCAS agreement: Innovative methods for chemical analysis of solids.
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Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen,
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark is currently interested in applications from talented post-graduate students who would like to qualify for a PhD study in the interface between analytical chemistry and plant biology using HPLC-ICP-MS and other techniques to study metal speciation in plants and in the rhizosphere.
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Postdoctoral

Stockholm University: Arctic Tectonics using U-Pb LA-ICP MS Geochronology
The Dept. of Geology & Geochemistry at Stockholm University, Sweden, seeks a qualified applicant for a two year postdoctoral position in circum-Arctic tectonic evolution using detrital zircon provenance investigations. A significant part of this position will be developing U-Pb LA-ICP MS geochronological techniques using a Finnigan Element I and a New Wave UP213 Nd-YAG laser. Therefore, LA-ICP experience would be beneficial.

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USGS Mendenhall: Menlo Park, CA
Characterization of Microbial Communities Involved in Methylmercury Cycling at Historic Hg and Au Mining-Impacted Sites

The historic mercury (Hg) and gold (Au) mining operations in California produced a great deal of wealth, but also produced waste material (e.g., tailings, calcines, unprocessed ore, and waste rock) that still pose physical and chemical hazards. The greatest of these may well be the chemical hazard of Hg itself, but the toxicity, mobility, and bioavailability of Hg depend on its chemical form (i.e., species). Methylmercury (CH3Hg+) is the form most detrimental to the environment, because it is a potent neurotoxin that is readily bioaccumulated and biomagnified in aquatic food webs. Toxic effects are primarily manifested in the developing embryos of organisms at higher trophic levels, particularly those organisms for which fish constitutes a large portion of the diet.
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Isotope Geochemistry/Hg Biogeochemistry, University of Michigan
Research positions are available in the area of isotope geochemistry and/or Hg biogeochemistry at the Postdoctoral Fellow or Research Faculty level. The successful candidate(s) will conduct biogeochemical research utilizing the single and multi-collector ICP-MS and/or Hg analysis laboratories. Expertise in ICP-MS isotopic analysis, and/or Hg biogeochemistry is highly desirable.
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CABE, University of Geneve, Switzerland
Positions for studying ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS AND PROBES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS at the Department of Inorganic, Analytical and Applied Chemistry of the University.
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Other

Frontier GeoSciences, Inc.: Quality Assurance Officer
Frontier GeoSciences, Inc. a progressive environmental research and specialty inorganic analytical lab in Seattle is searching for a Quality Assurance Officer. Frontier's areas of expertise include ultra-trace metals analysis and metal(loid) speciation (primarily for Hg, As, Se, Cr, and Sb). Candidates should be extremely knowledgeable about trace metals analysis and have several years' experience at an inorganic lab. Strongly positioned for growth in 2005, Frontier is looking for a proven, innovative leader to join our team.

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University Graz: Assistant Professor
A position as Assistant Professor in Analytical Chemistry within the Institute of Chemistry at Karl-Franzens University Graz will be available from June 2005. The position is for 6 years.
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USDA: Research Nutritionist (Biochemistry) at Grand Forks , ND
The position is located at the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center , Grand Forks ,ND. The incumbent will participate in studies of selenium metabolism, including the chemical speciation and transport of food selenium compounds and stable isotopic tracers in animal models, human subjects and cell culture models.
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Faculty Position in Analytical Geochemistry
The Department of Earth Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Analytical Geochemistry at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. The successful candidate will join a team of faculty and research staff developing multicollector-magnetic sector-ICPMS (with laser ablation capabilities), ion microprobe and scanning electron microscope instruments in the new Inco Innovation Centre at the St. John's campus.
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DIRECTORY


EVISA's directory of scientist is a versatile tool to facilitate contact with scientists in the field of speciation. The directory is fully searchable for names, addresses, research topics etc. You should bookmark this directory as an always up-to-date address book. (In order to hinder SPAM robots for collecting the E-mail accounts, we hide them in a special format).

More than 200 active scientists in the field of speciation analysis already joined the directory. If your entry is missing in this directory, please contact us at info@speciation.net.

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FORUM
EVISA'S discussion forum provides an open room to talk, to reach others with similar interests, and to find answers to your burning questions. goto forum


LINKS

EVISA provides an easy access to external information. Our database contains about 700 links to relevant information from numerous top scientific resources spread over the whole Web. The database is searchable both via full-text and categories such as elements, type of species and type of information. We are permanently updating our links section. If your web site is missing here, please e-mail your link information to links@speciation.net.

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Copyright 2005 EVISA 
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Disclaimer
No responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein.The authors are solely responsible for the information provided in the present poster. The Newsletter represents only the opinion of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Community. The European Community is not responsible for any use that might be made of the information provided.