- Role
- Finalist
- Region
- Aboriginal Québec Autochtone
- Pronouns
- he/him/his
Ashton André Gauthier
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Project
Uncovering Contaminants: A Comparison of Schefferville’s Landfill and Knob Lake
Project #7106
In this project I studied the levels and types of contaminants in air, snow, and soil samples from the community's only landfill and compared them to the cleanest lake, Knob Lake. Preliminary tests and spectroscopic analysis confirmed the presence of heavy metals—lead, chromium, and cadmium—and pollutants like higher amounts of greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide. It revealed the extent of contaminant buildup and leaching at the landfill, a pressing issue with extremely expensive solutions in rural Canada due to the remoteness of these communities, making it an interesting study. To make a difference, it is crucial for indigenous community members and governmental landfill management authorities to collaborate to address this emerging environmental problem, as it may lead to human health issues and ecological imbalance very soon. For example, in Schefferville, the landfill has become a feeding ground for bears and scavengers, disrupting the ecosystem's natural food web.
- Challenge
- Environment and Climate Change
- Category
- Junior
- Type
- Innovation