Toxicology

Toxicology

Toxicology is the science that seeks to understand how certain substances, such as chemical or biological agents, can harm the health of living organisms, and how these dangers can be detected and prevented. Within the RQR, several researchers focus on the biological mechanisms through which exposure to toxic substances affects fertility, embryonic development, or animal production.

Male infertility, in particular, is a sensitive indicator of the harmful effects of exposure to chemical agents. The research of Géraldine Delbès aims to understand how exposure to medical or environmental substances, especially during critical developmental periods, can disrupt male fertility and alter the epigenetic information passed on to future generations. Daniel Cyr studies the effects of nanoplastics—tiny particles resulting from the breakdown of plastics in the environment—on male fertility. Bernard Robaire’s work focuses on the impact of environmental toxins on male reproduction and the aging of the reproductive system.

Sarah Kimmins’ research investigates how diet and toxic substances in the environment can affect the health of parents and their children. Her lab also aims to understand how certain substances, such as medications or pollutants, can impair male fertility and influence the genetic information transmitted to offspring, especially when exposure occurs during sensitive stages of life.

Cathy Vaillancourt’s team studies how maternal prenatal stress, depression, pharmaceutical drugs, and chemical toxins affect placental function, to better understand whether these exposures may be harmful to fetal development, potentially leading to birth defects or other adverse health outcomes.

Endocrine disruptors are natural or synthetic substances that can interfere with the endocrine system, leading to negative effects on reproductive health. Found in many everyday products—cosmetics, plastic containers, toys, etc.—they are now known to impair male fertility and increase the risk of developing certain cancers. Isabelle Plante’s team investigates how exposure to endocrine disruptors affects mammary gland development and breast cancer, and aims to identify the toxicological mechanisms involved.

Pharmaceutical substances given to livestock or present in food and water can accumulate in ecosystems and negatively affect both animal and human health. Véronique Ouellet’s lab focuses on issues related to water quality on dairy farms and its implications for animal health and herd productivity.

Christopher Price studies the effects of environmental toxins, such as mycotoxins, on animal health. His team has shown that a toxin commonly found in animal feed, called DON, impairs the function of cells that are important for reproduction in cows.

The complexity of toxicological research is further heightened by the fact that many environmental contaminants act at low doses, often synergistically. Xianming Zhang’s team studies the sources, processes, and impacts of organic contaminants in the environment. They develop models to better understand how pollutants move through ecosystems, how humans and animals are exposed, and what effects these substances may have on health.

In this context, environmental toxicology provides a vital scientific framework for understanding interactions between contaminants and reproductive systems. It aligns with a “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health, supporting the development of monitoring and prevention strategies adapted to emerging ecotoxicological realities.