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Society journal honours Mackay

10 September 2004

The international peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, will honor Dr. Donald Mackay, professor emeritus at Trent University, in the October 2004 issue.

"In recognition of Don's many gifts to the environmental chemistry and toxicology community, it is fitting that those of us who have been involved in Don's life work celebrate his contributions with a series of studies that further contribute to building the world model of Don's dreams," say Dr. Frank Gobas, professor at Simon Fraser University, School of Resource and Environmental Management and Dr. Derek Muir, research scientist with Environment Canada's National Water Research Institute, both editors of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Along with Mackay's article, "Finding Fugacity Feasible, Fruitful and Fun," the issue includes articles about themes that have received attention from Mackay. The articles focus on such topics as physical-chemical and environmental properties of a variety of organic materials, toxicant bioaccumulation processes, and the toxicological properties of organic chemicals and their application to environmental quality management.

"His tireless efforts to champion the 'fugacity approach,' documented first in an article in Environmental Science & Technology titled 'Finding Fugacity Feasible,' followed by dozens of publications and a book, have laid the theoretical foundation for much of the discipline of environmental chemistry devoted to the fate of chemical substances in the environment," say Gobas and Muir. "This work has helped to elevate our discipline to a level of maturity and respect."

In October 2003, Mackay obtained Canada's highest honor for lifetime achievement with his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada. Established in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes individuals for their excellence and outstanding accomplishments. Mackay is among 102 new appointments that includes 33 Officers.

Mackay is the founding director of the Canadian Environmental Modelling Centre (CEMC). In 1990, Mackay was the recipient of the Founders Award from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), the Society's highest award. Mackay was subsequently honored as an emeritus member.

Mackay's first article in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, "Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships for the Acute Toxicity of Chlorobenzenes to Daphnia magna," appeared in the 1985 volume 4, number 3 issue.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry is one of two official journals of SETAC and is devoted to furthering scientific knowledge and distributing information on environmental toxicology and chemistry. The issue dedicated to Mackay will be available online in September; visit www.setac.org for more information.

Contact:
April Phillips
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Public Relations
850 469 1500 x 28
aprilp@setac.org