Bernadette Quemerais

Area of Study / Keywords

Exposure Assessment Environmental Chemistry environmental monitoring inorganic trace analysis occupational hygiene

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About

I am an environmental chemist and specialist in occupational health who began my career by studying the mass balance of contaminants, specifically mercury, in the St. Lawrence River basin. I then worked for the Canadian Forces as an occupational hygienist, where I did some work on noise in Sea King helicopters, but mainly on soldiers' exposure to atmospheric emissions produced during live gun firing.

Since arriving at the University of Alberta, I have been developing a program on exposure to nano and ultrafine particles. Specifically, I am interested in developing techniques for sampling and analyzing nanoparticles and ultrafine particles and assessing the health effects of these particles. In particular, I have been working closely with Boilermakers to study the health effects of exposure to welding fumes and started to work with wildland firefighters. I have started projects on developing standard methods for the collection and quantification of carbon nanomaterials in air samples. In collaboration with researchers at the Department of Dentistry, I am working on the risk of exposure to infectious diseases for both patients and dental personnel as well as mitigation techniques.

Form 2015 to 2022 I was the co-convenor of the Joint Working Group 1 at ISO/TC 229: Nanotechnologies. Since 2022, I am a member of the International Institute of Welding. I have an adjuct position at the School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management.

 I teach an introductory course in Occupational Hygiene in Medicine and Public Health. I also teach lectures in Engineering

Awards

• Public Service Award of Excellence, 1999
• CIHR IMHA Research Excellence Award for the work on “Particle Size, Mass Concentration, and Microbiota in Dental Aerosols”

Partnership with Other Research Groups and Industries

• Canadian Centre for Welding and Joining (CCWJ), University of Alberta
• Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta
• School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management, University of Alberta
• École de santé publique - Département de santé environnementale et santé au travail, Université de Montréal
• Laboratoire ORPHY, Université de Bretagne Occidentale (Brest, France)
• Plateforme Nanosécurité - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (Grenoble, France)
• 3M
• Michelin
• Canadian Welding Board (CWB)
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
• Boilermakers Lodge146/Canadian Boilermakers
• Local 488: Plumbers & Pipefitters
• Apollo-Clad Laser Cladding

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Research

My program presently concentrates on exposure assessment to welding fumes and their health effects using various types of biomarkers in urine, exhaled breath condensates, and blood. My group has completed research projects on urinary metabolites in welder apprentices and metals in exhaled breath condensates of welders as a biomarker of exposure to welding fumes. Our current project is looking at biomarkers of oxidative stress as well as metabolites in the blood and exhaled breath condensates of welders and their relationship to chronic and acute exposure. We are working collaboratively with other research groups at the University of Alberta, Université de Montréal, Université de Bretagne Occidentale (France), and Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (France). We also have a current research project with a researcher from the Department of Dentistry on the efficiency of various types of masks to prevent the dispersion of infectious diseases using a methodology developed for a previous project.

Current Grants

NSERC Discovery Grant (2022/2027)
“Monitoring fine particles and nanoparticles at the workplace - the role of biomarkers and alternative tools”
Principal Investigator

Boilermaker Lodge 146/NSERC Alliance (202/2027)
“Inflammatory markers in welders”
Principal Investigator

Public Health Agency of Canada
"Particle characterization, breathing patterns, and biological sources of bioaerosols emitted from wearers of different mask/respirator types"
Co-Investigator

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Teaching

Courses:

• MED 514/SPH 521: Occupational Hygiene
• ENGG 406: Methodologies and Tools (ESRM-MT)

I am always looking for new students so if you have an interest in Occupational Health or Occupational Hygiene please contact me.

CIV E 729 - Advanced Topics in Environmental Engineering

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MED 514 - Occupational Hygiene

This course is an introduction to occupational hygiene theory, principles, and practice. It covers the recognition, evaluation, and control of common occupational health hazards including chemicals, biological agents, physical agents, and ergonomic issues. The course is not designed to prepare hygienists for practice. May not be taken for credit if credit has already been received in PHS 521 or SPH 521.

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SPH 521 - Occupational Hygiene

This course is an introduction to occupational hygiene theory, principles, and practice. It covers the recognition, evaluation, and control of common occupational health hazards including chemicals, biological agents, physical agents, and ergonomic issues. The course is not designed to prepare hygienists for practice. Prerequisite: consent of Instructor. Note: Credit may not be obtained for both PHS 521 and SPH 521.

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Browse more courses taught by Bernadette Quemerais

Ata Rafiee, David S. Wishart, Shelby S. Yamamoto, Lei Pei, Emily Quecke, Bernadette Quémerais

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2026 January; 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114714

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Emily Quecke, Jean-Michel Galarneau, Nicola Cherry, Zaher Hashisho, Bernadette Quemerais

Welding in the World. 2025 December; 10.1007/s40194-025-01995-7

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Arman Peyravi, Emily Quecke, Elena Kosareva, Patricia Dolez, Alexander Doroshenko, Stephanie Smith, Bernadette Quemerais, Zaher Hashisho

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 2024 October; 10.1080/15459624.2024.2394613

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Ata Rafiee, Maria B. Ospina, Tona M. Pitt, Bernadette Quémerais

Environmental Research. 2022 November; 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114152

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Ata Rafiee Ramon Carvalho Doris Lunardon Carlos Flores-Mir Paul Major Bernadette Quemerais Khaled Altabtbaei

JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH. 2022 April; 10.1177/00220345221087880

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Tilstra M.H., Tiwari I., Niwa L., Campbell S., Nielsen C.C., Allyson Jones C., Vargas A.O., Bulut O., Quemerais B., Salma J., Whitfield K., Yamamoto S.S.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 October; 18 (20) 10.3390/ijerph182010575

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Rafiee A., Laskar I., Quémerais B.

REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. 2021 May; 10.1515/reveh-2020-0174

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Meghan E Dueck Ata Rafiee James Mino Sindhu G Nair Samineh Kamravaei Lei Pei Bernadette Quémerais

Annals of Work Exposures and Health. 2021 April; 10.1093/annweh/wxab016

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Nicola Cherry Jean-Michel Galarneau David Kinniburgh Bernadette Quemerais Sylvia Tiu Xu Zhang

Annals of Work Exposures and Health. 2021 March; 65 (2):148-161 10.1093/annweh/wxaa064

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