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Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research

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Research News newsletter Dec 2008

13th Australasian Society for Ecotoxicology Conference:
19-23 September 2009
Adelaide, South Australia

Director: Simon Apte

Our goal

The goal of the Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research Centre (CECR) is to underpin the maintenance and protection of Australia’s land and water resources from contamination, leading to improved national regulations and guidelines which protect human and ecosystem health and allow safe use of chemicals and disposal of wastes.

Background

Environmental contaminants typically comprise trace metals and a cocktail of literally thousands of anthropogenic organic compounds.

It is essential for Australia to protect valuable biological resources and the general population against the potential adverse effects of these substances.

Contaminant issues cost Australian industry billions of dollars per year.  For example, the cost of managing acid sulphate soil issues in Queensland alone is approximately $189 million per annum.

CECR seeks to characterise the fate and transport of contaminants in landscapes and water bodies, and to measure and predict ecotoxicological effects of contaminants on biota in complex terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Our research assists in responding to national emergencies and urgent government needs such as characterising the threat of acid sulphate soils in the Lower Murray, characterising major chemical spills for industry and providing expert advice to formal government enquiries.

Research capabilities

CECR's research projects are based on capabilities within the following research groups:

Soil Biogeochemistry
Group Leader: Rob Fitzpatrick

Trace organics and risk assessment
Group Leader: Rai Kookana

Aquatic chemistry and ecotoxicology
Group Leader: Stuart Simpson

Delivering outcomes

Environmental contaminants research aims to deliver new or improved assessment tools, risk assessment procedures and regulatory frameworks for contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic systems. 

CECR projects are developing:

• new sensing and measurement techniques for contaminants in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
• sensitive bioassays which can be used to assess the toxicity of specific industrial effluents, natural water systems, and contaminated sediments
• the capability to assess and predict the adverse effects of emerging contaminants, such as endocrine disrupting chemicals and nanoparticles, on Australian biota
• new gene microarrays to assess the impact of contaminants on estuarine benthic biota, populations and communities
• scientific understanding that enables beneficial reuse of waste products, for example, biosolids and wastewater
• ‘state-of-the-art’ forensic procedures to identify the source of contaminants and to ‘fingerprint’ geochemical samples
• field and laboratory assessment procedures for the assessment of acid sulfate soils in Australia and other regions.

Related Links

• Environmental Biogeochemistry research program
• Handbook for Sediment Quality Assessment (PDF, 2 MB)
• What’s in Our Water: The significance of trace organic compounds
• Pesticide Impact Rating Index (PIRI)
• Centre for Forensic Soil Science (CAFSS)
• National Biosolids Research Program
• Australian methodology to derive Ecological Investigation Levels (EIL) in contaminated soils
• Acid Sulfate Soils

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