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What’s in Our Water: The significance of trace organic compounds2nd Australian Symposium on Ecological Risk Assessment and Management of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in the Australasian Environment November 21-22 2007, CSIRO Discovery Centre, Black Mountain, Canberra Background | Aims | Speakers | Abstracts | Research Roundup | Committees | Venue | Registration | Dates | Program | Contact
BackgroundThere is significant community concern about the presence of trace levels of certain organic chemicals in the environment, especially in wastewater or reclaimed water. Compounds such as estradiols, nonylphenol, bisphenol A, PCBs and some pesticides can mimic natural hormones, potentially interfering with the normal functioning of endocrine systems. Such compounds are generally referred to as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). Studies in Australia and overseas have found residues of EDCs as well as pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicines and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment, some of these may act as EDCs. The importance of the issue is highlighted by how the “fear of the unknown” is influencing the choices and options for recycling and reuse of water in Australia. While the cause and effect relationships between EDCs and human health are not established, there is relatively greater evidence in the literature of the effect on ecosystem health of EDCs. The ecological risks associated with EDCs and PPCPs in the Australian environment needs to be established. In 2004, the first symposium of this series provided the platform for various interested groups to discuss issues related to the risks of these chemicals in the Australian environment. The workshop identified research needs and triggered further research on this topic. Since then, the issue has not only gained even greater public attention but a significant body of Australian research has become available. This workshop brings together this latest Australian and international research for discussion and to facilitate better understanding of the risk associated with trace organic chemicals such as EDCs, PPCPs in Australian environment. Aims of the symposiumThe aims of the symposium are as follows:
SpeakersKeynote Speaker - Dr Larry B. Barber
Keynote Speaker - Prof. Bent Halling-Sørensen Keynote Speaker - Dr Shane A. Snyder
Dr. Snyder has published more than 40 papers in peer-reviewed literature related to emerging contaminants. He is a Principal Investigator for several research projects investigating the impact of conventional and advanced water treatment processes removing organic contaminants. Additionally, he the Principal Investigator on two projects related to the human health relevance of trace endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals in drinking water. He has served on two US Federal Advisory Committees on endocrine disrupting chemicals. He is currently the Chairman of the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Organic Contaminants Research Committee and is the Vice-Chairman of the AWWA’s Surface Water Protection Committee. He has served on several project advisory committees for the Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF), the Water Reuse Foundation (WRF), and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). He actively continues research on emerging contaminants, with a focus on trace analysis techniques and water treatment technologies. Keynote Speaker - Professor Richard Ivell
Keynote Speaker - Dr Susan Jobling
Other speakers The meeting will be open to all. Participants from across Australia and New Zealand will meet to discuss the EDC/PPCP issue in the Australasian context. Members of the ASE and individuals from the wider community, including those involved in treatment technology, are expected to participate. Research Round-up - Submit an outline of your research on-line!Another element of the Symposium will be the Research Round-up. This session will provide an opportunity to survey the scene and review the extent of current research in the field, in a facilitated session. Committees
Venue Details CSIRO Discovery is located at CSIRO Plant Industry, on the corner of Clunies Ross Street and Barry Drive, at the base of Black Mountain. Turn into Clunies Ross Street from Barry Drive, turn right at the roundabout leading towards North Science Road and follow the signs to Discovery parking and main entrance. Note - Parking is limited. Important Dates Registration/Abstract submission opens – May 2007 Contact: Sandra Tyrrell Links
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Dr. Larry B. Barber is a research geochemist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Boulder, Colorado. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in geology from the University of Colorado and his BS degree in Geology at the University of Arkansas. For the past twenty five years he has conducted research on the fate of organic and inorganic chemicals in natural water systems, with a focus on consumer-product derived contaminants in treated wastewater and the implications for water reuse. His research involves field and laboratory studies that quantitatively integrate chemistry, biology, hydrology, and geology in evaluating the environmental fate of contaminants.
Prof. Bent Halling-Sørensen is a world authority on trace organic contaminants (such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals and antibiotics) in environment and leads the Toxicology/ Environmental Chemistry group at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen University . His team is involved in research on the environmental occurrence, fate, effects, and risk to humans and the environment of biological active micro-pollutants or metabolites and their degradation products. More recently the group is focussing on antibacterial agents, high volume drugs, hormone mimicking substances and degradation products. Prof. Halling-Sørensen has lead a number of national and international research projects (e.g. European Union), e.g. on steroid estrogens including analytical chemical methods for detection of estrogens in the environment, degradation of estrogens in the sewage treatment process and "survey the estrogenic activity in the Danish Aquatic Environment". Prof. Halling-Sørensen has published extensively on organic chemicals in environment and has more than 80 papers in international peer reviewed journals. 
Dr. Snyder is the Research & Development Project Manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He is also an Associate Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He obtained a PhD degree in Environmental Toxicology and Zoology from Michigan State University in 2000 and a BA degree in Chemistry from Thiel College in 1994. Dr. Snyder specialises in research related to the analysis and treatment of water contaminants in potable and reuse systems. 
Professor Richard Ivell is currently Head of the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science at the University of Adelaide. He is a widely travelled researcher having begun his career as a marine biologist in Europe, with further training as a molecular biologist and a neuroscientist, before becoming a specialist in the molecular biology of reproductive processes. Professor Ivell has worked at the University of Hamburg for 20 years, where he was Institute Director and Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, specialising in the molecular physiology of reproduction. As Editor-in-Chief of the internationally acclaimed journal Molecular Human Reproduction, Professor Ivell brings a broad range of experience and expertise across the biomedical sciences. His current interests include trying to understand how environmental xenobiotics exert their endocrine disrupting properties, particularly in regard to their manipulation of gonadal development in mammals including humans.
Dr Jobling is an enthusiastic, extremely effective and highly committed senior scientist with extensive experience leading and managing projects and teams. She has over 10 years experience in research and consultancy. Dr Jobling works closely with UK and foreign governments and their agencies, as well as with academic institutions and industries to research and evaluate important environmental health issues and to interpret and communicate the research findings to wide audiences. She is well versed in environmental regulation affecting the aquatic environment and provides quality project management on ecotoxicological projects within scope, budget and to tight schedules. Dr Jobling has an impressive track record of published work (her research papers have been cited more than 4800 times collectively); recently ranked as the most highly cited female scientist in Environment and Ecology by ISI. Dr Jobling is an exceptional communicator, who regularly speaks at national and international scientific venues. 
