Contaminant Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

The Contaminant Chemistry and Ecotoxicology group develops new techniques for detecting emerging contaminants in environmental samples, characterising their environmental transformations, and determining their eventual fate and effects on ecosystem health.

We have expertise in development and application of state-of-the-art chemical and ecotoxicological techniques which enables improved assessment of the risks posed by contaminants in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

The group comprises 49 research staff.

Skills and expertise

The group's skills and expertise include:

• Characterisation and instrumental analysis of trace organics in waters, effluents and soils
• Ultratrace analysis of trace metals in waters, sediment and biota, including the application of advanced spectroscopic techniques (e.g. synchrotron science, X-ray techniques and infra-red spectroscopy) to environmental problems.
• Terrestrial and aquatic ecotoxicology including the development of novel bioassays. Molecular biology and ecogenomics.
• Expertise in conducting contaminant fate/transport studies in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Risk assessment of contaminants in soils (including acid sulfate soils) and effluents; integrated risk assessment frameworks, and critical contaminant load models and their application to soil and waste management.

Assets

The groups's assets include analytical facilities for the analysis of organic contaminants - GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS and a range of preparative analytical techniques- and determination of trace elements including a purpose-built clean room.  Multi-elemental analysis facilities include GFAAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS, Multicollector ICP-MS and electrochemical analysis. Extensive ecotoxicology facilities include a purpose-built laboratory suite for the development of sediment bioassays, microscopy and flow cytometry.

Key contact

Simon Apte
Research Program Leader