Risk assessment and exposure pathways analyses
It
is widely recognized that contaminant exposure assessment is a dynamic,
multi-disciplinary process that is employed by a broad spectrum of
regulatory agencies to evaluate the potential impact of environmental
pollutants. Indirect exposure of humans to environmental contaminants
may occur via consumption of food (meat, poultry, fish, grains, dairy
products), and drinking-water, ingestion of soil, and inhalation of air.
The assessment of indirect exposure is performed using the following assessment procedure:
a) concentration of
chemical in intake media (food, water, air, soil)
b) intake rate of each medium and combination of the concentrations
of chemical in the media with the intake of each medium (and, if necessary,
utilization of a factor for bioavailability through the route(s) of intake).
These data can be derived on the basis of monitoring data and/or modelling,
utilizing local or regional environmental concentrations as appropriate.
Arsenic exposure pathway
This project focuses on the groundwater-soil-plant-human transfer of arsenic under varying soil environments in Bangladesh and Australia. The research involves detailed assessment of the cycling of arsenic in water, soil, food, animal products and human systems. Based on these studies an exposure model is being developed for arsenic in Bangladesh and Australia.
Researchers
Professor Ravi Naidu, Dr Euan Smith
Collaborators
Dr Ray Correll (Mathematical and Information Sciences, CSIRO, Adelaide),
Professor Imamul Huq (Dhaka University, Bangladesh)
For further information on this research project contact
Dr Euan Smith
GIS based risk model for arsenic contaminated landscape analysis
The aim of the proposed research is to develop a GIS based risk model and data structure in order to understand how a contaminated system functions in the complex system of groundwater, soil, plant and human health. Moreover, the development of a model is useful when it can describe processes that are difficult to measure or predict.
Researchers
Nasreen Islam Khan, Dr Gary
Owens, Professor Ravi Naidu
For further information on this research project contact
Dr Gary Owens
Quantifying human health risk from groundwater-soil-food pathway
for
arsenic ingestion
The aim of the proposed research is to quantify the various pathways of arsenic ingestion by people living in arsenic affected villagers (300) in Bangladesh. The project includes an assessment of arsenic in human urine, blood and nails in addition to the amounts of arsenic ingestion on a daily basis through ingestion of water and crops grown using contaminated water. Data from this research will incorporated into the development of an arsenic risk model for human health.
Researchers
Dr Gary Owens, Professor Ravi Naidu
Collaborators
Dr Ray Correll, Mathematical and
Information Sciences, CSIRO, Adelaide
For further information on this research project contact
Professor Ravi Naidu