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Protecting Produce and Environment
Remedial Action for the Rural Environment

Our central philosophy is the promotion of rural environmental quality using solar energy to provide the force required (as in SUNFix) to produce sustainable environmental action.

Protecting Produce and Environment Remedial Action for the Rural Environment: Mission statement

Risk Assessment, Fate of Agrochemicals and & Solutions by Management

Current Projects:

Immunodiagnostics & Monitoring in Environmental, Agricultural and Food Sciences

Current Projects:

Risk Assessment, Fate of Agrochemicals and & Solutions by Management

 

Mission Statement

Ecological risk assessment (ERA, EcoRR) considers environmental exposure and toxicity of pollutants to enable improved interpretation of pollutant concentrations and associated risk to the environment. Residue Risk (RR) considers the likelihood of contamination of produce. Calculating a risk quotient as the ratio of exposure and either toxicity or maximum residue levels of specific chemicals forms the basis of the risk assessment process. The major challenge of ERA and RR is to gather and generate accurate and site-specific exposure and toxicity data. ERA is a valuable tool for choosing between different chemicals or management practices to protect the environment. We have carried out many ERA and RR research or consultancy projects, developing a range of methods to express exposure and estimate risk. A combination of Action Chemistry and ERA provides high quality information to interpret and manage ecological risk.

We also have extensive field project experience regarding the environmental fate and transport of organic chemicals, including pesticides and endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). In particular, studies have focused on the fate of chemicals applied as part of contemporary agronomic practices. The tools used to assess the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment include detailed literature review, modelling and environmental monitoring. These tools are used in developing quantitative action models of the fate and transport of chemicals, with feedback mechanisms. This area of scientific research benefits from other SUNFix research disciplines, including ERA and immunodiagnostics for monitoring.

We seek practical solutions that reduce risk to the environment and produce, ensuring long term ecological sustainability. Integrated wetlands on farms are one example of this approach. Our bioremediation research stems from fate and transport studies of environmental contaminants, linked to methods for the detection of chemical residues in the environment and estimation of associated ecological risk. For successful adoption, bioremediation and the exercise of management options it is essential that they be effective, practical, manageable, cost effective (if not cost beneficial) and, most importantly, they must be developed in close collaboration with the direct stakeholders.

Email address phone

Angus Crossan a.crossan@agec.usyd.edu.au +61 2 9351 2112

Ivan R. Kennedy i.kennedy@acss.usyd.edu.au +61 2 9351 3546

Mick Rose mros3133@mail.usyd.edu.au +61 2 9351 2112

Adele Jones ajon1264@mail.usyd.edu.au +61 2 9351 2112

Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Ross St Building AO3
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006

Fax: (02) 9351 5108

Contract Research and Consultancy

Our knowledge base and information resources are extensive, incorporating the experience gained from basic, strategic and applied ore contract research and consulting. While each project has involved a unique situation, with special aims and outputs these have provided insights and benefits advantageous to other projects and research.

The group is well suited for consulting and contract research and development projects in a broad range of environmental disciplines. For more information or to enquire about collaboration please contact us: a.crossan@agec.usyd.edu.au

Related Teaching:
Senior courses in Rural Environmental Chemistry A and B in the Faculties of Science and Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AGCH3012, AGCH3030, AGCH3032) also cover the areas of these research topics.

Collaboration and Links

Current projects

Environmental benefits of on-farm wetlands: pesticide bioremediation (CRC 6.2.01: 1.7.02 - 30.6.05)

Personnel:

Summary

Risk assessment and monitoring programs for environmental chemicals, conducted in the Australian Cotton CRC, have identified a number of pathways by which agrochemicals can affect the health of biological ecosystems associated with cotton farming. In particular the contamination of irrigation tailwater with pesticides and nutrients, and the subsequent recycling of this water on-farm increases the risk for farm workers, livestock and native fauna, in particular birds and amphibians. Using constructed wetlands on cotton farms, information is needed on the fate of pesticides and nutrients and modelling of engineering constraints in scaling up from a pilot system. Native aquatic plant species and microbes that can accelerate pesticide removal from aqueous systems will be identified and tested in pilot scale field trials involving constructed wetlands. It is anticipated that, with appropriate monitoring, cleaned water may be re-used for other purposes such as the irrigation of other crops, watering livestock or aquaculture.

Objectives

  • To devise an inexpensive, robust plant-microbial wetland system reducing the concentration of pesticide residues in cotton runoff.
  • To remove plant pathogens that move around farms in irrigation water,
  • As an alternative source of feed for stock animals or for other commercial plants,
  • To provide beneficial insect refuges,

Australian Cotton CRC, National Heritage Trust

Collaboration and links

Dr Francisco Sanchez-Bayo (Chiba University, Japan), Dr Stephen Johnson (University of New England, Australian Cotton CRC), Dr David Nehl (NSW Agriculture, Australian Cotton CRC), Dr Santo Raguso (University of Sydney)

Risk Assessment (CRDC projects)

Personnel:

  • Ivan Kennedy (i.kennedy@acss.usyd.edu.au)
  • Angus Crossan (a.crossan@agec.usyd.edu.au)
  • Adele Jones ()

We have been involved in a number of research and development projects with the Australian Cotton Industry through close association with the Cotton Research and Development Corporation. These have been focused upon applying methods of risk assessment to various aspects of the cotton industry. There are a number of areas in which risk assessment methods have been used to evaluate various aspects of the cotton industry. We are currently working to provide a comprehensive model for ongoing assessment of the pesticides used in cotton growing.

CRDC US49C:

Ecological Risk Assessment and Risk Management for New Cotton Developments

In this study a model cotton farm was used to assess the impact of the development of cotton farming nearby sensitive environs. The risk assessment used a wide variety of toxicological data to determine the risk to many significant species within the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, a RAMSAR listed wetland site.

Ecological relative risk (EcoRR):

Another approach for risk assessment of pesticides in agriculture, Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, Sundaram Baskaran and Ivan R. Kennedy, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 91 (2002), 37-57

This publication was developed from project US49C. The pesticides used in cotton production are ranked according to risk. This work enables improved management by informing decision makers of relative risk associated with each chemical. Such information is useful for managing pesticide use near sensitive regions and is not generally provided by product suppliers.

CRDC US 66C:

Cotton Chemicals and Residues-Risk Management

This project develops risk assessments for two commodities associated with cotton production, cotton seed and beef stock. These commodities are closely associated with cotton growing either through mixed business or as neighbouring properties. The risk of pesticide residues being detected in cotton seed and beef stock is developed using Minimum Residue Limit (MRL) data for effect concentrations. This project acknowledges that it is important to consider the management of pesticides within an entire region to minimise cross contamination which can be politically difficult and result in costly litigation.

CRDC US156C:

Hazard Assessment of Cotton Gin Trash

This project involves assessing the waste produced from the ginning of cotton (Cotton Gin Trash) in order to categorise waste according to EPA guidelines. One of the challenges of this project is that the EPA guidelines are incomplete for many pesticides. Therefore, this project also develops recommendations for waste categorisations using the standard risk assessment process and incorporating site specific exposure expressions.

Links:

Immunodiagnostics & Monitoring in Environmental, Agricultural and Food Sciences

 

Mission Statement

Immunodiagnostics such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) and other methods such as biosensor electrodes offer rapid, highly specific and inexpensive methods for large scale screening of environmental samples and agricultural products such as grain. These techniques can be used to make management decisions in the field. We have developed a range of such ELISA methods, for pesticides, mytotoxins and EDCs, validating these with GLC-MS and HPLC-MS. A number of ongoing projects are indicated below.

Contact

Nanju Alice Lee a.lee@acss.usyd.edu.au +61 2 9351 8710

Ivan R. Kennedy i.kennedy@acss.usyd.edu.au +61 2 9351 3546

Andrea Casteriano casteriano@iprimus.com.au +61 2 9036 5101

Roberta Freitas betapontual@hotmail.com +61 2 9036 5101

Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Ross St Building AO3
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006

Fax: (02) 9351 5108

Objectives and Outputs

ACIAR PHT1996/004:

Monitoring mycotoxins and pesticides in grain and food production systems for risk management in Vietnam and Australia

  1. Conduct baseline surveys of mycotoxin and pesticide contamination in Vietnam and establish priority ecotoxins for the project.
  2. Strengthen the monitoring network in Vietnam, validate and apply monitoring protocols in Vietnam and Australia.
  3. Develop in Australia and Vietnam a range of simple tests (ELISAs) for mycotoxins and pesticides with adequate training of personnel to provide a sustainable system.
  4. Assess the impact of increased monitoring and trace-back.

ACIAR PHT1997/017:

Reducing Aflatoxin in Peanuts Using Agronomic Management and Bio-Control Strategies in Indonesia and Australia (specific objectives relating to monitoring)

  1. To survey Indonesian peanuts for incidence of A. flavus and aflatoxin at various stages in the food delivery chain (farm-buyer-retailer) to assess the critical hazard points resulting in contamination.
  2. To foster the implementation of aflatoxin monitoring and control strategies in Indonesia.

DFID Animal Health R7999:

Establishment of an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique for detecting aflatoxin B1 in feedstuffs (University of Edinburgh)

To Develop an ELISA test kit for monitoring of aflatoxin B1 contamination in poultry feed. To apply the test kits to feed manufacturers and DICs. To collate data on aflatoxin contamination in Indonesian poultry feed

GRDC US00006:

Commercial development of rapid screening tests for persistent chemical contaminants in animal feeds.

  1. Develop rapid screening tests for persistent insecticides
  2. Convert laboratory ELISAs for persistent insecticides into a rapid, multiresidue field screening tests using Flow Through format
  3. Validate and commercialise the tests to ensure that the kits are available in a timely, on-going manner to industry.

The expected output of this project would be the commercial availability of new field tests for persistent insecticides in grain. The commercial availability of tests can minimise the risk of animal contamination with persistent compounds, then safeguard Australian meat and grain exports.

AusAID CARD CON0016:

An Integrated Approach to Strengthening Institutional Infrastructure for Environmental Risk Assessment, Monitoring & Remedial Action for Pesticide Residues

  1. To train Vietnamese scientists in the application of simple cost-effective analytical tests (ELISA) for monitoring pesticide residues, with proper validation by routine analysis.
  2. To establish protocols for risk assessment using baseline monitoring data on the extent of environmental contamination by key pesticides at two contrasting sites in the northern and the southern areas of Viet Nam.
  3. To develop models for risk assessment of agrochemicals used in crop production.

The measurable outcomes will be:

  • Documented training of two large teams of Vietnamese scientists, teachers and administrators in the methods needed for establishing published guidelines for monitoring, traceback and risk assessment,
  • The capacity to produce cleaner agricultural produce of greater economic value, together with improved environmental and human health,
  • Practical manuals giving objective measures for developing management policies and validated strategies designed to protect and restore the environment and agricultural produce from the adverse effect of pesticides.

Collaboration and links

Funding Agencies

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