environmental risk assessment

Water, both in rivers and in the subsurface, is an important transport medium for chemicals in the environment. Water resources and ecosystems must be protected from diffuse and point source pollution, and waste must be managed safely to protect human health and the environment. With economic development and population growth, these issues are increasingly important. In many developing countries, pollution is a major threat to the quality of water resources and human health. In developed economies, the focus is on the management of these risks, environmental protection and environmental clean-up. Key issues include:

• protection of surface water and groundwater resources from pollution
• management of nutrient pollution from agriculture and human wastes
• risk assessment and remediation of contaminated land
• safe disposal of radioactive and hazardous wastes

Expert assessment is needed of the flow of water, the associated transport of pollutants, and the degradation, both natural and enhanced, of pollutants in the environment, so that risks can be assessed and managed. HYDRA brings together the expertise needed and HYDRA researchers have a strong track record of research and innovation in this area. Recent advances contributed by members of HYDRA include:

• novel methods to quantify uncertainty in defining groundwater protection zones
• development of new methods for in-situ treatment of pollution at contaminated land sites and the modelling of off-site risk
• modelling and assessment of leachate from waste disposal sites
• radionuclide transport in the environment and safety assessment for the deep disposal of radioactive waste

Information on staff with expertise in this field can be found in the directory of expertise or by contacting the champion for this area Dr Adrain Butler.

Back to expertise home page.