BVSc, BEnvSc, MPhil

Contact details for Mr Robert Huston r.huston@griffith.edu.au

Thesis

Chemical contaminants in urban rainwater tanks

Description

This project involves assessment of the level and types of chemical contaminants in urban rainwater tanks and their sources. This includes monitoring of atmospheric deposition and tank water across Brisbane on a monthly basis for a full calendar year. A comparison of sampled results with those modelled with an air pollution model (TAPM) is being conducted. Statistical modelling using Positive Matrix Factorization and a variety of other chemical analysis (e.g Quemscan) are also used to characterise the sources of contaminants to tanks. The health risk analysis for consumption of urban tank water based on the chemical profiles from sampled tanks is the final part of the project.

Supervisors

Dr Andrew Chan
A/Prof Heather Chapman
Dr Ted Gardner
Dr Glen Shaw

Research expertise

• heavy metals
• bioavailability
• rainwater quality
• water quality and monitoring
• air pollution and deposition
• health risk analysis
• toxicology
• analytical chemistry
• chemistry / environmental chemistry

Publications

• Conference Papers

• Chapman, H., Huston, R., Gardner, T., Chan, A. and Shaw, G.: Chemical water quality and health risk assessment of urban rainwater tanks. In the 7th International conference on urban modelling and the 4th International conference on water sensitive urban design (eds. Deletic, A. and Fletcher, T.) (Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, 2006).
• Chapman, H., Huston, R. O’Toole, J., Cartwright, T.: Rain Water Quality – an Australian Snapshot. In sustainable water in the urban environment II. (Sunshine COast, Queensland 19-29th June, 2006)