Unravelling the behaviour and impact of anthropogenic contaminants in marine ecosystems
The marine environment is often ‘the ultimate sink' for a wide range of anthropogenic contaminants, including trace metals, pharmaceuticals and persistent organic pollutants.
We apply cutting-edge sampling and analytical tools to unravel the complex chemical behaviour and toxicological impact of anthropogenic contaminants in a variety of coastal and marine ecosystems.
Understanding the sources, transport and environmental impacts of these contaminants is critical to protecting our precious marine ecosystems from increasing human impact.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to preserving the biodiversity and ecological balance of our oceans, ensuring their long-term health and resilience for future generations.
Australian River Institute’s Toxicology Lab (ARI-TOX)
Humans encounter thousands of chemicals every day, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, food additives, herbicides, insecticides, fire retardants, petroleum products, plastics, plasticisers, industrial compounds and more. Most of these chemicals end up in the environment and eventually within the bodies of living organisms, including humans.
Our transdisciplinary team studies the presence, fate and impacts of toxic contaminants in the aquatic environment, their effects on living systems (using ethical cell-based and computer-based alternatives to animal testing) and the impacts of chemical contaminants on endangered wildlife such as sea turtles, sharks, dugongs, fish and frogs.
Coastal Water Quality Lab
The water quality of our coastal environments is at increasing risk from urbanisation, industry, mining and agriculture.
The Coastal Water Quality Lab works as nexus between fundamental biogeochemical research and application of this knowledge to improve management of coastal water quality.
Southern Oceans Persistent Organic Pollutants Program
Persistent Organic Pollutants ( POPs ) are the ubiquitous, toxic environmental contaminants released through global industry over the past century. Polar regions act as environmental 'sinks' for these POPs , threatening our polar ecosystems.
The Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program (SOPOPP ) focuses on understanding the transport mechanisms of POPs to polar regions, the behaviour of these chemicals once incorporated into high latitude environments and ultimately their impact on biota in changing polar ecosystems.
Contact details
- Phone
- (07) 5552 7269
- Location and postal address
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre
- Room 2.01, Building G51
- Griffith University
- Gold Coast campus, Queensland, 4222
