Australia's National Biosolid Research Program - how it came about, and what has it discovered?
Access Status
Authors
Date
2007Type
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Source Title
Source Conference
Faculty
Collection
Abstract
The National Biosolids Research Program (NBRP) was established by the CSIRO Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research in 2002 in order to coordinate research relating to the benefits and risks of using biosolids for Australian agriculture. Prior to the establishment of the NBRP, research on biosolid use in agriculture had been concentrated in one state (New South Wales), with pockets of uncoordinated activity in other states. The NBRP is a coalition of seven research agencies around Australia, with support from several metropolitan and regional water authorities, and from several state environmental and natural resource management agencies. In terms of potential environmental risks, the NBRP initially concentrated onmetals and focussed field experimentation on cadmium, copper and zinc. The research has subsequently moved onto examining potential risks from pathogens, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds and personal care products. As well as potential risks, the benefits of nutrients and organic matter in biosolids on crop growth are also being assessed, with various cropping systems around Australia being evaluated.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Pritchard, Deborah; Penney, N.; McLaughlin, M.; Rigby, Hannah; Schwarz, Karen (2010)Australia is a large exporter of agricultural products, with producers responsible for a range of quality assurance programs to ensure that food crops are free from various contaminants of detriment to human health. Large ...
-
McLaughlin, M.; Warne, M.; Stevens , D.; Whatmuff, M.; Heemsbergen, D.; Broos, K.; Barry, G.; Bell, M.; Nash, D.; Pritchard, Deborah; Penney, N. (2007)The National Biosolids Research Program (NBRP) was established by the CSIRO Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research in 2002 in order to coordinate research relating to the benefits and risks of using biosolids for ...
-
Pritchard, Deborah Leeanne (2005)The annual production of biosolids in the Perth region during the period of this study was approximately 13,800 t dry solids (DS), being supplied by three major wastewater treatment plants. Of this, 70% was typically used ...