Understanding And Ameliorating The Human Health Effects Of Exposure To Air Pollution: From Knowledge To Policy And Public Health Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,584,848.00
Summary
Urban consolidation and sprawl, traffic congestion, mining, climate change, heating and cooling living environments, and power generation – these manifestations of modernity produce regular headlines. Air pollution and its effects on human health are the focus of much popular concern. This CRE will build an integrated research capacity in the field of air pollution and its effects on human health that will allow Australia to address these major challenges - now and in the future.
Energy Transitions, Air Pollution And Health In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,491,229.00
Summary
Emissions from burning biomass (including fossil fuels) are major features of our environment and are the 4th leading global risk factor for premature death. As countries shift their patterns of energy use in response to global warming, new challenges are emerging. Understanding this is crucial to our ability to maintain health and stability in uncertain times. This CRE will examine the health consequences of (1) fossil fuel combustion, (2) landscape fires and (3) alternatives to fossil fuels.
Molecular Cell Biology and Comparative Genomics Of Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia In Relation To Evolution Of Cytoskeletal Proteins and Membrane-bounded Compartments. Planctomycetes and verrucomicrobia are evolutionarily distinct groups of bacteria which possess unusual cell structure and which share some significant genes important in cell biology with eukaryotes e.g. in verrucomicrobia the cytoskeleton protein tubulin. These bacteria are important for understanding the transition from no ....Molecular Cell Biology and Comparative Genomics Of Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia In Relation To Evolution Of Cytoskeletal Proteins and Membrane-bounded Compartments. Planctomycetes and verrucomicrobia are evolutionarily distinct groups of bacteria which possess unusual cell structure and which share some significant genes important in cell biology with eukaryotes e.g. in verrucomicrobia the cytoskeleton protein tubulin. These bacteria are important for understanding the transition from non-nucleated cells with simple cell division to nucleated cells with chromosome separation via cytoskeletal protein movement.The project will compare genomes of of planctomycetes and verrucomicrobia to determine their relationship, determine whether the tubulin homolog of verrucomicrobia can form cytoskeleton structures, and characterize the cytoskeleton of ammonium-oxidizing planctomycetes used in wastewater treatment.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC220100050
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,508,426.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (ARC CEA-StAR). The ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance aims to develop industry-led solutions and train a new generation of researchers to combat the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on agribusiness and the environment.
AMR is a global health and economic threat that epitomises the need for a ‘One Health’ collaborative approach encompassi ....ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (ARC CEA-StAR). The ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance aims to develop industry-led solutions and train a new generation of researchers to combat the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on agribusiness and the environment.
AMR is a global health and economic threat that epitomises the need for a ‘One Health’ collaborative approach encompassing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
Expected outcomes of this collaborative program include a cohort of researchers trained in industry-relevant techniques, furnishing solutions to partner-defined AMR challenges, and providing significant benefits by positioning Australia as a global leader in reducing AMR.Read moreRead less
Drying sewage sludge using hot oil. The project seeks to investigate and develop an entirely new area of fundamental and applied research involving the process, mechanisms and kinetics of direct dehydration of sewage sludge by fry-drying in hot oil. Frying can be carried out as a drying process, though it not widely recognized or applied in this way, and has consequently not been exploited outside of the traditional food industries. It potentially provides a wide range of significant benefits ....Drying sewage sludge using hot oil. The project seeks to investigate and develop an entirely new area of fundamental and applied research involving the process, mechanisms and kinetics of direct dehydration of sewage sludge by fry-drying in hot oil. Frying can be carried out as a drying process, though it not widely recognized or applied in this way, and has consequently not been exploited outside of the traditional food industries. It potentially provides a wide range of significant benefits for sludge drying, including high efficiency and low costs, and produces a non-offensive product with a high energy value suitable for (renewable) power generation.Read moreRead less
An evaluation of the environmental health risk of heatwaves associated with global warming. Global warming is associated with an increased frequency of severe weather events including frequent and severe heatwaves. Previous studies have demonstrated that heatwaves are amongst the most deadly disasters to affect the community. This study will identify those members of the community who are most at risk from heatwaves so that strategies may be identified and implemented by governments to protect t ....An evaluation of the environmental health risk of heatwaves associated with global warming. Global warming is associated with an increased frequency of severe weather events including frequent and severe heatwaves. Previous studies have demonstrated that heatwaves are amongst the most deadly disasters to affect the community. This study will identify those members of the community who are most at risk from heatwaves so that strategies may be identified and implemented by governments to protect those people during severe heatwave conditions. The direct benefit to the community will be reduced mortality and morbidity and the consequential reductions in the cost of community and health support services.Read moreRead less
Determination of the fate of dissolved organic nitrogen in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes and development of appropriate treatment technologies. The aim of this project is to better characterise the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in sewage treatment plant influent, determine its fate in biological nutrient removal (BNR) plants, and to evaluate and develop an appropriate treatment technology.
As a result of tightening effluent N licence requirements for sewage treatment plants, ....Determination of the fate of dissolved organic nitrogen in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes and development of appropriate treatment technologies. The aim of this project is to better characterise the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in sewage treatment plant influent, determine its fate in biological nutrient removal (BNR) plants, and to evaluate and develop an appropriate treatment technology.
As a result of tightening effluent N licence requirements for sewage treatment plants, the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) fraction has become extremely important. In many cases, the DON forms the major fraction of the effluent N, and is constraining further reductions in licence specifications, and in some cases it is the cause of failure to meet licence.
DON is refractory (un-biodegradable), very poorly characterised, its fate in conventional biological treatment processes not known, and its eventual impact on the environment unknown. Considering its importance, it is critical that these issues are addressed. This proposal intends to address some of them.
This project is an APA(I) PhD student project.Read moreRead less
Production of Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoate Polymers using Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Process Technology. The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable process for producing biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs)polymers from an innovative aerobic-anaerobic biological wastewater treatment process, ?treating? high strength food industry effluent. These biopolymers offer enormous potential for use as renewable and biodegradable thermoplastics.
It is proposed to inve ....Production of Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoate Polymers using Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Process Technology. The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable process for producing biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs)polymers from an innovative aerobic-anaerobic biological wastewater treatment process, ?treating? high strength food industry effluent. These biopolymers offer enormous potential for use as renewable and biodegradable thermoplastics.
It is proposed to investigate two process configurations, namely the sequencing batch reactor and a continuous two step anaerobic-aerobic reaction system. These will be studied at bench-scale. The outcomes include:
1. Determination of the optimum microbial conditions and key growth
parameters for the production of PHA.
2. Optimisation of the process configuration, operating strategies
and operating conditions to maximise the
production of PHA.
3. Assessment of the influence of the feed composition (e.g. VFA)
on the PHA composition (PHB/PHV).
Read moreRead less
Development of a Nitrogen Removal Technology to Integrate with the Novel ‘EnRec’ Energy Recovery Sewage Treatment Process. The aim of this project is to develop a nitrogen removal technology to integrate with the novel energy recovery sewage treatment process, EnRec. EnRec is presently being developed as part of a collaborative R&D activity between the partners, and is partly supported by a Queensland Government (QSEIF) grant which was awarded in November 2002.
One important issue yet to b ....Development of a Nitrogen Removal Technology to Integrate with the Novel ‘EnRec’ Energy Recovery Sewage Treatment Process. The aim of this project is to develop a nitrogen removal technology to integrate with the novel energy recovery sewage treatment process, EnRec. EnRec is presently being developed as part of a collaborative R&D activity between the partners, and is partly supported by a Queensland Government (QSEIF) grant which was awarded in November 2002.
One important issue yet to be addressed is how to achieve nitrogen removal in the EnRec process. One of the major differences between the EnRec process and conventional sewage treatment technology is that the main process reactor is anaerobic, thus eliminating aeration costs and enabling methane production. However, anaerobic treatment processes do not provide significant nitrogen removal, and thus it will be necessary to integrate a nitrogen removal technology with the main energy recovery process. This is the aim of this project.
The project is an APA(I) PhD student project.Read moreRead less