A National Wastewater Monitoring Program for a better understanding of public health: A case study using the Australian Census

Authors

Jake O'Brien, University of QueenslandFollow
Sharon Grant, University Of Queensland
Andrew Banks, University Of Queensland
Raimondo Bruno, University of Tasmania
Stephen Carter, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services
Phil Choi, University Of Queensland
Adrian Covaci, University of Antwerp
Nicholas Crosbie, Melbourne Water
Coral Gartner, University Of Queensland
Wayne Hall, University of Queensland
Guangming Jiang, University of QueenslandFollow
Sarit Kaserzon, University Of Queensland
K Kirkbride, Flinders University
Foon Lai, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Rachel Mackie, University Of Queensland
Judi Marshall, Phycotec Environmental Management
Christoph Ort, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Christopher Paxman, University Of Queensland
Jeremy Prichard, University of Tasmania
Phong K. Thai, University of Queensland
Kevin Thomas, University Of Queensland
Ben Tscharke, University Of Queensland
Jochen F. Mueller, University of Queensland

RIS ID

134733

Publication Details

O'Brien, J. W., Grant, S., Banks, A. P. W., Bruno, R., Carter, S., Choi, P. M., Covaci, A., Crosbie, N. D., Gartner, C., Hall, W., Jiang, G., Kaserzon, S., Kirkbride, K. Paul., Lai, F. Yin., Mackie, R., Marshall, J., Ort, C., Paxman, C., Prichard, J., Thai, P., Thomas, K. V., Tscharke, B. & Mueller, J. F. (2019). A National Wastewater Monitoring Program for a better understanding of public health: A case study using the Australian Census. Environment International, 122 400-411.

Abstract

Wastewater contains a large range of biological and chemical markers of human activity and exposures. Through systematic collection and analysis of these markers within wastewater samples it is possible to measure the public health of whole populations. The analysis of effluent and biosolids can also be used to understand the release of chemicals from wastewater treatment plants into the environment. Wastewater analysis and comparison with catchment specific data (e.g. demographics) however remains largely unexplored. This manuscript describes a national wastewater monitoring study that combines influent, effluent and biosolids sampling with the Australian Census. An archiving program allows estimation of per capita exposure to and consumption of chemicals, public health information, as well as per capita release of chemicals into the environment. The paper discusses the study concept, critical steps in setting up a coordinated national approach and key logistical and other considerations with a focus on lessons learnt and future applications. The unique combination of archived samples, analytical data and associated census-derived population data will provide a baseline dataset that has wide and potentially increasing applications across many disciplines that include public health, epidemiology, criminology, toxicology and sociology.