MANAGING POLLUTANTS AT THE SOURCE – UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES
LOUIS TREMBLAY
1-2 JUNE 2017
HB WATER SYMPOSIUM
OVERVIEW
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What is ecotoxicology
Chemicals in our (growing/expending) world benefit VS impacts
Solutions – trans-disciplinary, multi stakeholders
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Up the pipe solutions
Ecotoxicology is the study of effects of natural and
synthetic chemicals (stressors) in the biosphere
“The field of ecotoxicology includes concepts arising from disciplines such as
toxicology, biology, analytical, environmental and organic chemistry,
physiology, ecology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology,
molecular biology, soil, water and air sciences, and economics” (–social &
cultural)
CAUSE AND EFFECTS- RISK
Risk = P × Hazard
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
A consequence of our lifestyle is to generate wastes
THE CHALLENGE OF MICROPOLLUTANTS
“The increasing worldwide contamination of freshwater systems with
thousands of industrial and natural chemicals is one of the key
environmental problems facing humanity.”
Schwarzenbach et al. Science 2006.
WE ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM/SOLUTION
WINDOW OF ESSENTIALITY FOR METALS
Essential elements
Non-essential elements
P
P
Optimum
No effect
“Window of essentiality”
[Conc]
P= performance: survival, growth, fecundity
Adapted from Principles of Ecotoxicology, Walker et al., 2006
[Conc]
DICLOFENAC- UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
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Widely used anti-inflamatory drug
Used for the treatment of livestock
Vulture population decline of >95%
Correlated with renal failure
Oaks et al. Nature 2004
1000’S OF CHEMICALS-MULTIPLE SOURCES/STRESSORS
MULTIPLE STRESSORS- AHURIRI STUDY
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Sediment extracts showed toxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and
endocrine disruption activities
Pollutants can potentially affect biota through multiple mechanisms of
toxicity
Boehler et al. STOTEN 2017
Heinrich et al. Ecotoxicology 2017
TAURANGA HARBOUR STUDY- SINGLE CHEMICAL GUIDELINES
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Copper, zinc and lead
Tremblay et al. ESPI, 2017
EXPLODING POPULATION – BY 2050 (UN)
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World population reaches 9.6 billion
70% of all people will live in urban areas
Global food production must increase by ~50%
By 2025, 50% of the global population will live in water-stressed regions
“The most powerful force in the universe is
compound interest” – Albert Einstein
LONG-TERM EFFECTS-SOLUTIONS?
WE NEED TO CHANGE
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On 8 August 2016- humanity exhausted nature’s budget for the year
(previous year was the 15 August).
We demand more renewable resources and C02 sequestration than what
the planet can sustain.
42,986 new car registrations in Auckland in the 12 months to February
2016. Almost 20 per cent of household trips in New Zealand are less than
2km, and almost half are less than 6km, and could be covered by cycling
(UoA study)
We are in debt and natural processes will adjust.
Changes need to be driven by individuals e.g. 295 million disposable
cups each year in NZ!
SUSTAINABLE MODERN FAMILY HOME???
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
“Owning a dog really is quite an extravagance, mainly because of the carbon
footprint of meat”. J Barrett, Stockholm Environment Institute, UK
Adapted from: Vale, Time to eat the dog, the real guide to sustainable living
CAN SCIENCE SOLVE THOSE ISSUES?
THE LITTLE THINGS WE CAN DO
VS
VS
WICKED PROBLEMS REQUIRE NOVEL SOLUTIONS
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Holistic view- system approach
Trans-disciplinary approaches
Involve stakeholders, raise awareness- e.g. begins at school
Up-the-pipe solutions – sustainable choices, better registration processes
The 4 Natural Steps Sustainability Principles
AUSTRALASIAN FRAMEWORK TO MANAGE ECS
Research–
Risk
assessment
Management/
solutions
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Partnership between scientists, regulators, industry
Australasian
Australasian Advisory
Advisory Panel
Panel of
of key
key individuals
individuals
Engage
wider
community
and
industryVision
Engage wider community and industryVision matauranga
matauranga
Raise
awareness on
on risks
risks of
of ECs
ECs
Raise awareness
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Better understanding of the issue-
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Risk of ECs to native species characterised and ranked
Develop a priority list of ECs
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Protect human and ecosystem health/primary industry
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Prioritisation /ranking of stressors
Improved registration processes
Ethical industry (triple bottom line, ecolabelling)
Behavioural changes/sustainable products
Australasia: world leader Clean and Green- export products free of ECs
Beyond 2020- Australasia safe from ECs
Trans-Tasman
partnership