Environmental context. Perfluoroalkyl acids are persistent environmental contaminants that are also found in soils. We use a metabolomics approach based on nuclear magnetic resonance analyses to investigate the responses of earthworms to exposure to sub-lethal levels of two perfluoroalkyl acids. The results indicate that this metabolomics approach is able to delineate the toxic mode of action of contaminants present at sub-lethal levels.

Environmental context. Arsenic in drinking water is a global environmental concern with serious effects on human health. We have developed a cheap and effective adsorbent, based on porous hematite, for removing arsenic from water. This material could be used in adsorption columns to remove arsenic from drinking water supplies.

Environmental context. Pesticides emitted to the atmosphere can undergo extensive chemical transformations through reaction with atmospheric oxidants. Understanding the atmospheric lifetime and degradation mechanism of typical pesticides is very important to health and environmental risk assessments. We investigate the degradation products, lifetimes and reaction mechanisms of two representative pesticides oxidised by ozone in order to understand the environmental behaviours of these pesticides and their analogues.

Environmental context. Aquatic ecosystem health may be adversely affected by dissolved organic nitrogen pollution, and accurate analytical techniques are needed to assess these effects. Our study shows that dialysis is the best sample pre-treatment technique to increase the accuracy of dissolved organic nitrogen determination. It will improve analysis and understanding of the role of dissolved organic nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle of affected aquatic ecosystems.

Environmental context. In 2009, at the end of the longest drought period ever recorded in Australia, a major dust storm blanketed the cities of Sydney and Brisbane for more than 24 h. The source of the dust was inner New South Wales and South Australia, where large scale open-cut mining occurs together with agricultural practices. We report results of extensive mineralogical and chemical analyses of the dust, and discuss their significance in terms of the dust origins and potential human health risks.

Environmental context. Predicting metal toxicity is an important tool for effective and efficient risk assessment and regulation of metal pollution in the environment. The present study aims to provide scientific support for the development of a predictive Ni toxicity model for aquatic plants that is particularly applicable to mining-affected natural waters. We show that the effects of pH and natural organic ligands on Ni accumulation and toxicity can be modelled, but further research is required to understand the effects of flotation ligands used in the mining industry.

Environmental context. Aromatic amines are widely used chemicals, which show enhanced toxicity and longer environmental persistence when halogenated. We investigated the chlorination of aniline in seawater and in natural aqueous solutions containing Fe³⁺ and Cl^–, under simulated sunlight irradiation. The results increase our understanding of the transformation pathway of typical nitrogen-containing aromatic contaminants in the environment.