Rivers at Risk: The chemical cocktail in Yorkshire's watercourses Alistair Boxall, Department of Environment and Geography
Event details
Merchant Adventurers' Science Discovery Lecture
Join us for an enlightening lecture on the state of chemical pollution in Yorkshire's rivers. Over the past year, Alistair and his team have conducted an extensive monitoring study, collecting weekly samples from 19 locations across Yorkshire. These samples have been analysed for a variety of contaminants, including metals, nutrients, pesticides, pet medicines, tyre additives, human pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicines, and persistent organic pollutants.
Our findings reveal that Yorkshire's rivers are contaminated with a complex mix of chemicals from diverse sources such as arable farming, livestock, pets, households, and traffic. This talk will delve into the potential impacts of these pollutants on local wildlife, including changes in fish behavior, effects on algal growth, alterations in invertebrate wing morphology, and lethal effects on fish species. We will also discuss how mixtures of species are exposed to these chemical cocktails, potentially exacerbating individual chemical effects.
Finally, we will explore practical steps that individuals and communities can take to reduce chemical pollution in our rivers. Whether you're a concerned citizen, a local farmer, or simply interested in environmental health, this lecture will provide valuable insights and actionable advice to help protect Yorkshire's precious waterways.
About the speaker
Alistair Boxall is a Professor in Environmental Science at the University of York and Director of the NERC-funded ECORISC Centre for Doctoral Training. His research focuses on the ecological and health risks posed by chemical contaminants in the environment. Alistair has served on the Defra Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances and chaired the Pharmaceutical Advisory Group of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. He advises national and international organizations on environmental chemical impacts and has published extensively on emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals and nanomaterials. Alistair has led several major projects, including the CAPACITIE project on urban pollution monitoring and the iPiE project on assessing pharmaceuticals in the environment. He co-led the Global Pharmaceutical Monitoring Project, which monitored pharmaceutical concentrations in over 200 river systems worldwide. Currently, he leads the ECOMIX project, investigating chemical pollution in Yorkshire's rivers. Alistair received the 2016 Recipharm International Environmental Award and was named a Highly Cited Researcher in 2018.
Partners
