EmCon 2009
4-7 August 2009
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO, USA
Scientific Program/Agenda (pdf)
Introduction
Emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, hormones, personal care products, nanoparticles, and their degradation products have been observed throughout our ecosystem and in some cases in our drinking water. Emerging contaminants have been associated with significant environmental impacts, for examples selected pharmaceuticals have been associated with feminization of fish and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac, has been shown to be responsible for the catastrophic decline in vulture populations in Asia. Thus, emerging contaminants present numerous challenges for scientists, engineers, regulators and the public.
In March 2007, the first EmCon conference (EmCon2007) was held in the historic city of York (United Kingdom). The meeting consisted of 40 platform and 30 poster presentations and was attended by more than 125 researchers and regulators from universities, industry, national laboratories and regulatory organizations. The conference was truly international with delegates from UK, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, India, Canada and USA. Because of the remarkable success of the 2007 conference and the numerous advances made within the topic of emerging contaminants, we invite you to attend EmCon2009 in Fort Collins, Colorado. This four-day event will focus on the most recent developments and findings concerning the occurrence, fate, effects, and analysis of Emerging Contaminants in the Environment.
Conference Scope
This conference will provide a forum for presenting the latest research on all aspects related to the topic of emerging contaminants in the environment. Suggested conference topics include (but are not limited to) the following:
Analytical Methods
- in situ sampling and analysis approaches – capturing the complexity of EC exposure in aquatic systems
- passive sampling technology
- MSx methods – how sensitive and selective is sensitive and selective enough?
- accurate mass analysis – the next EC discovery tool
- miniaturized devices and sensors – real-time EC measurement and characterization
- problem matrices – new means to compensate for matrix effects
- nanoparticles – emerging contaminant or vehicle for emerging contaminants?
- development of bioassay techniques
- methods for new compounds (e.g., illicit drugs, degradates) and matrices
- application of OMICs and biomarkers for effects testing of ECs
Aquatic and Terrestrial Effects
- endocrine disruption-moving beyond documenting environmental occurrence
- antibiotic resistance – has resistance in indigenous environmental microorganisms been demonstrated – and if so is it significant?
- uptake into plant and animal tissue behavioral effects
- effects from exposure to complex mixtures
- indirect effects of ECs
- potential risks of ECs in the environment to human health
- uptake of ECs into aquatic and terrestrial organisms and food chains
- development of intelligent testing strategies for ecotoxicity assessment of ECs
- modeling approaches for predicting the impacts of ECs
- effects based monitoring of ECs in the environment
Fate and Transport
- biodegradation
- photolysis as a process controlling environmental distribution
- sorption – hydrophobic interactions, polarity, ionizability and the distribution of ECs between phases
- redox effects on emerging contaminant fate and transport
- colloids and their role in EC fate and transport
- leaching and runoff of ECs from solids – role in movement from soils to water
Sources and Source Pathways
- wastewater treatment plants – mediating the load of ECs from current and advanced treatment processes
- land application of biosolids
- animal feeding operations – has off-site impact been demonstrated?
- on-site wastewater treatment – potentially the least characterized EC source
- industry
Policy and Prevention
- current policies – what is being done to prevent ECs from entering the environment
- pharmaceutical take-back programs
- from presence to policy – how science is affecting the regulatory process
The meeting will comprise a number of keynote presentations and poster and paper sessions.
Schedule
Opening address
Christian Daughton, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Keynote speakers
Effects
- Karen Kidd (Canada), University of New Brunswick, Canada
Analytical methods
- Kevin Thomas, Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Fate and Transport
- Alistair Boxall - University of York and Defra Central Science Laboratory, UK
New Areas of Research
- Thomas Bucheli, Agroscope Reckenholz-Tanikon Research Station ART, Switzerland
Oral Presentations and Posters
Oral and poster presentations are invited on all aspects of emerging contaminants in the environment including the occurrence, fate, effects, and analysis. Guidelines on submission of abstracts can be found on the conference website www.emcon2009.com.
Abstracts must be submitted to Thomas.Borch@colostate.edu before 1 February 2009.
Further Details
Up to date details on all aspects of the conference along with information on accommodation and travel to and from Fort Collins can be found on the conference website www.emcon2009.com.
Conference Chairs
Thomas Borch (email: Thomas.Borch@colostate.edu), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA
Alistair Boxall, University of York and Defra Central Science Laboratory, UK
Ed Furlong, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, USA
Dana Kolpin, U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa City, USA
Accept Abstracts through
February 1, 2009
Advance Registration through 15 May 2009; Fees increase $100 after 15 May
Please submit abstracts online to:
Thomas.Borch@colostate.edu
Topical Areas
- Analysis
- Occurrence
- Transport and Fate
- toxicology and Effects, including Endocrine Disruption
- Modelling
- Treatment (waste water and drinking water) and water reuse issues
- Policy and Prevention
