The research of Jochen and his team is focused on exposure to chemicals. The use of ‘chemicals’ and introduction of new chemicals is part of our daily life. Accelerated production and use is increasingly affecting environmental health. Tools to comprehensively assess the long term safe use of chemicals are limited. Our team work on understanding exposure to chemicals and to understand exposure including socio-economic, spatiotemporal and age and gender specific factors that may drive chemical exposure. Our approach is build on long term systematic sampling and archiving programs covering both human biomonitoring, wastewater based epidemiology and environmental programs with partners that provide rational to sampling strategies and interpretation of data. In this presentation I will provide an overview on how such programs form the basis for identifying emerging chemicals and current and future ideas to better understand and respond to emerging hazards.
Jochen joined QAEHS in 1997 and was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship in 2012 to understand changes in chemical exposure through integrative sampling and systematic archiving. As part of his research program at QAEHS he has lead numerous national and international studies, such as Australia's National Dioxin Program, the Brominated Flame Retardant Program and a major study to investigate bush-fire emissions (the results of which are included in the UNEP Toolkit). He works closely with governments (state, federal and international including UNEP) on the development of systematic monitoring strategies, including for protection of the Great Barrier Reef. As part of his Future Fellowship, he has established an extensive sample archive, the Australian Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB), to allow retrospective analysis of changes in pollutant exposure in Australia.