Soil, health and environment network
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Geography and Environmental Sciences
Abstract
The aim of SHE-Net is to improve our estimates of human exposure to toxic organic chemicals in soil through the consumption of home grown and allotment produce and consequently improve the protection of public health. The largest area of concern in the risk assessment process for contaminated soils is the oral ingestion pathway, specifically the plant uptake of organic pollutants, where the knowledge is currently lacking. SHE-Net is a unique grouping of national and international experts in the areas of plant science, toxicology and risk assessment brought together to address these shortcomings. It will be the first time such a grouping has been assembled to address this issue. The network will be directly relevant to the work of the Environment Agency, Food Standards Agency, Health Protection Agency and local authorities when providing guidance on land affected by chemical contamination and estimating of dietary intakes when assessing implications of such land for food safety. These agencies will have a leading role in the network (also see attached letters of support). SHE-Net will produce a series of authoritative recommendations to help improve predictions of the health risks from chemical contamination of soils resulting in improved public health protection. SHE-Net therefore fits directly into the science theme 'Pollutants, pathways, pathogens and people' and specifically 'Transport and dynamics of chemicals in the environment of human health importance'.
Organisations
Description | We created a network of specialists to cover the full range of skills required in contaminated land assessment. These included academics, environmental consultants, local authority pollution control officers as well as national regulators. International specialists also contributed to the network |
Exploitation Route | The network has been used by ourselves to develop long standing contacts which we have subsequently used to support our research and develop grant proposals |
Sectors | Construction Environment |
URL | http://www.reading.ac.uk/geographyandenvironmentalscience/Research/SHE-Net/ges-SHEnetabout.aspx |
Description | Difficult to say as I cannot speak for all network members. On an individual level at his enable me to improve the impact of my research by linking with the user community. |
First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
Sector | Chemicals,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |