Recent publications (2004-present)

The Ecotoxicology program aims to publish peer-reviewed publications from its research activities and to present its research results at relevant conferences. A list of the program’s publications over the past five years is provided below.

Peer-reviewed publications
Other publications
Consultancy reports

Peer-reviewed publications

Harford AJ, Jones D & van Dam RA 2013. Highly treated mine waters may require major ion addition before environmental release. Science of the Total Environment. 443, 143–151

van Dam RA, Trenfield MA, Markich SJ, Harford AJ, Humphrey AC & Stauber JL. 2012. Re-analysis of uranium toxicity data for freshwater organisms and the influence of dissolved organic carbon. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 31(11), 2606-2614.

van Dam RA, Harford AJ & Warne MStJ 2012. Time to get off the fence: The need for definitive international guidance on statistical analysis of ecotoxicity data. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 8(2), 242-245.

Trenfield MA, Ng JC, Noller BN, Markich SJ & van Dam RA 2012. Dissolved organic carbon reduces uranium toxicity to the unicellular eukaryote Euglena gracilis. Ecotoxicology 21, 1013-1023.

Trenfield MA, Ng JC, Noller BN, Markich SJ & van Dam RA 2012. Dissolved organic carbon reduces the toxicity of aluminium to three tropical freshwater organisms. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 31(2), 427-436.

Bartolo R, van Dam R & Bayliss R 2012. Regional ecological risk assessment for Australia's tropical rivers: Application of the relative risk model. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 18, 16-46.

Bayliss P, van Dam R & Bartolo R 2012. Quantitative ecological risk assessment of Magela Creek floodplain on Kakadu National Park: comparing point source risks from Ranger uranium mine to diffuse landscape-scale risks. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 18, 115-151.

Trenfield MA, McDonald S; Kovacs K, Lesher E, Pringle JM, Markich SJ; Ng JC, Noller B, Brown PL & van Dam RA 2011. Dissolved organic carbon reduces uranium bioavailability and toxicity. 1: Characterisation of aquatic fulvic acid and its complexation with uranium[VI]. Environmental Science and Technology 45, 3075-3081.

Trenfield MA, Ng JC, Noller BN, Markich SJ & van Dam RA 2011. Dissolved organic carbon reduces uranium bioavailability and toxicity. 2. Uranium[VI] speciation and toxicity to three tropical freshwater organisms. Environmental Science and Technology 45, 3082-3089.

Negri AP, Harford AJ, Parry DL, & van Dam RA 2011. Effects of an alumina refinery discharge and its key metal constituents at the upper thermal tolerance of: 2. The early life stages of the coral Acropora tenuis. Marine Pollution Bulletin 62, 474–482.

Harford AJ, Hogan AC, Tsang JJ, Parry DL, Negri AP, Adams MS, Stauber JL & van Dam RA 2011. Effects of an alumina refinery discharge and its key metal constituents at the upper thermal tolerance of: 1. The tropical diatom Nitzschia closterium. Marine Pollution Bulletin 62, 466-473.

Harford AJ, Hogan AC, Jones DR & van Dam RA 2011. Ecotoxicological assessment of a polyelectrolyte flocculant. Water Research 45(19), 6393–6402.

Cheng KL, Parry DL, Hogan AC, Markich SJ, Harford AJ & van Dam RA 2010. Uranium toxicity and speciation following chronic exposure to the tropical freshwater fish, Mogurnda mogurnda. Chemosphere 79, 547-554.

Hogan AC, van Dam RA, Houston MA, Harford AJ & Nou S 2010. Uranium exposure to the tropical duckweed, Lemna aequinoctialis, and pulmonate snail, Amerianna cumingi: fate and toxicity. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. DOI 10.1007/s00244-010-9465-x.

van Dam RA, Hogan A, McCullough C, Houston M, Humphrey C & Harford A 2010. Aquatic toxicity of magnesium sulfate, and the influence of calcium, in very low ionic concentration water. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 29(2), 410-421.

Hogan A, van Dam R, Houston M & Lee N 2008. Toxicity of Ranger mine RP2 and Pit 3 waters to native freshwater species: 2007 wet season. Supervising Scientist Report 197, Supervising Scientist, Darwin NT.

van Dam RA, Harford AJ, Houston MA, Hogan AC & Negri A 2008. Tropical marine toxicity testing in Australia: A review and recommendations. Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology 14(2), 55-88.

van Dam RA, Hogan AC, Harford AJ & Markich SJ 2008. Toxicity and metal speciation characterisation of waste water from an abandoned gold mine in tropical northern Australia. Chemosphere 73, 305-313.

Warne M & van Dam R 2008. NOEC and LOEC data should no longer be generated or used. Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology 14(1), 1-5.

Hogan A, Peck M, van Dam R & Kennett R 2005. Screening for endocrine disrupting activity in surface waters of Kakadu National Park. Ecological Management and Restoration 6, 219-221.

Hogan A, van Dam RA, Markich SJ & Camilleri C 2005. Chronic toxicity of uranium to a tropical green alga (Chlorella sp.) in natural waters and the influence of dissolved organic carbon.Aquatic Toxicology 75, 343-353.

van Dam RA 2004. A review of the eriss Ecotoxicology Program. Supervising Scientist Report 182. Supervising Scientist, Darwin, NT, 101 pp.

van Dam RA, Camilleri C, Bayliss P & Markich SJ 2004. Ecological risk assessment of tebuthiuron following application on tropical Australian wetlands. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 10, 1069-1097.

van Dam RA, Camilleri C, Turley C, Binet M & Stauber J 2004. Chronic toxicity of the herbicide tebuthiuron to the tropical green alga Chlorella sp. and the duckweed Lemna aequinoctialis. Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology 10, 97-104.

Other publications

Hahn T, Stauber J, Dobson S, Howe P, Kielhorn J, Koennecker G, Diamond J, Lee-Steere C, Schneider U, Sugaya Y, Taylor K, van Dam R & Magelsdorf I (2009). Reducing uncertainty in ERA: Clearly defining acute and chronic toxicity tests. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management – Learned Discourse 5(1), 175-177.

Cheng KL 2008. The development and application of a 28 day larval fish toxicity test. Research thesis, BSc (Hons), Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT, Internal Report 535, June, Supervising Scientist, Darwin. Unpublished paper.

Harford A, van Dam R, Hogan A & Costello C 2008. Screening level toxicity assessment of treated Pond Water from a pilot plant at Ranger mine. Internal Report 534, January, Supervising Scientist, Darwin. Unpublished paper.

Houston M, Hogan A, van Dam R & Nou S 2007. Procedure for the 96 hour gastropod reproduction toxicity test using Amerianna cumingi. Internal Report 525, June, Supervising Scientist, Darwin. Unpublished paper.

van Dam R 2006. International ring test on ecological hazard assessment methodologies: Evaluation by Rick van Dam. Report to the Pilot Committee for the International Ring Test on Ecological Hazard Assessment Methodologies.

Finlayson CM & van Dam RA 2004. Developing local capacity and ensuring relevance in risk assessment for tropical wetlands. SETAC Globe – Learned Discourse 5, 36-38.

van Dam R, Hogan A & Nou S 2004. Pre-release biological toxicity testing of Djalkmara Billabong water: 2003–2004 wet season. Internal Report 478, April, Supervising Scientist, Darwin.

Consultancy reports

Cheng K, Harford A & van Dam R 2012. Ecotoxicological testing of receiving waters downstream from Newmont Woodcutters mine site. Commercial-in-Confidence Consultancy Report prepared for Newmont Pty Ltd, June 2012.

Harford A & van Dam R 2010. Ecotoxicological assessments of discharge waters from Cosmo Howley, Pine Creek, Tom's Gully and Brocks Creek Project Areas. Commercial-in-Confidence Report for Crocodile Gold Australia Operations Pty Ltd, July 2010.

van Dam R 2010. Interpretation of ecotoxicological data for Melville Bay seawater, existing refinery discharge water and simulated waste water neutralisation plant effluent. Commercial-in-Confidence Report for Rio Tinto Alcan, June 2010.

Harford A, van Dam R & Hogan A 2009. Ecotoxicological assessment of seepage water from the Savannah Nickel Mines. Commercial-in-Confidence Report for Panoramic Resources Ltd, April 2009.

van Dam R & Harford A 2009. Review of the revision of the nitrate water quality trigger value for fresh surface waters. Commercial-in-Confidence Report for Environment Canterbury, April 2009.

Harford A, Hogan A & van Dam R 2008. Ecotoxicological testing of receiving waters downstream from Newmont Woodcutter’s mine site. Final Report, June 2008. Confidential Report to Earth Water Life Sciences Pty Ltd.

Harford A, van Dam R, Hogan A, Tsang J, Parry D, Adams M, Stauber J, & Negri A 2008. Modification of toxicity testing protocols using the diatom Nitzschia closterium and coral Acropora tenuis to assess the effects of waste water discharges from Rio Tinto Alcan Gove operations – Final Report, April 2008. Confidential Report to Rio Tinto Alcan Gove Pty Ltd, MHMP Project No. 34.

van Dam R, Hogan A & Houston M 2007. Environmental effects of magnesium sulfate-rich seepage waters from Argyle Diamond Mine, Report No. 3: Stage 2 laboratory-based ecotoxicological assessment (full dilution series, risk-based testing) – Final Report. Commercial-in-Confidence Report to Argyle Diamonds Pty Ltd, March 2007.

van Dam R, Codi King S, Stauber J, Houston M, Adams M, Hogan A, Negri A, Mondon J, Bennett C, Humphrey C & Parry D 2006. Review of laboratory and field-based ecotoxicological and biomonitoring approaches for tropical marine species.Confidential Report to Alcan Gove Pty Ltd, MHMP Project No. 27, August 2006.

Humphrey CH & van Dam RA 2005. Environmental effects of magnesium sulfate-rich seepage waters from Argyle Diamond Mine, Report No. 1: Water quality and phytoplankton communities observed from waterbodies on and near the Argyle Diamond Mine lease, March 2005. Commercial-in-Confidence report to Argyle Diamonds Pty Ltd (Contract No. CA1507).

van Dam R, Hogan A, Houston M, Humphrey C & Samaraweera S 2005. Environmental effects of magnesium sulfate-rich seepage waters from Argyle Diamond Mine, Report No. 2: Stage 1 laboratory-based ecotoxicological assessment (screening of whole waters from selected sites). Commercial-in-Confidence report to Argyle Diamonds Pty Ltd (Contract No. CA1507).

van Dam R, Hogan A, Nou S & Markich S 2005. Ecotoxicological assessment of retention pond water from Mount Todd gold mine: Report for the Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development (DBIRD). Internal Report 499, March, Supervising Scientist, Darwin. Unpublished paper (Commercial-in-confidence).