PROJECTS

The framework of this project has three main areas of research: Rock and Soil – development of a platform of knowledge on erionite source rock and soil in the Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Region and wider Aotearoa / New Zealand through testing existing and new samples for erionite using geochemical and textural analyses; spatial modelling and mapping of the distribution and concentration of erionite throughout the region; extending existing geochemical and geo-physical methods of erionite characterisation to develop a diagnostic erionite identification toolkit; Air Quality – quantification of the regional variability of erionite pollution in atmosphere and typical dispersion pathways. Establishing the relations between ambient concentration and observed rock/soil contamination and the type of earthwork activity and land use category by using a combination of precision and low cost air pollution samplers and sampling strategies along with novel GIS based land use regression models to provide a basis for determining likely public and occupational health exposures; And Social science perspectives, policy development and risk management – development of risk assessment and management strategies for erionite exposure pathways for industry, Māori and communities through co-creation and dissemination of knowledge with stakeholders. Within each area of research there will be a collection of projects.

Rock and Soil

Erionite occurrence in bedrock

 

 

To determine the distribution and concentration of erionite in bedrock in the Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland region and wider Aotearoa / New Zealand following a multi-stage sampling approach (existing rock samples, existing rock core, new samples), and geochemical and textural laboratory testing.

Erionite pathways in soil

 

Determining the fate of erionite in the soil profile and overlying bedrock, taking transformation and transport into account, together with natural degradation.

Mapping & visualization of erionite distribution

 

The distribution and concentration of erionite in rock and soil in the Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland region and wider Aotearoa / New Zealand to be modelled using quantitative geostatistical approaches and models tested and refined for use in planning and infrastructure decision-making.

Erionite diagnostic indicator toolkit

 

Developing a quantitative framework for the identification and characterisation of erionite based on diagnostic textural and geochemical indicators, which provides a rapid, cost-effective approach for erionite identification, as a decision support tool for industry and iwi/hapū.

Characterising New Zealand Erionite

 

The physicochemical structure and carcinogenic potential of New Zealand erionite has been identified and compared with international erionite samples.

Critical assessment of preliminary risk by erionite

 

Developing preliminary hazard maps of the distribution of erionite in the environment and atmospheric dispersion pathways established, providing enough evidence to undertake a cost-benefit analysis regarding continued expenditure on assessment of the risks posed by erionite in New Zealand.

Monitoring and modelling exposure to airborne fibres

Precision and low cost measurement methods

 

Methods for detecting ambient erionite to be developed and tested using US-EPA reference standard (precision) and low-cost instruments. The potential use of surrogate variables for predicting erionite concentrations to be established.

Tiered instrument network deployment

 

A tiered sampling network of high and low-cost sensors suitable for detecting the actual or likely presence of erionite in the atmosphere to be implemented across Auckland Region and measurements obtained.

GIS based landuse regression model population exposures

 

A  GIS-based, temporally adjusted, landuse regression model to be developed and evaluated from which regional maps of erionite in the ambient environment to be produced including layers which represent contaminated land, landuse and population density.

Quantify population scale exposure

 

Patterns of population exposure to erionite in the environment to be established by including modelled population movement patterns and residential data.

Model mesothelioma patterns & presence of erionite

 

Epidemiological big data approaches have been used to identify any patterns between the historical incidence of clusters of mesothelioma, the presence of erionite, landuse, markers for asbestos use in construction and other socio-economic variables in New Zealand, US and Italy.

Social science perspectives, policy development and risk management

Determination of enablers & barriers to decision makers taking action on emerging evidence about health & safety risks

 

Using evidence provided by rock and soil, air quality and co-design inputs, erionite risks and mitigation strategies to be tested in scenario-based interviews with decision makers to identify questions of issue salience, sufficiency of evidence and thresholds for action for different end-users.

Assessment of erionite exposure pathways for industry, iwi and communities

 

Potential erionite exposure pathways to be identified and mapped for both occupational and residential settings in Auckland, including through dialogue with Māori organisations, construction industry actors, and local policymakers.

Co-creation of mitigation strategies from occupational & personal exposure to erionite

 

Practical solutions to identify, quantify and mitigate the risks of occupational and public exposure to erionite and evaluated through co-design with Māori, councils, and industry and improved through comparison with asbestos regulations worldwide and international research on asbestiform minerals.

Co-creation of risk management plans to reduce risk from occupational & personal exposure to erionite

 

Clear risk planning process to be developed & evaluated in collaboration with industries, Maori, local government and local communities.

Development of education materials for each target audience

 

Key messages to be developed and tailored for each target audience (from local communities to international policy makers) based on their institutional responsibilities, motivating frames, and preferred formals of scientific evidence. Advice communicated in ways cognisant of the needs and contexts of end users.