Professor Susan Wilson

Professor in Environmental Pollution - School of Environmental and Rural Science

Susan Wilson

Phone: +61 6773 2789

Email: swilso24@une.edu.au

Twitter: @UNEPollutionSci

Biography

Susan is a Professor in Environmental Pollution. She leads the UNE Pollution Science Research Group in the School of Environmental and Rural Science. She has a PhD in Environmental Chemistry (Lancaster University, UK), a Masters in Environmental Technology (Imperial College, UK) and a Bachelor in Chemistry (Honours) (Bristol University, UK).  Her research answers questions on the cycling, processing, fate and toxicity of contaminants in terrestrial systems to provide solutions for management, rehabilitation  and remediation. Her group works on legacy and emerging pollutants, including the metalloids arsenic and antimony related to mine site contamination, PFAS and microplastics.

Qualifications

  • BSc Hons Chemistry (Bristol University, UK),
  • MSc Environmental Technology (Imperial College, London),
  • PhD Environmental Chemistry (Lancaster University, UK)

Teaching Areas

My teaching includes environmental chemistry, pollutants in the environment, soil pollution and research skills:

  • ECOL301 Applied Research Skills in Environmental and Rural Science
  • EM312 Environmental Impact Assessment
  • RSNR301 Pollution Management
  • SOIL222 Soil Science (Pollution Module)
  • SOIL430 Soils, Pollution and the Environment
  • SOIL431/531 Soils in Practice
  • SCI400 Honours in Science

Research Interests

  • Fate, behaviour and availability of pollutants in soil systems
  • Soil-pollutant interactions
  • Food chain contaminant transfers
  • Ecotoxicity and impacts of contaminants
  • Biogeochemistry of arsenic and antimony
  • Exposure and risk assessment
  • Remediation and rehabilitation of polluted systems including phytoremediation and bioremediation
  • Environmental analysis and monitoring

Research Supervision Experience

I supervise honours, masters and PhD students in various areas of pollution science.

Publications

Recent Journal Publications:

Doherty, S., Tighe, M.K., Milan, L.A., Lisle, L, Leech, C., Johannessen, B., Mitchell, V., Hamilton, J., Johnston, S.G. & Wilson, S.C. (2021). Speciation and mobility of antimony and arsenic in a highly contaminated freshwater system and the influence of extreme drought conditions. Environmental Chemistry.18(7) 321-333, https://doi.org/10.1071/EN21103

Forster, N.A., Wilson S.C. & Tighe, M.K. (2021). Examining sampling protocols for microplastics on recreational trails.Science of The Total Environment, 151813, ISSN 0048-9697, doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151813

Doherty, S., Tighe, M.K., Milan, L.A., Johannessen, B., Mitchell, V., Hamilton, J., Johnston, S.G. & Wilson, S.C. (2021). Long-range spatial variability in sediment associations and solid-phase speciation of antimony and arsenic in a mining-impacted river system, Applied Geochemistry, 135, 2021,105112, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2021.105112

Gunadasa, S.G., Tighe, M.K. & Wilson, S.C. (2021). Arsenic and Cadmium and Associated Risk in Farm Soils of the Dry Zone Sri Lanka where Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) is Endemic. Exposure and Health (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-021-00433-5

Obiakor, M.O., Tighe, M.K., Pereg, L,. Taylor, A.M., Maher, W., Krikowa, F. & Wilson, S.C. (2021) Sensitivity of FreshwaterAustralian Bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) and Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) to Waterborne Antimony: Exposure–Dose–Response Characteristics and Ion Homeostasis. Arch Environ Contam. Toxicol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00891-7

Sonter, C.A, Rader, R., Stevenson, G., Stevert, J.R. & Wilson, S.C. (2021) Biological and behavioral responses of European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies to perfluorooctane sulfonate exposure. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 17(4), 673–683 https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4421 (FRONT COVER)

Obiakor, M.O.,  Tighe, M., Pereg, L., Maher, W.,  Taylor, A.M,  & Wilson, S.C. (2021) A pilot in vivo evaluation of Sb(III) and Sb(V) genotoxicity using comet assay and micronucleus test on the freshwater fish, silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell, 1838).  Environmental Advances 5 100109.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2021.100109

Esmaeili, A., Knox, O., Juhasz, A & Wilson, SC. (2021) A Comparison of In-vitro PAH Bioaccessibility in Historically Contaminated Soils: Implications for Risk Management. Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, DOI: 10.1080/15320383.2021.1897083

Esmaeili, A., Knox, O., Juhasz, A & Wilson, S.C. (2021). Advancing prediction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bioaccumulation in plants for historically contaminated soils using Lolium multiflorum and simple chemical in-vitro methodologies. Science of the Total Environment. 772, 144783. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144783

Ravansari, R., Wilson, S.C., Wilson, B.R. & Tighe, M. (2021) Rapid PXRF soil organic carbon and organic matter assessment using novel modular radiation detector assembly. Geoderma, 382, 114728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114728

Forster, N.A, Tighe, M.K & Wilson S.C. (2020). Microplastics in soils of wilderness areas: What is the significance of outdoor clothing and footwear? Geoderma, 378, 114612. 10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114612

Leech, C., Tighe, M.K., Pereg, L., Winter, G., McMillan, M., Esmaeili, A. & Wilson S.C. (2020) Bioaccessibility constrains the co-composting bioremediation of field aged PAH contaminated soils. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 149,104922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2020.104922

Ravansari, R., Wilson, S.C & Tighe, M. (2020) Portable X-ray fluorescence for environmental assessment of soils: Not just a point and shoot method. Environment International
134, 10525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105250

Recent book chapters and reports:

Wilson, Susan C., Egodawatta, Lakmini P. and Tandy, Susan. "Chapter 7 Antimony soil–plant transfer". Antimony, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, (2021) pp. 147-172. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110668711-007

Global Assessment of Soil Pollution. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. 2021. FAO and UNEP. (2021). Global Assessment of Soil Pollution: Report. Rome. ISBN: 978-92-5-134469-9. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4894en. Chapter 2 Main Contaminants and their fate in the soil environment. Lead authors: Bernd M. Bussian, Natalia Rodríguez Eugenio (GSP/FAO), Susan C. Wilson (University of New England, Australia)

Memberships

Australian Society of Soil Science

Royal Australian Chemical Institute

Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - NSW Representative

Further Information

  • Course Coordinator - Bachelor of Science with Honours
  • Senior Editor Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
  • Chair ERS Standing Committee on Equity, Inclusion and Diversity