Asian pollution: new export target

Asia's 3 million contaminated sites represent a huge export opportunity for Australia's growing clean-up industry, according to one of the nation's contamination scientists.

"Asia's spectacular economic development is coming at a high price "“ increasing contamination of land, water and air, according to scientific colleagues we work with there," said Professor Ravi Naidu, managing director of CRC CARE.

"There are real threats to human and environmental health "“ and an urgent need and demand for the skills and technologies needed to fix them.

"Australian companies, regulators and scientists are blazing a trail towards new, cost-effective ways to clean up and prevent this pollution which threatens human and environmental health. There are huge export opportunities for those who get in first with the best technologies."

CRC CARE plans to set up a nationwide contamination clean-up industry cluster and information exchange, to be known as Australian Contamination CleanUp (ACC).

The cluster proposal will be discussed by industry, government agencies, local councils and scientists at Contamination Cleanup 07, to be held in Adelaide from 24-28 June.

"CRC CARE's aim in helping to set up this cluster is to ensure our latest science and technology reach industry as quickly as possible, in order both to improve Australia's own health and environment and to generate new commercial and export opportunities," Naidu says.