CSIRO's research is focused on the following:

Air Pollution Model
Air Pollution Model

- The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) is a user-friendly model for the prediction of air quality, with a strong scientific basis with verified performance, and can be purchased directly through CSIRO.

Assessing contaminants
Assessing contaminants

- The Contaminant Chemistry and Ecotoxicology program characterises contaminants in landscapes and water bodies, and measures and predicts their effects on biota in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Minimising waste
Minimising waste

- CSIRO has developed numerous processes and technologies that assist industrial and commercial sectors to reduce waste and emissions.

Pollution threatens environmental sustainability and can have harmful effects on human health. 

It is a complex and far reaching problem and includes:

  • air pollution: urban and regional air pollution is a significant environmental threat. Industry, power generation and motor vehicles release pollutants that can lead to photochemical smog, haze and acidification
  • land pollution: land pollution can be caused by poor agricultural practices, pesticide use, mineral exploitation, industrial discharges and indiscriminate disposal of urban wastes
  • water pollution: poor water quality and sediment quality are the most serious pollution issues affecting our coastal and marine environments - in Australia, it has been estimated that land-based contaminants contribute up to 80 per cent of all marine pollution and pose a major threat to the long-term health of coastal waterways.

CSIRO scientists work with industry, regulatory bodies and the community to deliver commercially-viable and cost-effective pollution solutions.

These are based on our understanding of the sources, fate and behaviour of contaminants as they disperse through our water, soils and  atmosphere.

Show Pollution Index