The International Conference ‘Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle – XENOWAC 2009’

The International Conference ‘Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle – XENOWAC 2009’ will be held in Cyprus in March 11-13, 2009. This conference is organized under the framework of the European COST Action 636. The main objective of the conference is to inspire scientific discussions of high quality and societal relevance, among a truly dynamic and diverse audience including a number of well respected and prominent experts, young researchers and the problem owners (end-users) in the specific fields of urban water and xenobiotics. The conference will provide an international forum for exchanging state-of-the-art information, and for knowledge sharing and networking, with a focus on xenobiotics. Relevant research areas include the determination of sources and fluxes of xenobiotics in the water cycle, advances in chemical analysis, risk assessment methods (toxicity, estrogenicity etc.), and the use and efficiency of treatment trains for removal of xenobiotics of concern.

The main objective of this conference is to promote discussions of high scientific quality and high societal relevance, among a truly dynamic and diverse audience. Participants of this conference will include a number of well-respected and prominent experts, as well as, young researchers and the problem owners (end-users) in the specific fields of urban water and xenobiotics. The conference will provide an international forum for exchanging state-of-the-art information, knowledge sharing, and networking, with focus on xenobiotics. Relevant research areas include the determination of sources and fluxes of xenobiotics in the water cycle, advances in chemical analysis, risk assessment methods (toxicity, estrogenicity etc.), and the use and efficiency of treatment trains for removal of xenobiotics of concern.

The general objectives are:
• to summarize challenges and research opportunities for xenobiotics in the urban water cycle
• to share "best practices" through case studies
• to understand end-user needs and priorities
• to encourage international collaborations
• to map future research directions

Topics:

• Identification and control of sources and fluxes of xenobiotics
• Technical treatment methods and systems (biological, physicochemical, hybrid, new technologies; non-selective or selective) - the possibility of adapting old systems as well as implementing new technologies for xenobiotic removal - optimization of treatment strategies for total elimination of micro-pollutants.
• Impact assessment (bioassays, new tests, impact models, complex mixtures, risk analyses)
• Analytical issues - (sampling and sample preparation, innovative methods for water samples, sediments and suspended matter, identification of transformation products, quality assurance and quality control)
• Mitigation measures