Adam Peters
ECG Bulletin January 2025
Adam Peters is a Principal Consultant at WCA Environment and an environmental chemist with over 20 years of experience in consultancy, regulation, and academia. He has been closely involved with the development and implementation of bioavailability based Environmental Quality Standards for metals in both Europe and Australia. Adam’s main areas of expertise are in environmental fate and behaviour, and the bioavailability and effects of trace metals in relation to the use of biotic ligand models; environmental risk assessment of industrial chemicals; and the assessment of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substances.
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What inspired you to become a scientist?
I have always wanted to know why things are the way they are, and had some really enthusiastic and engaging teachers for biology and chemistry when I was in school who really encouraged questioning things. How did you come to specialise in chemicals management? Sometime after completing my PhD in metal speciation, I took a job with the Environment Agency, and was very surprised by just how important the regulation of metals in the environment was. I was fortunate to have a background in the chemical side of metal bioavailability just it was starting to become recognised as important for regulation. Could you describe your current job? I am an Environmental Consultant, but much of my work involves finding simple ways to present complex information and deliver practical solutions. |
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What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in environmental chemistry?
Approach everything with an open mind and draw your conclusions based on the evidence, you might be surprised by what you find.
What are some of the challenges facing the environmental chemistry community?
A lot of aspects of environmental work are driven by regulations, so ensuring that outputs are both scientifically robust, but practical and simple enough to be useful for regulatory applications is extremely important.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?
Seeing the first presentation on the Biotic Ligand Model at a SETAC Europe meeting in about 1998, and taking something purely academic to form the basis for the implementation of Environmental Quality Standards for several metals in surface waters, not just in Europe but also other parts of the world, that can be applied by ordinary practitioners.
If you weren’t a scientist what would you do?
Probably not very much worth noting.
And what do you do when you are not working?
Usually riding my bike or woodturning.
Approach everything with an open mind and draw your conclusions based on the evidence, you might be surprised by what you find.
What are some of the challenges facing the environmental chemistry community?
A lot of aspects of environmental work are driven by regulations, so ensuring that outputs are both scientifically robust, but practical and simple enough to be useful for regulatory applications is extremely important.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?
Seeing the first presentation on the Biotic Ligand Model at a SETAC Europe meeting in about 1998, and taking something purely academic to form the basis for the implementation of Environmental Quality Standards for several metals in surface waters, not just in Europe but also other parts of the world, that can be applied by ordinary practitioners.
If you weren’t a scientist what would you do?
Probably not very much worth noting.
And what do you do when you are not working?
Usually riding my bike or woodturning.
