Contact Ben Exton
Background
Current research project is data analysis of sanitation smartphone surveys of container-based sanitation (CBS) users and non-users as a part of the collaborative ‘Scaling-up Off-grid Sanitation’ project.
Recent research has focussed on challenges in drinking water disinfection through laboratory disinfection experiments using flow cytometry and whole genome sequencing, in addition to chemical and microbial challenges of domestic water filter jugs involving plate enumeration of E. coli breakthrough and analytical chemistry of inorganic and metal content.
Completed my PhD investigating the impacts of airport de-icers on water quality and the growth of sewage fungus in rivers. Research involved regular fieldwork to examine water quality and river ecosystem collecting chemical, biological and hydrological data, including DNA and metagenomic sequencing of river periphyton. Complemented by microbiological laboratory growth experiments, analytical chemistry and pilot-scale erosion experiments.
Research opportunities
Specialising in sewage fungus and its impact on freshwater ecosystems, my research interests delve into the broader context of river water quality and the resilience of watercourses to pollution incidents.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Exton B, Hassard F, Medina-Vaya A & Grabowski RC. (2024). Undesirable river biofilms: The composition, environmental drivers, and occurrence of sewage fungus. Ecological Indicators, 161
- Lyu T, Williams R, Exton B & Grabowski RC. (2023). Assessing the efficacy and mechanisms of glycol-contaminated water treatment through floating treatment wetlands. Water Science & Technology, 88(11)
- Exton B, Hassard F, Medina Vaya A & Grabowski RC. (2023). Polybacterial shift in benthic river biofilms attributed to organic pollution – a prospect of a new biosentinel?. Hydrology Research, 54(3)