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Sean Comber

 

Personal photograph uploaded by Sean Comber

Dr Sean Comber - ()

  • Job title: Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Environmental Science, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Technology)
  • Address: B525, Portland Square, Drake Circus,
    Plymouth, Devon,
  • Facsimile: +44 (0)1752 584710
  • Email: sean.comber@plymouth.ac.uk


Role
Academic involved with teaching, research and consultancy 

Qualifications & background
BSc (hons) Marine Chemistry, University College North Wales, Bangor (1983 - 1986)
PhD Chemistry, Southampton University (1986 - 1989) 

Professional membership
Society of Environmental Toxicity and Chemistry 


Teaching interests
Environmental Management and Sustainability (Stage 1)
Environmental Legislation (Water Framework Directive) (Stage 2)
Waste Management (Stage 3)
Environmental Management Audit Systems (MSc)
Quality Assurrance/Quality Control (MSc)
 


Research interests
Source apportionment of chemicals in the environment
Metal speciation and toxicity
Fate and behaviour of chemicals in the environment
Environmental legislation
Waste water treatment
 


Publications

 

  1. R E Falconer, J.Isaacs,  D.Gilmour, D.Blackwood, S.Comber and P. Whitehead (2011) A Visual Decision Support Tool (PHiZ) to Compare Sustainability of Phosphorus Management Strategies. Submitted to Journal of Decision Support Systems.
  2. Turner T., Cartmell E., Lester J., Casse F., Comber S. and Scrimshaw M. (2011) The pharmaceutical use of permethrin: sources and behaviour during municipal sewage. Arch. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 61, 193-201.
  3. M.G. Hutchins, A.C. Johnson, A. Deflandre-Vlandas, S. Comber, P. Posen, D. Boorman (2011) Which offers more scope to suppress river phytoplankton blooms: Reducing nutrient pollution or riparian shading? Science of The Total Environment, Volume 408, Issue 21, 1 October 2010, 5065-5077.
  4. Constantino C., Scrimshaw M., Comber S. and Churchley J. (2011) An valuation of biotic ligand models predicting acute copper toxicity to daphnia magna in wastewater effluent. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 30, 4, 852-860.
  5. Comber, S.D.W., Gardner, M.J. and A.J. Thornton. Chemical Solutions, Water and Wastewater Treatment, (2009) 52 (10) 30-31.
  6. S.D.W. Comber, F. Casse. B. Brown, P. Hillis, J. Martin, and M.J. Gardner. Phosphate treatment to reduce plumbosolvency of drinking water also reduces discharges of copper to environmental surface waters. Water and Environment Journal (2010) in press, doi:10.1111/j.1747-6593.2010.00219.x.
  7. Comber S.D.W, Merrington G., Sturdy L., Delbeke K. and van Assche F. (2008) Copper and zinc water quality standards under the EU Water Framework Directive: The use of a tiered approach to estimate levels of failure. The Science of the Total Environment, 403, 12-22.
  8. Arnold R., Hodson M. and Comber S (2007) Does speciation impact on Cu uptake by, and toxicity to, the earthworm Eisenia fetida? European Journal of Soil Biology, Volume 43, Supplement 1, November 2007, Pages S230-S232.
  9. Arnold R., Hodson M. and Comber S (2007) Effect of organic complexation on the toxicity of copper to the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Applied Geochemistry, 22, 2397-2405.
  10. Comber S., Rule K. Conrad A., Hoss S., Webb S. and Marshall S. (2007) Bioaccumulation and toxicity of a cationic surfactant (DODMAC) in sediment-dwelling freshwater invertebrates. Environmental Pollution, 153, 184-191. 
  11. Rule K., Comber S., Ross D., Thornton A., Makropoulos C. and Ratui R. (2006) Survey of priority substances entering thirty English wastewater treatment works. Water and Environment Journal, 20, 3, 177-184. 
  12. Hope S. Daniel K., Gleason K.L., Comber S., Nelson M. and Powell J. (2006) Influence of tea drinking on manganese intake, manganese status and leucocyte expression of MnSOD and cytosolic aminopeptidase P. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 60, 1-8.
  13. Comber S., Hoss S., Conrad A., Webb S. and Marshall S. (2006) Chronic toxicity of sediment-associated linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) to freshwater organisms. Environmental Pollution,134, 535-548.
  14. Rule K., Comber S., Ross D., Thornton A., Makropoulos C. and Ratui R. (2006) Sources of priority substances entering an urban wastewater catchment – trace organic chemicals. Chemosphere, 63, 581-591.
  15. Rule K., Comber S., Ross D., Thornton A., Makropoulos C. and Ratui R. (2006) Sources of priority substances entering an urban wastewater catchment – trace metals. Chemosphere, 63, 64-72.
  16. Comber S., Gardner M. and Churchley J. (2006) Aluminium speciation: implications of wastewater effluent dosing on river water quality. Chemical Speciation & Bioavailability, 17(3), 117-129.
  17. Weeks J and Comber S. (2005) Ecological risk assessment of contaminated soil. Minerological Magazine, 69(5), 601-613.
  18. Crane M, Whitehouse P, Comber S., Ellis J and Wilby R. (2005) Climate change influences on human health chemical standards. Journal of Human and Ecological Risk Assessment. 9-26.
  19. Gardner M and Comber S (2003) Aluminium speciation in effluents and receiving waters. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 5, 6, 902-905.
  20. Comber S.D.W. and Gardner M.J. (2003) Chromium redox speciation in natural waters. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 5, 3, 410-413.
  21. Gardner M.J. and Comber S. (2003) Can DOC or colour be used to predict copper complexation capacity in waters and effluents? Chemical Speciation Biological, 15, 1, 1-5.
  22. Painter H.A., Reynolds P. and Comber S.D.W. (2003) Application of the headspace CO2 method (ISO 14593) to the assessment of the ultimate biodegradability of surfactants: Results of a calibration exercise. Chemosphere, 50, 29-38. 
  23. Crane M., Whitehouse P., Comber S.D.W., Watts C., Giddings J, Moore D., Grist E. (2003). Aquatic ecotoxicological risk from application of chlorpyriphos to top fruit in the UK. Pesticide Management Science, 59, 5, 512-526.  
  24. Conrad A.U.A., Comber S.D.W. and Simkiss K. (2002) The effect of sediment ageing on the bioavailability of organic chemicals to sediment dwelling organisms. Chemosphere, 49, 447-454.
  25. Van Veen E.M., Burton N., Gardner M.J. and Comber S.D.W. (2002) Speciation of Copper in Sewage Effluents and its Toxicity to Daphnia Magna. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 21(2) 275-280.
  26. Comber S.D.W., Gardner M.J., and Boxall A.B.A. (2002) Survey of four marine antifoulants (copper, zinc, diuron and Irgarol 1051) in two UK estuaries. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 4, 1-10.
  27. Gardner M.J. and Comber S.D.W. (2002) Determination of trace concentrations of hexavalent chromium. The Analyst, 227, 153-156.
  28. Dixon E.M., Comber S.D.W., and Gardner M.J. (2002) Interlaboratory comparability of copper complexation capacity determination in natural waters. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 4, 116-120.
  29. Comber S.D.W., Franklin G., Gardner M.J., Watts C.D., Boxall A.B.A. and Howcroft J. (2002) Fate and behaviour of marine antifoulants in the aquatic environment. The Science of the Total Environment, 286, 61-71.
  30. Van Veen E., Gardner M.J. and Comber S.D.W. (2001) Temporal variation of copper and zinc complexation capacity in the Humber Estuary. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 4, 116-120.
  31. Conrad A.U.A, Comber, S. and Simkiss K. (2000) New method for the assessment of contaminant uptake routes in the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 65, 1, 16-21.
  32. Boxall A.B.A, Comber S.D.W., Conrad A.U.A, Howcroft J. and Zaman N. (2000) Inputs, monitoring and fate modelling of antifouling biocides in UK estuaries. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40, 11, 898-905..
  33. Franklin, G S, Comber, S, Watts, C D, Munro D, Boxall, A B A, Mackay, D, and Patrick, N, (2000) Environmental Modelling Of Antifoulants, ENSUS 2000, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 4-6 September 2000.
  34. Dixon E.M., Gardner M.J., and Comber S.D.W. (2000) Copper speciation in UK rivers. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability, 12, 1, 1-7.
  35. Rogers H.R., Gardner M.G. and Comber S.D.W. (2000) Solid phase extraction techniques for drinking water abstraction monitoring and investigation of pollution incidents. Journal of Water Supply: Research & Technology – AQUA, 49.2, 103-109. 
  36. Comber S.D.W and Gardner M.G. (2000) A field method for the determination of copper in estuarine waters. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 77 (3), 177-183.
  37. Comber S.D.W and Gardner M.G. (1999) An assessment of trends in European Environmental data for mercury and chlorinated organic compounds in water and biota. Science of the Total Environment, 243/244, 193-201.
  38. Comber S.D.W., Whitehead P., Gardner M.J. & Evans D. (1999) Development of a liming prediction model for Llyn Brianne. J. IWEM., 13, 4, 275-279.
  39. Comber S.D.W and Gardner M.G. (1999) Rapid determination of zinc in natural waters. International Journal of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, 73(2), 145-151.
  40. Comber S.D.W. (1999) The abiotic persistence of atrazine and simazine in water. Pesticide Science, 55, 696-702.
  41. Rogers H.R. and Comber S.D.W. (1998) Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME) fibre performance in turbid aqueous samples. Chemosphere, 37, 8 1413-1418.
  42. Gardner M.J. and Comber S.D.W. (1997) Sample filtration as a source of error in the determination of trace metals in marine waters, Analyst, 122, 1029-1032.
  43. Comber S.D.W. and Watts C D. (1996) Analytical performance testing of an atrazine immunoassay system. Analyst, 121, 1485-1488.Comber S.D.W., Gardner M.J., Gunn A.M. & Whalley C. (1996) Kinetics of trace metal sorption to estuarine suspended particulate matter. Chemosphere, 33, 6, 1027-1040.
  44. Comber S.D.W., Dobbs A.J. and Lewis S. (1996) Guideline values for sediments contaminated with dioxins and furans. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 35, 102-108.
  45. Comber S.D.W., Gardner M.J. & Gunn A.M. (1996) Measurement of absorbance and fluorescence as potential alternatives to BOD. Environmental Technology, 17, 771-776.  
  46. Comber S.D.W. and Gunn A.M. (1996) Heavy metals entering sewage treatment works from domestic sources. Journal of the Institute of Water and Environmental Management, 10, 137-143.
  47. Bird P., Comber S.D.W., Gardner M.J. & Ravenscroft J. (1996) Zinc inputs to coastal waters from sacrificial anodes. Science of the Total Environment, 181, 257-264.
  48. Millward G.E., Kitts H.J., Comber S.D.W., Ebdon L. & Howard A.G. (1996) Methylated arsenic in the southern North Sea. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 43, 1-18.
  49. Comber S D W, Gunn A M and Whalley C (1995) Comparison of the partitioning of trace metals in the Humber and Mersey estuaries. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 30, 12, 851-860.
  50. Comber S.D.W. and Gunn A.M. (1995) The release of trace metals from sewage sludge dispersed at sea. Environmental Technology, 16, 419-432.
  51. Howard A.G., Comber S.D.W., Kifle D., Antai E.E. & Purdie D.A. (1995) Arsenic speciation and seasonal changes in nutrient availability and micro-plankton abundance in Southampton Water, UK. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 40, 435-450.
  52.  Comber S.D.W. (1993) Determination of dissolved copper, nickel and cadmium in natural waters by high performance liquid chromatography. Analyst, 118, 505-509.
  53. Comber S.D.W. (1992) The development of ion chromatography for metals analysis in saline waters. Journal of the Institute of Water and Environmental Management, 5, 158-162.
  54.  Apte S.C., Comber S.D.W., Gardner M.J. & Gunn A.M. (1991) Direct determination of chromium in estuarine and coastal waters by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 6, 169-172.
  55. Howard A.G. and Comber S.D.W. (1992) Hydride-trapping techniques for the speciation of arsenic. Mikrochimica Acta, 109, 27-33.
  56. Comber S.D.W. (1989) Arsenic speciation by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and its application to study the biological cycling in coastal waters. Analytical Proceedings, 26, 20-22.
  57. Howard A.G. and Comber S.D.W. (1989) The discovery of hidden arsenic species in coastal waters. Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 3, 509-514.
  58. Howard A.G., Apte S.C., Comber S.D.W., & Morris R.J. (1988) Biogeochemical control of the summer distribution and speciation of arsenic in the Tamar Estuary. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science, 27, 427-443.

 

 

Reports & invited lectures

  1. Comber, S., Georges, K., Mistry, R., Gardner, M. (2011) A Review of the Setting of Iron Limits for Wastewater Treatment Works Effluents (11/WW/20/4). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1 84057 582 4.
  2. Comber, S., Gardner, M., Smith R., Daldorph, P. Murrell K.  (2010) Chemical Source Apportionment under the WFD - Model Scoping Document (10/WW/02/2). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1 84057 575 1.
  3. Comber S., Gardner, M., Thornton A., Cartmell E., Scrimshaw M. (2010) Scoping Study for the Chemicals Investigation Programme (Dangerous Substances and Priority Hazardous Substances/ Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive) (10/WW/17/11). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1 84057 561 1.
  4. Comber S., Hope S.J., Thorrell A., Georges K., (2009) Source Control of Phosphorus from Domestic Sources - Options and Impacts (09/WW/17/10). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1 84057 526 3
  5. Comber, S., Blackwood D., Gilmour D., Issacs J., Piekarniak L. (2009) Phosphorus Lifecycle Management (10/SL/02/9). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1 84057 570 0
  6. Comber, S and Georges, K (2008) Tiered approach to the assessment of metal compliance in surface waters. Product code : SCHO0908BOPI-E-E, Environment Agency, ISBN:9781844329410. http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/SCHO0908BOPI-E-E.pdf
  7. Comber, S and Georges, K (2008) Tiered approach to the assessment of metal compliance in surface waters. Extension report: nickel. Product code : SCHO0908BOPK-E-E. Environment Agency, ISBN:9781844329427. http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/SCHO0908BOPK-E-E.pdf
  8. Comber, S., Gardner, M., Georges, K., Thornton A. (2007) Dangerous Substances and Priority Hazardous Substances/Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive (07/WW/17/7). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1 84057 464 X.
  9. Comber, S., Gardner, M., Georges, K., Ratui, R., Thornton A. (2007) Dangerous Substances and Priority Hazardous Substances/ Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive: Initial Report: A Comparison between Options and Costs for Source Control Versus End-of-Pipe Treatment (07/WW/17/6). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1 84057 435 6
  10. Comber, S., Gardner, M., Georges, K., Thornton A. (2004) Priority Hazardous Substances, Trace Organics and Diffuse Pollution (Water Framework Directive): Screening Study and Literature Review of Quantities in Sewage, Sludge and Effluent (04/WW/17/2). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1-84057-322-8.
  11. Comber, S., Gardner, Ross D., M., Rule, K. Thornton A. (2004) Priority Hazardous Substances, Trace Organics and Diffuse Pollution (Water Framework Directive): Urban Catchment Study and Assessment of Diffuse Inputs (04/WW/17/3). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK.  ISBN: 1-84057-334-1.
  12. Comber, S., Georges, K., Thornton A. (2004) Priority Hazardous Substances, Trace Organics and Diffuse Pollution (Water Framework Directive): Treatment Options and Potential Costs (04/WW/17/5). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1-84057-333-3.
  13. Comber, S., Gardner, M., Georges K., Thornton A. (2002) Identifying the Sources of Listed Substances in Diffuse Inputs to Sewage Treatment Works (02/WW/25/2). UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, UK. ISBN: 1-84057-276-0.