Model analysis
13 Nov 2002
A spin-off company from the University of Newcastle is offering chemical companies a computer test to determine whether their products are environmentally friendly.
Enviresearch, based at the University's school of Biology, uses computer modelling to predict the effects chemical substances would have on the environment.
Enviresearch's recent projects have included determining how the acidity of soil would affect the risk that a pesticide would contaminate drinking water.
Director James Garratt has been working on computer modelling for the past ten years. 'We can test a wide range of chemicals, including pesticides, paints and detergents.' he says.
'Our models carry out a detailed analysis of information we have about particular chemicals.' The models provide results in days, he claims, instead of the weeks needed for laboratory tests.
