This Unit focuses its research on the presence, impact and fate of organic pollutants in the water cycle, terrestrial environment, biota, food and humans, including not only those that are regulated in the legislation (priority contaminants), such as pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but also contaminants of recent identification (contaminants of emerging concern), such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, drugs of abuse, for which environmental occurrence and ecotoxicity data are very scarce. This involves their monitoring in field samples and assessment of their degradation/metabolism in different types of water matrices, particulate matter, sediments, soils, sewage sludge, air, aquatic organisms, crops, food and biological samples from humans. It further deals with the bioaccumulation of contaminants in biota and humans. This research line has a long history of monitoring activities, which have been carried out in very diverse areas, going from remote areas (for instance, the Antarctic) to local rivers. The research group has broad experience in coordinating national and international research projects funded by the European Commission, other International Institutions, and the Spanish Government. In addition, it has many contracts with public and private entities (e.g. Catalan Water Agency-ACA and Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona -AGBAR).
- Determination of occurrence, fate and behavior of priority contaminants in the environment, food stuff and human samples
- Study of occurrence and impact of organic pollutants of emerging concern in the environment, food stuff and human samples
- Evaluation of uptake, bioaccumulation, and metabolism of priority and contaminants of emerging concern in biota, crops and humans
- Evaluation of the impact of pollution of the reclaimed water in the agriculture and aquifers replenishment
- Assessment of the attenuation and transformation of pollutants of emerging concern in engineered systems and in the aquatic environment (rivers, aquifers and oceans)
- Identification and analysis of emerging disinfection by-products (DBPs) in water and evaluation of their generation in drinking water facilities
- Estimation of alcohol and drugs consumption through sewage epidemiology
- Environmental risk assessment
Research Facilities
Instrumentation for chemical analysis
Sample collection, preparation and extraction:
- Portable automatic water sampler Isco 6712c (Teledyne ISCO)
- Automated solid phase extraction (SPE): off-line ASPEC GX-271 (Gilson)
- On-line PROSPEKT (Spark Holland) coupled to LC-QqQ-MS
- On-line Symbiosis PICO (Spark Holland) coupled to LC-QLIT-MS
- Turbulent flow chromatography (TurboFlow, Thermo Fisher) coupled to LC-QqQ-MS
- EQuan (Thermo Fisher Scientific) coupled to LC-QqQ-MS
- Pressurized liquid extraction – ASE 350 (Dionex) and ONE PSE (Applied Separations)
LC-MS
- LC-QLIT-MS, Q-Trap 4000 Q-TRAP (Sciex)
- UPLC-QqQ-MS, TQD (Waters)
- LC-QqQ-MS, TSQ Vantage (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
- UHLPC-Orbitrap-MS, Q-Exactive (Thermo Electron)
- UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS, X500R (Sciex)
Analysis by MALDI-TOF-MS imaging:
AuToFlex III MALDI-TOF/TOF instrument (Bruker Daltonik GmbH,Bremen, Germany) equipped with a Smartbeam laser at 200 Hz laser at the “medium focus” setting and were controlled using FlexControl 3.0 (Bruker Daltonik GmbH).
Experimental facilities
- Artificial recharge pilot plant
- Agricultural plots
ENIGMA
Effects of antifoulants on the structure and functioning of marine microbial communities
The study will provide insights into the resilience, resistance, or sensitivity of Cabrera and Islas Atlánticas (Cíes) Marine-Terrestrial National Parks to antifouling pollutants. By analysing metabolic activity, prokaryotic community dynamics, and gene transcription in relation to environmental conditions and the composition of antifouling compounds, it will identify marker genes linked to the metabolism of these pollutants. These markers can serve as indicators of ecosystem health and response capacity. This comprehensive approach will enhance our ability to predict the effects of antifouling compounds on marine organisms and ecosystems, aiding in the development of conservation and management strategies for Marine-Terrestrial National Parks.
Funding: Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico. Red de Parques Nacionales
Start Date: 13/12/2024 – End Date: 12/12/2027
ECOSUN
Impacto ambiental del filtro solar químico Octocrileno. Identificación de absorbentes-UV de origen vegetal como ingredientes ecológicos en formulaciones de protectores solares
ECOSUN seeks to substantiate with novel data the potential unfavourable impact of Octocrylene sunscreen on aquatic ecosystems while identifying herbal extracts as a viable alternative to the presently utilized UV filters. This approach is designed to safeguard both human’s and ecosystems’ health. To achieve these goals, we will combine the knowledge and expertise of scientists working in the fields of analytical chemistry, biology, pharmacy, toxicology, hydrology, and marine sciences.
Funding: Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Start Date: 01/09/2024 – End Date: 30/08/2027
ConMimo
Evaluación del destino de los contaminantes en medios porosos durante el crecimiento de biopelículas
The overall objective of ConMimo is to advance the understanding of microbial community’s dynamics and functions to the point that biofilm growth can be managed as provider of environmental services, including degradation of CECs, denitrification, and ammonium nitrification). ConMimo is focused on the biofilm developing and functioning during SAT-MAR applications. The experimental part will be upscaled from laboratory to the SAT-MAR pilot plant installed at the Palamós (Girona) WWTP.
Grant TED2021-131188B-C31 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR”.
Start Date: 01/12/2022 – End Date: 30/11/2025
Funding: European Project, National Project
OMICHEMAR
New tools for marine environmental monitoring: omics, ARGs and chemical analysis of emerging and untargeted contaminants
OMICHEMAR aims to assess the impact of regulated and emerging pollutants and their possible effects in the marine environment, using omics approaches such as the use of meta-genomics and meta-proteomics in environmental matrices such as sediment and biota and cutting-edge analytical approaches such as non-target analysis or the analysis of emerging pollutants such as nanoparticles or the presence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Hence, the results of the project can contribute to a significant improvement in the monitoring of marine ecosystems and transitional waters and to the development of new approaches to be implemented for assessing the environmental quality of coastal ecosystems.
Start Date: 01/01/2024 – End Date: 30/06/2026
Funding: European Project
https://omichemar.csic.es/
REMAR
Reactive barriers for water renaturalization during managed aquifer recharge in the Baix Camp region
LIFE REMAR is a project with the main objective of proving the feasibility of the recharge of the Baix Camp’s aquifer with wastewater from the Cambrils’ WWTP using a Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) technology with reactive barriers. It hopes to improve not only the main state of the coastal aquifer but the quality of its water as well, all through usage of reactive barriers just where the wastewater will make its way underground. These will allow a free water flow towards the aquifer but the barrier will manage, thanks to them being a carefully thought mix of natural, porous and absorbing materials, to retain and remove those hazardous chemicals that still stay diluted after a secondary treatment. These new chemicals found in such wastewater that could be both concerning and detrimental to human health are bound to be retained and/or removed before reaching the aquifer, such as Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs), microplastics, pathogens, Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs), and other substances such as nitrates and phosphates, all to achieve and ensure natural groundwater quality.
Funding: LIFE programme of the European Union
Start Date: 01/12/2021 – End Date: 30/11/2025
Funding: European Project
https://www.life-remar.eu/
PROMISCES
Preventing Recalcitrant Organic Mobile Industrial chemicalS for Circular Economy in the Soil-sediment-water system
PROMISCES will identify how industrial pollution prevents the deployment of the circular economy in the EU and which strategies help overcome key bottlenecks to deliver the ambitions of the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. Funded as an H2020 project, PROMISCES considers specific circular economy routes including (i) semi-closed water cycles for drinking water supply at urban and catchment scale; (ii) wastewater reuse for irrigation in agriculture; (iii) nutrient recovery from sewage sludge; (iv) material recovery from dredged sediment and (v) land remediation for safe reuse in urban areas.
