The Exposomics, Pollution, and Agriculture (EPA) group is dedicated to comprehending pollution sources and the pivotal processes influencing their impact on the environment. Our research spans from environmental chemistry to analytical chemistry, utilizing non-target screening and metabolomic methods to discern the effects of pollutants on both the environment and human health.
Main objectives:
We are a diverse and highly interdisciplinary team of scientists devoted to investigating the dynamics influencing the biological and chemical pollutants in environmental and agricultural ecosystems. Our research explores the processes that affect the toxicity and bioavailability of contaminants, and many aspects of health impact through the perspective of Exposomics.
Our main goal is to assess the presence, distribution, and fate of both natural and anthropogenic contaminants. This encompasses a wide range of substances, including priority and emerging contaminants, as well as metals and organometallic compounds. Our mission involves developing solutions to this global challenge by advancing methodologies, embracing nature-based approaches, and pioneering innovative sampling techniques for deployment across diverse environmental settings.
- Biogeochemistry of metals: investigates the fate, transport and impact of mercury and trace metals in aquatic ecosystems, with a particular focus on human exposure in regions affected by gold mining. This research entails the development of innovative samplers (passive samplers) for pollutant detection.
- Nature based solutions (NBS) and Agriculture: explores the use of NBS to reduce surface and groundwater pollution as well as the impact of chemical and biological pollutants on agricultural yield, crop metabolism, soil and human health.
- Human Biomonitoring and Exposomics: includes innovative analytical workflows aimed at exploring human exposure to chemicals and its link with the environment and health.
BioRisk
Holistic assessment of the impact-interaction of chemical and microbiological micropollutats in the biosolid-soil-plant system. Risks and agricultural recommendations.
The BIORISK project focuses on the holistic evaluation of the impact of chemical and microbial micropollutants in the biosolid-soil-plant system. Biosolids, derived from sewage sludge, are widely used in agriculture as organic fertilizers due to their high nutrient content and role in promoting circular economy principles. However, their application may introduce emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the soil, crops, and ultimately, the food chain. BIORISK aims to assess the risks associated with biosolid use in farming and explore innovative strategies to mitigate pollutant uptake, ensuring safe and sustainable agricultural practices.
The use of biosolids in agriculture presents both opportunities and risks. On one hand, they provide essential nutrients to crops, improve soil health, and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers. On the other hand, biosolids may contain a mix of chemical pollutants (e.g., pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plasticizers, and heavy metals) and microbial contaminants (e.g., antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes), which could pose risks to human health and the environment.
Currently, European regulations on biosolid use mainly focus on heavy metal content, leaving emerging pollutants unregulated. This knowledge gap makes it difficult to determine safe application levels and long-term impacts on soil, crops, and consumers. Without clear guidelines, farmers and policymakers lack the necessary tools to ensure food safety and environmental protection. BIORISK addresses these challenges by conducting comprehensive research to understand pollutant dynamics and develop mitigation strategies.
Funding: cofunded by the EU
Start Date: 01/03/2024 – End Date: 30/11/2026
https://biorisk.csic.es/
ARISE
Atmospheric antimicrobial resistance spread
ARISE is an interdisciplinary and innovative project in the field of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) aerosol pollution. ARISE aims to identify chemical markers (i.e., specific group of organic molecules or chemical families) in the PM2.5 possibly associated with antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGE) present in the air. Beside the evidences that airborne fine particulate matters can be a successful conduit for long-range dispersal of resistance, to the best of our knowledge there are no studies that have evaluated the link between the chemical and microbiological components of PM2.5 and the impact they could generate on the AMR spread in the air. ARISE represents the first attempt to identify the chemical markers of airborne PM2.5 conveying atmospheric AMR spread, in line with the ‘One Health’ approach to address the collective need of reducing the environmental AMR burden.
Entidad financiadora: Fundación "La Caixa". Becas de Posdoctorado Junior Leader – Incoming, convocatoria 2023
Start Date: 01/06/2024 – End Date: 31/05/2027
NATURAGUA
Soluciones basas en la naturaleza como una nueva manera de gestión del rechazo procedente del tratamiento con membranas de aguas residuales y subterráneas
Según el informe ESPAÑA 2050-Fundamentos y propuestas para una Estrategia Nacional de Largo Plazo, España está expuesta a una disminución significativa de la cantidad y la calidad de los recursos hídricos disponibles. En este marco, la reutilización y tratamiento de aguas residuales y subterráneas es cada vez más necesaria, y en muchos casos el uso de la tecnología de membranas, en especial la ósmosis inversa, se hace indispensable. No obstante, esta tecnología tiene como desventaja la generación de un rechazo que contiene un concentrado de muchas sustancias nocivas presentes en las aguas residuales o subterráneas. A diferencia de la desalación de mar, su reutilización debido a la presencia de estas sustancias, es poco viable. Para solucionar este problema se han desarrollado diferentes tecnologías de tratamiento (electrodiálisis, ozonización, ultrasonidos), pero en todos los casos se requiere una elevada demanda energética y costes de construcción, mantenimiento y operación.
Referencia: TED2021-132869B-I00
Financiado: El proyecto TED2021-132869B-I00, financiado por CIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por la Unión Europea “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR”, siendo TED2021-132869B-I00 la referencia que figura en la resolución de concesión; MCIN el acrónimo del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; AEI el acrónimo de la Agencia Estatal de Investigación; 10.13039/501100011033 el DOI (Digital Object Identifier) de la Agencia; y PRTR el acrónimo del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.
Start Date: 01/12/2022 – End Date: 31/08/2025
Funding: European Project, National Project
https://naturagua.csic.es/
EnviBrain
Characterization of Diffuse Glioma tumors’ chemical exposome and potential positive associations with environmental pollution through air particulate matter analysis and wastewater based epidemiology
Although chemicals enable a constant improvement of health, life quality and facilitate food production, industrial applications and advanced agricultural practices, their release into the environment may be followed by increased risks for human health. Humans (directly or indirectly) are exposed to a diverse mixture of chemicals through multiple pathways, which has been acknowledged to play an important role in common chronic diseases, including multiple types of cancer, but the specific exposure-disease associations have not been explored sufficiently in many cases.
This is particularly relevant for brain tumors, whose causes are still unknown, and it is suspected that the environmental components may play an important role since less than 5% of patients have a family history. Diffuse gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults with poor prognosis and survival, therefore, identifying environmental contributions to diffuse gliomas development and investigating links with chemical exposures is crucial for improving prognosis and treatment options.
The objectives of the EU-funded EnviBrain project are (i) to explore the chemical exposome (exogenous chemicals and associated metabolites) of brain tumor tissues by making use of a unique historical cohort of diffuse gliomas patients (Bellvitge Glioma Cohort; Hospital de Bellvitge; 2005-present) and (ii) assess the exposure of Barcelona citizens to a mixture of contaminants through the analysis of air particulate matter, wastewater and sewage sludge. State-of-the-art analytical chemistry techniques and data science methods are integrated to identify potential toxic organic chemicals and their metabolites/transformation products in the environment, that may influence the development of diffuse glioma in Barcelona. The generated results can be used by competent authorities to establish more surgical measures to reduce the emission of very hazardous chemicals and improve both air quality and population health.
Start Date: 01/11/2023 – End Date: 31/10/2025
Funding: European Project
https://envibrain.eu/
UPWATER
Understanding groundwater pollution to protect and enhance water quality
Groundwater plays a key role in providing water supplies and livelihoods to respond the pronounced water scarcity. Groundwater pollution is a widespread worldwide problem. The scientific and technological goals of the UPWATER project are:
-To provide scientific knowledge on identification, occurrence and fate of pollutants in the groundwater with cost-efficient sampling methods based on passive samplers.
-To develop sources apportionment methods to identify and quantify the pollution sources.
-To validate and assess the performance of bio-based engineered natural treatment systems designed as mitigation solutions.
The monitoring and mitigation solutions will be validated in 3 case studies (Denmark, Greece and Spain), representing different climate conditions and a combination of rural, industrial and urban pollution sources. Expected outcomes include amongst others updating the EU chemical priority lists, scaling-up the pilot bio-based solutions to demonstration scale, the adoption of some preventive measures in the case studies and the close-to-market development of the passive sampling devices.
Start Date: 01/11/2022 – End Date: 30/04/2026
Funding: European Project
https://www.upwater.eu/
BIODAPH2O
Eco-efficient system for wastewater tertiary treatment and water reuses in the Mediterranean region
LIFE BIODAPH2O is a demonstration project with the main objective of scaling-up and implementing an eco-efficient nature-based tertiary wastewater treatment (BIODAPH) at two demo sites located in two water-stressed regions of the Mediterranean area. This system will produce reclaimed water that will contribute to diminish discharges of pollutants to freshwater ecosystems and to promote agricultural reuse. The BIODAPH system, previously developed during the INNOQUA project, is based on the depuration capacity of biological organisms: water fleas (Daphnia), microalgae and biofilms for removing pollutants (nutrients, organic carbon, suspended solids, pathogens, heavy metals, emerging and priority pollutants, and micro plastics). This compact and low-energy consumption system does not produce sludge nor use chemicals for its operation.
Reference: LIFE21-ENV-ES-BIODAPH2O/101074191
Start Date: 01/08/2022 – End Date: 31/01/2026
Funding: European Project
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.
Start Date: 01/11/2021 – End Date: 30/04/2025
Funding: European Project
https://promisces.eu/
NATURE
Nature-based solutions to reduce antibiotics, pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance in aquatic ecosystems
An array of nature-based solutions including conventional and high-end constructed wetlands, river re-naturalization, and restoration of wetlands will cover the continuum from urban sources to coastal biota in estuaries. We propose a comprehensive quantification of the fate of antibiotics, pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance in these systems together with ecotoxicological and human health assessments. Nature-based solutions performance will be analyzed using multivariate modeling techniques to identify parameters with the greatest empirical influence on the attenuation of targeted pollutants.
