Silvia Díaz Cruz
934006189 - int: 437781
silvia.diaz@idaea.csic.es
ORCID:
0000-0003-3331-4076
Research group: Water, Environmental and Food Chemistry (ENFOCHEM)
Dra. Silvia Díaz-Cruz, PhD in Analytical Chemistry in 2001 and European Doctor in 2002 by the University of Barcelona. Assistant Professor at the University of Barcelona between 2000 and 2003. Post-Doctoral Researcher Ramón y Cajal at the Institute of Environmental and Chemistry Research at the Spanish National Research Council (IIQAB-CSIC) from 2004 to 2009. Since 2012 is Researcher (Cientifico Titular) at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Environmental Chemistry Department. Barcelona (Spain).
In her first decade as researcher she specialized in the electrochemical study by voltamperometry and polarography with Au, Hg and C electrodes, of the interactions and speciation between heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Co, Zn and Cu) and mammalian metallothioneins and their peptide fragments.
Her line of research over the last 16 years has focused on the development and application of analytical methods based on advanced chromatography (gas and liquid chromatography) coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/LC-MS), including high resolution MS (HRMS) for the study of the presence, fate, elimination, toxicity and risk assessment of organic emerging pollutants, their metabolites and other transformation products, in environmental and biological samples.
Dra. Silvia Díaz-Cruz, PhD in Analytical Chemistry in 2001 and European Doctor in 2002 by the University of Barcelona. Assistant Professor at the University of Barcelona between 2000 and 2003. Post-Doctoral Researcher Ramón y Cajal at the Institute of Environmental and Chemistry Research at the Spanish National Research Council (IIQAB-CSIC) from 2004 to 2009. Since 2012 is Researcher (Cientifico Titular) at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Environmental Chemistry Department. Barcelona (Spain).
In her first decade as researcher she specialized in the electrochemical study by voltamperometry and polarography with Au, Hg and C electrodes, of the interactions and speciation between heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Co, Zn and Cu) and mammalian metallothioneins and their peptide fragments.
Her line of research over the last 16 years has focused on the development and application of analytical methods based on advanced chromatography (gas and liquid chromatography) coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/LC-MS), including high resolution MS (HRMS) for the study of the presence, fate, elimination, toxicity and risk assessment of organic emerging pollutants, their metabolites and other transformation products, in environmental and biological samples.
Maternal leaves: 13 months (8 in 2004, and 5 in 2009).
Research Indicators:
Total of 136 publications. She has published 100 SCI papers (Hirsch-Index 45 with >5700 cites) and 28 book chapters, and is Editor of 1 book (Springer International Publishing. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. Personal Care Products in the Aquatic Environment. ISBN 978-3-319-18808-9). She has supervised 3 PhD Thesis and other 4 are currently in course, 17 Master Thesis and 1 in course, and 13 Final Graduate Works and two in course.
She has participated in 42 Spanish and international research projects and has been the project manager of 3 EU-funded projects and the Principal researcher in 2 Spanish and 3 International projects. Coordinator of 1 Spanish and 1 EU projects. She has been part of several Scientific and Technical Committees and Chairman of many International Meetings and Workshops. She performed 69 (invited conferences and platforms) and presented 75 posters in International Meetings
She is evaluator of research projects for national and international organizations (ANEP, ACSUCYL, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Argentina, National Medical Research Council (NMRC) of Singapore, Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), France and Czech Science Foundation). She also participates as a reviewer in prestigious scientific journals, including Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Science and Technology, Journal of Chromatography A, Trends in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Pollution among others, since 2002.
Dr. Díaz-Cruz is member of the “Spanish Society of Mass Spectrometry” (SEEM), “Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry” (SETAC), “Spanish Society of Chromatography and Related Techniques” (SECyTA) and International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO).
Education indicators:
She is professor in the Master’s Program in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Barcelona and is the Coordinator of the Organic Contaminants course in the Master’s Program at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. She has also been a member of the Doctorate Commission of the Water Science and Technology Program of the University of Gerona (2012-2016) and is currently member of the Doctorate Commission of the Environmental Engineering Program of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (from 2018). She is Head of the Doctoral Committee of the IDAEA-CSIC.
REMAR
Reactive barriers for water renaturalization during managed aquifer recharge in the Baix Camp region
The overall goal of REMAR is to demonstrate the feasibility of a nature-based MAR technology to remove CECs, pathogens and microplastics and to reduce ARGs from treated wastewater to re-naturalize it, and thus increase the reserves of water for various uses. The basic concept is to supplement Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) with a reactive barrier (rbMAR) to create a broad range of sorption sites to retain solutes and colloids, while adding organic carbon to favour a sequence of redox states to promote degradation of recalcitrant compounds. This should allow not only water quality to improve beyond standards for water reuse (like the recent European Parliament Decision of 13 May 2020), but also to replenish aquifers and improve ecosystem status in a safe way.
The demo site is the Cambrils WWTP (Tarragona, Spain). Hopefully, the method will be applicable throughout Med countries, including also other regions of Spain.
Funding: LIFE programme of the European Union
Start Date: 01/12/2021 – End Date: 30/11/2025
Project Leader: Silvia Díaz Cruz
Researchers: Gerard Quintana López
Funding: European Project
SCREEN&TOXIN
Interferência de protetores solares na acumulação de biotoxinas marinhas em conquilha (Donax trunculus) e procura de alternativas “verdes”: inovação para a sustentabilidade ambiental e socioeconómica
This project aims to investigate whether simultaneous exposure to okadaic acid and to oxybenzone, an active ingredient in sunscreens, could increase the interdiction period for snail (Donax trunculus) capture and consumption by "overloading" the metabolic pathways that ensure the elimination of this marine biotoxin. Likewise, the possibility that natural substances that act as UV filters (such as the components of certain marine macroalgae) may not have such an effect on the elimination of okadaic acid will be studied. If this hypothesis is confirmed, the use of "greener" sunscreens (with macroalgae in their composition) would be recommended, as an alternative to the common oxybenzone present in many products that contain UV sunscreens.
As a positive impact of the BLOOM & TOXIN project, an improvement in coastal water quality is expected by reducing oxybenzone levels, allowing a reduction in the time spent fishing and catching shellfish, and an increase in its quality. These improvements are also expected to have a positive impact on local tourism, also encouraging the cultivation of bivalves and algae under controlled conditions.
Funding: Universidade de Aveiro (Portugal)
Start Date: 01/01/2021 – End Date: 31/12/2023
Project Leader: Silvia Díaz Cruz
Funding: International Project
ImPeFora
Impactos de contaminantes emergentes en Posidonia de Formentera
The main objectives of this project are to quantify the accumulation of PMs, nanoplastics and sunscreen components (UV filters) in the water column and sediments of Posidonia oceanica meadows and in the plant itself around the Formentera coast and to investigate its effects. Two types of sampling strategies will be followed: (1) Intensive studies to quantify both the accumulation of emerging pollutants in the environment and in P. oceanica tissues and correlate them with the health status of the plants at different points during the first year of the project and (2) controlled on-site experiments during the second year to determine the effects of these emerging pollutants on the plant.
The results of this project will provide the first scientific evidence on the real effects of this type of pollutant on P. oceanica, whose grasslands are classified as a priority habitat for conservation according to the Habitats Directive (Dir. 92/43 / CEE). This scientific evidence is necessary to establish local environmental policies and include these emerging pollutants in their follow-up and monitoring programs and promote sustainable tourism on the Mediterranean coasts, particularly in Formentera.
Funding: Consell Insular de Formentera. Illes Balears
Start Date: 01/01/2021 – End Date: 31/12/2022
Project Leader: Silvia Díaz Cruz
Funding: Regional Project
RESTORA
Managed recharge of aquifers and use of organic substrates to accelerate the renaturalization of water
The general objective of RESTORA is to improve the managed recharge of aquifers using reactive layers and demonstrate that it is a safe technology to tackle new challenges of pollution. These layers, coupled with a conventional purification system, allow water to be renaturalized in the aquifer without any risk to human health or the ecosystem, benefiting water quantity and quality in Catalonia.
Funding: Agència Catalana de l'Aigua (AGA)