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, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alkylphenols, phthalates, brominated flame retardants but also contaminants of recent identification (contaminants of emerging concern), such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, chlorinated paraffins, organophosphate plasticizers, drugs of abuse and perfluorinated compounds 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 and terrestrial organisms, crops, food and biological samples from humans. It further deals with the bioaccesibility, bioaccumulation and biomagnification through the food web 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, nanomaterials and natural products in the environment, food stuff and human samples
- Evaluation of uptake, bioaccumulation, biomagnification and metabolism of priority and contaminants of emerging concern in biota, crops and humans
- Impact of marine plastic debris on marine biota
- Evaluation of the impact of pollution of the reclaimed water in the agriculture and aquifers replenishment
- Assessment of the 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
- Targeted and non-targeted metabolomics
- 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).
Ecotox and biosensors lab
- Microtox® system (Azur)
- ToxAlert 100 (Merck)
- Abratox Camera (Abraxis)
- Incubators with lateral illumination (Aqualytic)
- Spectrophotometer (Jenway 6062)
- Swift M10 Advanced Binocular Microscope
- Cellular toxicity suit
- Cell-Insight NxT reader (Thermo)
- Biosensor:Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) platform Reichert – SR7500DC SPR-System
- CellCense – Amperometric whole cell biosensor
- Plate readers and washers for immunoassays
Experimental facilities
- Greenhouse
- Fish tanks
- Artificial recharge pilot plant
- Agricultural plots
Permanent Researchers
Postdoc Researchers
PhD Students
Technical
Administration
Communication and Outreach
Projects and Fundraising
EXPOPLAS
Assessment of human exposure to chemical additives associated with plastics
The general objective of EXPOPLAS is to assess the human exposure to chemical additives associated with plastics and to identify: i) chemical contaminants to which we are most exposed, ii) main routes of exposure, iii) most contaminated food items, the processes and treatments that lead to greater contamination of foodstuff, iv) main sources of inhalable contaminants in indoor and outdoor environments.
Funding: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CGL2016-79132-R)
Start Date: 01/06/2020 – End Date: 31/05/2023
Project Leader: Teresa Moreno Pérez , Ethel Eljarrat Esebag
Funding: National 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)
Start Date: 01/03/2020 – End Date: 16/05/2023
Project Leader: Silvia Díaz Cruz , Jesús Carrera Ramírez
Researchers: Albert Contreras Llin
Funding: Regional Project
https://restora.h2ogeo.upc.edu/
INCSA
Inorganic nanoparticles and commercial sunscreens in Antarctica: fate and effects on natural microbial communities
Due to its remoteness and extreme weather conditions, Antarctica has remained as the “last untouched wilderness”. Today, around 50,000 people (tourists, scientists) visit Antarctica annually. Associated with the growth of human presence is the use of sunscreens. The proposed project seeks to deepen our understandings of the relationships between emerging organic and inorganic UV filters and the functioning of key microbial communities in Antarctica.
Funding: Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH). Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Chile)
Start Date: 01/02/2020 – End Date: 01/02/2022
Project Leader: Silvia Díaz Cruz
Funding: International Project
APAN
Impact of agricultural activities on the National Park fauna
The objective of the project is the study of the environmental impact due to the agricultural activities that are carried out in Doñana and Tablas de Daimiel National Parks. Specifically, it will assess the impact of pesticides on birds dwelling in these parks.
Funding: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Ref. 2392/2017
Start Date: 01/09/2019 – End Date: 30/11/2022
Project Leader: Ethel Eljarrat Esebag
Researchers: Andrea Peris Domes , Julio Fernández Arribas
Funding: National Project
INWAT
Quality and management of intermittent rivers and associated groundwaters in the Mediterranean basins
The Mediterranean region is increasingly affected by water scarcity because of rising demand (population growth and land-use changes) and decreasing availability (cimate change led rainfall decreases). This situation leads to more temporary waterways. INWAT will develop and improve tools to analyze, understand and predict hydrology, chemical and ecological status, and services in the Mediterranean area characterized by temporary waterways, and will integrate all these pieces in a decision-support system.
Funding: PRIMA programme (Horizon2020)
Start Date: 01/07/2019 – End Date: 30/06/2022
Project Leader: Sandra Pérez Solsona
Researchers: Nicola Montemurro , Antoni Ginebreda Martí , Diana Manjarrés López
Funding: European Project
http://inwatproject.eu/
MARadentro
Managed aquifer recharge: addressing the risks of recharging regenerated water
Severe shortage in good quality water reserves is a global problem that will increase with a growing world population. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) will contribute to replenish depleted aquifers. However, there are risks associated to the occurrence of pathogens and emerging pollutants in groundwater. MARadentro aims to assess and minimize these risks, and to increase the benefits of MAR guaranteeing human health and environment protection through the development of affordable and effective permeable reactive layers. The transfer of the knowledge to policy makers will also help in EU regulation on MAR.
Funding: Water JPI (Horizon2020-JPI) + MINECO
Start Date: 17/05/2019 – End Date: 16/05/2022
Project Leader: Silvia Díaz Cruz , Jesús Carrera Ramírez
Researchers: Sara Ortiz Montealegre , Adrià Sunyer Caldú
Funding: National Project
CICLIC
Developing an innovative toolbox for pollutant monitoring and risk assessment to human health
CICLIC proposes an innovative toolbox to monitor the environmental fate of contaminants and to assess their risks to human health and ecosystems in the current climate change scenario. This toolbox will be developed and tested on highly biodiverse areas, in wetlands, and will include massive data analysis, contaminant monitoring and analytical techniques, wastewater reuse and analysis, metabolomics, environmental and ecological modelling, ecotoxicological tools, and ecosystem vulnerability and resilience analysis.
Funding: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), la Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)
Start Date: 01/01/2019 – End Date: 31/12/2023
Project Leader: Sandra Pérez Solsona , Antoni Ginebreda Martí
Researchers: Nicola Montemurro , Francesc Labad Roig
Funding: European Project, National Project
https://www.proyectociclic.com/
ENFOCAR
Innovative approach in the detection of cytotoxic substances in reclaimed and drinking water
Reclaimed wastewater constitutes a valuable source of water resources, but its disinfection is essential to guarantee its sanitary quality. ENFOCAR aims to develop an innovative approach to detect and identify the most relevant toxic substances in this type of water, and thus be able to minimize them. The ultimate goal is to promote the use of this water resource with full guarantee, extend its applications, and improve social acceptance of this practice.
Funding: Fundación General del CSIC - ComFunturo
Start Date: 01/09/2018 – End Date: 30/08/2021
Project Leader: Cristina Postigo Rebollo
Researchers: Cinta Porte Visa
Funding: National Project
ROUSSEAU
Riesgos emergentes de contaminacion quimica y microbiológica en la reutilizacion de aguas residuales para riego agrícola: estudio integrado (ROUSSEAU) Ref. CTM2017-89767-C3-1-R
To cope with rising water demand, the reuse of wastewater for agricultural irrigation is increasing worldwide. Taking into account the ubiquity and the large number of contaminants transported in the reclaimed waters, it is of importance to evaluate their uptake by the crops and the foods produced. The overall objective of ROUSSEAU is to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks derived from the use of regenerated wastewater for agricultural irrigation.
Funding: MINECO (CTM2017--89767-C3-1-R)
Start Date: 01/01/2018 – End Date: 31/12/2020
Project Leader: Silvia Díaz Cruz , Damià Barceló Cullerès
Researchers: Ana Cristina Soler de la Vega , Adrià Sunyer Caldú
Funding: National Project
Antibiosis potential of Andean wetlands
Analysis of the antibiosis potential of the high Andean wetland biomass in the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, Peru
In the Peruvian Altiplano, water sources are located in lakes, rivers, groundwater, and in a special type of high Andean wetlands called "bofedales". Not only bofedales provide water and fodder for livestock, but also valuable natural resources for food and culture. The objective of the study is to determine bioindicators that can report the pollution level of bofedales and their possible biomagnification through the food web.
Funding: ERANET-LAC (EMHE-CSIC)/CONCYTEC