The Geochemistry and Pollution group studies natural organic matter and contaminants as a source of knowledge of the evolution of ecosystems, including climate change and transport processes, distribution, transformation and effects of organic pollution in organisms, including humans. These approaches also include the study of molecules of viral activity, and, in the present times, contributing to understanding the environmental occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
The overall goal includes the development of analytical methods to study the concentrations of deleterious molecules, their transfer flows between environmental compartments and their incorporation into organisms. It also covers the investigation of how organic compounds can provide geochemical information on past and present ecosystems and molecules that are useful to describe the health status of organisms.
• Analysis of trace organic compounds in environmental samples
• Pollutants in the atmosphere
• Pollution processes in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems
• Paleoclimatology
• Pollutants and human health
ESCCAP: Efecto de la Sequía en las comunidades de Cianobacterías y su producción de Cianotoxinas en embalses de las cuencas internas de Cataluña: potenciales efectos sobre la calidad del Agua Potable.
RDI001/24/000010
Objectiu principal: Estudi de l’impacte de cianobacteris i cianotoxines en embassaments en la producció d’aigua potable en un escenari de canvi climàtic
Desenvolupament i implantació de sistemes d'ajuda a la presa de decisions en la traçabilitat de compostos químics prioritaris, contaminants emergents, nutrients i el seu comportament al medi, i altres compostos contaminants.
Sistemes de tractament en sistemes públics de sanejament i abastament. Adaptació als canvis normatius recents en la matèria.
Digitalització del cicle de l’aigua: bessons digitals, BIM, modelització amb IA.
Aquest projecte amb referència RDI001/24/000010 ha estat cofinançat per la Agència Catalana de l'Aigua en el marc de la convocatòria ACC/1362/2024 per a projectes de recerca, desenvolupament i innovació en la gestió de l'aigua i la preservació del medi aquàtic.
Start Date: 05/07/2025 – End Date: 04/07/2028
The Environmental Exposome And Health
101157269
ENVESOME aims to elucidate mechanistically the role of air, noise, light, and hazardous waste pollution in non-communicable disease development. The project addresses the need to strengthen the knowledge available to policymakers regarding pollution-disease associations and causal mechanisms at different phases throughout the human lifecycle. ENVESOME proposes to develop an exposome and citizen-science-based framework for assessing the risks of emerging environmental health stressors. This will be achieved by fusing environmental monitoring and personal exposure data and models through AI tools. Human and cell biology knowledge, human biomonitoring, and in vitro data will be used to determine adverse outcome pathways and networks associated with environmental stressors. Particular focus will be paid to intersecting pathways relevant to cardiorespiratory disease; metabolic syndrome; neurotoxicity; immunotoxicity; sleep, and mental health disorders.
We aim to elucidate the main sources of environmental exposure and drivers of the adverse outcomes above. This will allow for the articulation of cost-effective mitigation strategies that will be applied in select case studies. Their efficacy will be evaluated using environmental and exposure indicators together with early effect biomarkers (EEB). Methodological and technical innovations and the respective scientific evidence regarding the causal links between emerging environmental stressors and human health will be translated into policy proposals supporting the articulation of strategies for country- or city-specific, targeted and cost-effective interventions, thus promoting effective public health protection, as well as guidelines and updated limit values as needed. Environmental management for public health protection will be supported by a decision support system (for policy makers), a chatbot (for health practitioners), and a mobile app (for citizens). Training on novel tools will be given to all relevant actors.
Start Date: 01/12/2024 – End Date: 30/11/2028
https://envesome.eu/
Novel Effect biomarkers for MEtabolic disruptorS: evidence on health Impacts to answer science and policy needS
101137405
Metabolic disrupting chemicals (MDCs) represent a prevalent challenge to human health, as their wide use in consumer products results in unavoidable, continuous exposure to these chemicals. As exposure to MDCs has been linked to increased incidence of metabolic diseases, the NEMESIS project aims to address critical gaps in understanding how this happens, to pave the way for more effective regulatory measures.
Within the project, we will enhance the understanding of how MDCs impact human health, provide insights from biomonitoring data on MDC levels and their mixtures across different regions, increase mechanistic understanding of chemical-induced metabolic disruption, develop predictive computational tools to predict outcomes of exposure, and communicate the project results efficiently to the public to raise awareness and promote health-promoting behaviors. By integrating the project’s findings into regulatory measures, the NEMESIS project aims to enhance the public health of the EU citizens and beyond.
Funding: European Commission. HORIZON-HLTH-2023-ENVHLTH-02. Ref.: 101137405
Start Date: 01/01/2024 – End Date: 31/12/2028
https://www.nemesis-project.eu/
Recoveries from pollution in water, organisms, air and food in the Ebro River after remediation of chlor-alkali wastes (Flix Reservoir): Extrapolation to other river systems
PID2023-146639NB-I00
The Ebro River has received large amounts of industrial waste, particularly in the Flix reservoir area, where a chlor-alkali plant accumulated around 500,000 tonnes of contaminated materials containing compounds such as PCBs, DDT, polychlorinated naphthalenes, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene, and mercury, as well as phosphate residues. The river flow contributed to the dispersion and erosion of these contaminants, which were subsequently detected in water, sediments, soils, fish, and birds, in some cases at very high concentrations. Many of these compounds are regulated under the Stockholm Convention and are associated with harmful effects such as cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive disorders, oxidative stress, immunotoxicity, and developmental defects.
In addition to aquatic contamination, atmospheric impacts were also detected, including the presence of volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and HCB in the air of the area, as well as their dispersion over several kilometres, reflected even in vegetation contamination and elevated levels in the local population. Following the implementation of a remediation programme that culminated in the complete removal of the waste in 2023, the project aims to assess the environmental recovery of the river system 12 years after the isolation of the residues. To this end, different environmental compartments (water, sediments, air, soils, and biota), as well as food products and emerging contaminants, will be analysed in order to determine the current environmental health status of the lower Ebro River, the degree of recovery, and any remaining risks to ecosystems and human health.
Project PID2023-146639NB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, UE
Start Date: 01/09/2024 – End Date: 31/12/2027
PALEOARCHIVO IBERICO DEL CAMBIO CLIMATICO _ EL LEGADO DE SHACKLETON PARA LAS INCOGNITAS CLIMATICAS ANTE NOSOTROS
PID2022-137665NB-I00
El principal objetivo del proyecto IBCC-Shack es monitorizar los factores que impulsan, amplifican, sostienen y globalizan el cambio climático durante las “deglaciaciones” en el margen ibérico. Estos incluyen transiciones de calentamiento y enfriamiento provocadas por el sistema interno de circulación atmósfera-océano, no solo en relación con tendencias a largo plazo (escala centenaria), sino también, específicamente, con anomalías de medio y corto plazo (escala multidecenal). A partir de la evaluación de datos de la cuenca balear y la cuenca del Tajo, proporcionaremos conocimiento para comprender los mecanismos de respuesta al cambio climático en la región mediterránea.
Proyecto PID2022-137665NB-I00 financiado por por MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 y por FEDER, UE
Start Date: 01/09/2023 – End Date: 31/08/2027
Funding: European Project, National Project
https://ibcc-lo2k.org/shack/
Integrated approach to assess the levels and impact of cONtaminants of Emerging concern on BLUE health and biodiversity modulated by climate change drivers.
101134929
The ONE-BLUE project aims to address the growing concerns about emerging contaminants (CECs) in marine environments. CECs can be found in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, flame retardants, pesticides, plastic additives, and micro- and nanoplastics. These contaminants pose a significant risk to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Moreover, climate change exacerbates these risks by altering marine conditions, contaminant behaviour, and ocean acidification. The project seeks to enhance understanding of the presence, behaviour, and impacts of CECs in marine ecosystems under the influence of climate change.
ONE-BLUE focuses on developing new monitoring tools, advanced methodologies, and a comprehensive database (CECsMarineDB) to support effective management and policy decision-making. The studies include sampling campaigns in selected marine areas—the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic, and the Mediterranean Sea—as well as controlled marine mesocosm experiments to investigate the interactions between CECs and climate change. Additionally, the project employs machine learning-based predictive models to assess and forecast future impacts. The project outcomes will be widely disseminated, and exploitation plans will be established to ensure the effective application of the developed technologies.
Funding: European Union’s HORIZON-CL6-2023-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 Ref No. 101134929
Start Date: 01/01/2024 – End Date: 30/06/2027
Funding: European Project
https://one-blue.eu/
DESARROLLO DE METODOLOGIAS INTEGRADAS AL NUEVO ENFOQUE EN ESTUDIOS DE CALIDAD DEL AIRE: DESCIFRANDO LAS IMPLICACIONES EN LA TOXICIDAD PULMONAR Y CEREBRAL
PID2022-140392OB-I00
El proyecto DINAMIQS tiene como objetivo arrojar luz sobre la relación entre la composición química de la contaminación atmosférica y sus efectos sobre la salud pulmonar y cerebral humana. Para ello, utiliza una estrategia integrada que combina métodos avanzados de química analítica, nuevas metodologías de aproximación y quimiometría. Las muestras de material particulado para este proyecto se recogen en distintos entornos de aire ambiente exterior, desde zonas urbanas con tráfico intenso hasta áreas rurales de fondo.
Proyecto PID2022-140392OB-I00 financiado por por MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 y por FEDER, UE
Start Date: 01/09/2023 – End Date: 31/08/2026
Funding: National Project
AnguillaMed
Estat sanitari de les anguiles europees d’estanys i cursos fluvials de la Mediterrània occidental: desenvolupament de mètodes no invasius d’estudi de fonts de contaminació i proposta de mesures de restauració
El projecte AnguillaMed analitzarà l’estat sanitari de les poblacions d’anguila europea (Anguilla anguilla) a la Mediterrània occidental, desenvolupant mètodes no invasius per a l’estudi de fonts de contaminació i fent propostes de mesures de restauració del seu estat sanitari. Des de mitjans del s. XX, la població d’anguila europea s’ha reduït a tot el món fins a tenir una presència mínima. Es calcula que els últims 50 anys els efectius d’aquesta espècie tan vulnerable s’han reduït a menys del 95%. Les causes principals en són la sobrepesca, la ruptura de la connectivitat ecològica, l’elevada la contaminació química de l’aigua i infestacions parasitàries, entre altres. Aquest projecte farà un estudi de camp que inclourà 12 llocs d’estudi, que corresponen a diverses masses d’aigua. D’entrada, a la demarcació dels Pirineus Orientals, a la de Girona i a la de Barcelona.
Els resultats del projecte permetran conèixer els nivells de degradació i l’estat ecològic dels ambients o hàbitats aquàtics continentals, llacunes costaneres i cursos fluvials i centrar-se en les causes del declivi de la biodiversitat: l’alteració de la hidromorfologia i la hidrodinàmica, la contaminació difusa d’origen agrari o industrial, etc. A partir d’aquí, i tenint en compte que l’anguila és una espècie indicadora de la qualitat del medi aquàtic, la intenció és proposar les mesures de restauració més adequades per a aquests hàbitats, de comú acord amb els grups socials d’interès de cada lloc d’estudi. Els resultats de la recerca també es considera que puguin ser extrapolables a altres regions mediterrànies i europees.
Start Date: 01/01/2024 – End Date: 31/12/2026
Funding: European Project
https://anguillamed.eu/
Partnership for the assessment of risks from chemicals
101057014
The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (#EU_PARC) aims to advance research, share knowledge, and improve skills in chemical risk assessment. By doing so, it will help support the European Union's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, paving the way for the "zero pollution" ambition announced in the European Green Deal.
Main objectives:
- Develop the scientific skills needed to address current and future challenges in chemical safety
- Provide new data, methods, and innovative tools to those responsible for assessing and managing the risks of chemical exposure
- Strengthen the networks which bring together actors specialised in the different scientific fields contributing to risk assessment
PARC represents a campaign of unprecedented scale, since it brings together 200 partners from 28 countries, as well as three EU agencies (the European Environment Agency – EEA, the European Chemicals Agency – ECHA, and the European Food Safety Authority – EFSA). The partnership encompasses all aspects of chemical risk assessment, aiming in particular to: better anticipate emerging risks, better account for combined risks, and underpin the concrete implementation of new orientations in European public policies to safeguard the health and the environment in response to important issues for health, the ecology and citizens' expectations.
The Spanish coordination was assigned to the IDAEA's Geochemistry and Pollution group (Joan Grimalt) and the Instituto Carlos III.
HORIZON-HLTH-2021-ENVHLTH-03: 101057014
Start Date: 01/05/2022 – End Date: 30/04/2029
Funding: European Project
https://www.eu-parc.eu/
IDENTIFYING DETERMINANTS FOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND THEIR HEALTH IMPACT IN ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN: MEASURES TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND REDUCE DISEASE BURDENS (InChildHealth)
101056883
InChildHealth will integrate health, environmental, technical and social sciences research to identify determinants for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and evaluate their impact in environments occupied by school children. We will focus on chemicals, particle concentrations, microorganisms and physical parameters in schools, homes, sports halls and transport. The IAQ of these environments determines the dose received by the children and may directly influence their health and well-being. An environmental epidemiological study and controlled interventions conducted in schools in three European cities will assess the health effects of multipollutant airborne exposures on respiratory infections, allergies, and neurological and cognitional symptoms. In addition, dose-response Will be evaluated with a novel cytotoxicity testing pipeline using in-vitro approaches. The InChildHealth consortium will cover an impressive variety of geographical and cultural diversity, with targeted exposure measurement campaigns and citizen involvement in seven European countries from Northern, Central and Southern Europe and interventions in Australia.
Horizon Europe, ref.: HORIZON-HLTH-2021-ENVHLTH-02-03
Start Date: 01/09/2022 – End Date: 31/08/2026
Funding: European Project
https://inchildhealth.eu/
Staff
Permanent Researchers
PhD Students
Postdoc Researchers
Technical
