Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SPONGE (Surface runoff as source of microplastics and emerging contaminants in megacities aquifers)
Reporting period: 2022-11-11 to 2024-11-10
The SPONGE project addresses the urgent and growing concern related to the presence of microplastics (MPs) and emerging contaminants in groundwater. This research topic faces many technical and methodological challenges for detection and characterization of MPs especially the smaller particles. Similarly, the mobility and persistence of emerging contaminants such as antibiotics and pharmaceuticals, in urban aquifers raises important questions regarding public health, environmental risks, and long-term groundwater quality.
The SPONGE project aims to advance the scientific understanding of MPs and emerging contaminant pollution in urban groundwater systems through an interdisciplinary and multi-scale approach. The overall objectives are:
• Develop and test analytical methods capable of detect and characterize MPs in groundwater
• To characterize the hydrochemical and isotopic signatures of groundwater to better understand contaminant pathways and recharge dynamics in urban aquifers.
• To identify and quantify emerging contaminants, including a wide range of antibiotics and pharmaceutical residues, and analyse their spatial and temporal distribution in relation to land use, well types, and aquifer conditions.
• To model the mobility of MPs in porous media, in order to assess their potential for transport through different soils.
• To contribute to the standardization of monitoring protocols, dissemination of good practices, and capacity building within the international research community, especially in collaboration with Chinese partners.
The SPONGE project aims to advance the scientific understanding of MPs and emerging contaminant pollution in urban groundwater systems through an interdisciplinary and multi-scale approach. The overall objectives are:
• Develop and test analytical methods capable of detect and characterize MPs in groundwater
• To characterize the hydrochemical and isotopic signatures of groundwater to better understand contaminant pathways and recharge dynamics in urban aquifers.
• To identify and quantify emerging contaminants, including a wide range of antibiotics and pharmaceutical residues, and analyse their spatial and temporal distribution in relation to land use, well types, and aquifer conditions.
• To model the mobility of MPs in porous media, in order to assess their potential for transport through different soils.
• To contribute to the standardization of monitoring protocols, dissemination of good practices, and capacity building within the international research community, especially in collaboration with Chinese partners.
During the reporting period, I relocated to China and began with a preliminary study of the hydrogeological background of the study area. The next step involved a reconnaissance survey of existing monitoring points to define a suitable monitoring network for groundwater and runoff water. Our investigation into protocols for identifying MPs in groundwater revealed a lack of standardized methods in the international literature. We explored the application of AFM to detect micro- and nanoplastics in groundwater. Although the method showed some limitations, it proved valuable for characterizing plastic aging and its potential to adsorb other contaminants on particle surfaces. In addition, we developed a sampling, pretreatment, and analytical protocol for spectroscopic analysis using µFTIR to detect MPs larger than 20 µm.
We collected both groundwater and runoff samples to assess MP contamination, as well as the presence of antibiotics and other pharmaceutical compounds. Complementary chemical analyses were carried out, including major ions and trace metals, along with water and nitrate isotope analyses to enhance our understanding of the hydrogeological dynamics of Shenzhen's urban aquifer. We have produced a robust dataset that is currently under elaboration. Furthermore, we initiated pore-scale numerical simulations of MP transport to evaluate the relationship between MP size and aquifer granulometry. These results will be crucial in optimizing detection protocols based on the expected MP size distribution.
We collected both groundwater and runoff samples to assess MP contamination, as well as the presence of antibiotics and other pharmaceutical compounds. Complementary chemical analyses were carried out, including major ions and trace metals, along with water and nitrate isotope analyses to enhance our understanding of the hydrogeological dynamics of Shenzhen's urban aquifer. We have produced a robust dataset that is currently under elaboration. Furthermore, we initiated pore-scale numerical simulations of MP transport to evaluate the relationship between MP size and aquifer granulometry. These results will be crucial in optimizing detection protocols based on the expected MP size distribution.
The SPONGE project is advancing the study of MPs and emerging contaminants in groundwater in urban aquifers. The project moved beyond the current state of the art in several ways:
• It developed and tested an innovative approaches for detecting micro- and nanoplastics using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), or sampling and pre-treatment protocol for microplastics in groundwater using micro-FTIR.
• It applied a multi-tracer approach, combining traditional chemical indicators, stable isotopes, nitrate isotopes, antibiotics, and pharmaceuticals, to better understand the mobility and persistence of contaminants in an urban aquifer.
• It initiated a novel modelling approach to simulate MPs transport at the pore scale.
Expected results until the end of the project include:
• Realization an additional sampling campaign and integration of the new data.
• Analysis and interpretation of isotope data to improve understanding of recharge dynamics and contaminant transport.
• Finalization of the pore-scale filtration models and their application to different soil textures to estimate potential MPs mobility solely based on the pores and MPs dimensions.
• Consolidation of the updated numerical model of the Shenzhen aquifer with simulations of improved aquifer recharge strategy.
• Publication of at least three additional peer-reviewed articles, including a synthesis of the findings and their policy implications.
Potential impacts of the project include:
• Scientific impact: The project contributes to filling a critical knowledge gap on the occurrence, behavior, and risks associated with MPsand emerging pollutants in groundwater, setting new standards and offering reproducible protocols for future.
• Societal implications: The project raises awareness of the hidden dimension of plastic pollution and chemical contamination in groundwater, a vital yet often neglected component of the hydrological cycle. It also reinforces the role of hydrogeologists in addressing complex environmental challenges at the interface of natural systems and human activities through public speeches.
• Create scientific synergies: Thanks to the SPONGE project and the strong collaboration established between the UNIPI group and SUSTech, a bilateral research project jointly funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) and the Ministry of Science of China (MOST) was acquired. The P.I. are Prof. V. Castelvetro and Prof. C. Zheng, both supervisors of the SPONGE project. The title of the bilateral project is ENCOMPASS (Characterization and dynamics of microplastics from agricultural soils to groundwaters), and it focuses on MPs agricultural environments. Although I am not directly involved in the ENCOMPASS project, I regularly participate in stimulating meetings to exchange ideas and share experiences across the two research projects.
• Mentorship: One impact of this project is the mentoring activities for early-career researchers. This includes promoting awareness of MSCA PF, through meetings and outreach articles in open-access journals (www.acquesotterranee.net/acque/article/view/663) as well as providing advice to prospective applicants. For example, I supported a student from UNIPI who submitted a proposal for a Global PF, and a German researcher I met at SUSTech who applied for a EU-PF. Another important mentoring activity will involve sharing the knowledge acquired during the first two years of the SPONGE project with early-career researchers working on MPs and emerging contaminants in urban aquifers. During the third year, I will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with a PhD student at the University of Pisa, supervised by Prof. V. Re. The PhD candidate is part of a MSCA DN Plastic Underground (Project No. 101072777 – Plastic Underground HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN). Although I am not directly involved in this project, I will provide her my support by sharing sampling, pretreatment, and analytical protocols for groundwater MPsanalysis, thus fostering a constructive and collaborative exchange.
By engaging with academic partners, environmental agencies, and international experts, the SPONGE project is contributing to building a global research network focused on microplastic pollution in subsurface environments, and is expected to have long-term influence on both science and society.
• It developed and tested an innovative approaches for detecting micro- and nanoplastics using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), or sampling and pre-treatment protocol for microplastics in groundwater using micro-FTIR.
• It applied a multi-tracer approach, combining traditional chemical indicators, stable isotopes, nitrate isotopes, antibiotics, and pharmaceuticals, to better understand the mobility and persistence of contaminants in an urban aquifer.
• It initiated a novel modelling approach to simulate MPs transport at the pore scale.
Expected results until the end of the project include:
• Realization an additional sampling campaign and integration of the new data.
• Analysis and interpretation of isotope data to improve understanding of recharge dynamics and contaminant transport.
• Finalization of the pore-scale filtration models and their application to different soil textures to estimate potential MPs mobility solely based on the pores and MPs dimensions.
• Consolidation of the updated numerical model of the Shenzhen aquifer with simulations of improved aquifer recharge strategy.
• Publication of at least three additional peer-reviewed articles, including a synthesis of the findings and their policy implications.
Potential impacts of the project include:
• Scientific impact: The project contributes to filling a critical knowledge gap on the occurrence, behavior, and risks associated with MPsand emerging pollutants in groundwater, setting new standards and offering reproducible protocols for future.
• Societal implications: The project raises awareness of the hidden dimension of plastic pollution and chemical contamination in groundwater, a vital yet often neglected component of the hydrological cycle. It also reinforces the role of hydrogeologists in addressing complex environmental challenges at the interface of natural systems and human activities through public speeches.
• Create scientific synergies: Thanks to the SPONGE project and the strong collaboration established between the UNIPI group and SUSTech, a bilateral research project jointly funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) and the Ministry of Science of China (MOST) was acquired. The P.I. are Prof. V. Castelvetro and Prof. C. Zheng, both supervisors of the SPONGE project. The title of the bilateral project is ENCOMPASS (Characterization and dynamics of microplastics from agricultural soils to groundwaters), and it focuses on MPs agricultural environments. Although I am not directly involved in the ENCOMPASS project, I regularly participate in stimulating meetings to exchange ideas and share experiences across the two research projects.
• Mentorship: One impact of this project is the mentoring activities for early-career researchers. This includes promoting awareness of MSCA PF, through meetings and outreach articles in open-access journals (www.acquesotterranee.net/acque/article/view/663) as well as providing advice to prospective applicants. For example, I supported a student from UNIPI who submitted a proposal for a Global PF, and a German researcher I met at SUSTech who applied for a EU-PF. Another important mentoring activity will involve sharing the knowledge acquired during the first two years of the SPONGE project with early-career researchers working on MPs and emerging contaminants in urban aquifers. During the third year, I will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with a PhD student at the University of Pisa, supervised by Prof. V. Re. The PhD candidate is part of a MSCA DN Plastic Underground (Project No. 101072777 – Plastic Underground HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN). Although I am not directly involved in this project, I will provide her my support by sharing sampling, pretreatment, and analytical protocols for groundwater MPsanalysis, thus fostering a constructive and collaborative exchange.
By engaging with academic partners, environmental agencies, and international experts, the SPONGE project is contributing to building a global research network focused on microplastic pollution in subsurface environments, and is expected to have long-term influence on both science and society.