Descrizione del progetto
Una nuova metodologia per affrontare le minacce ecologiche delle micro e nanoplastiche
Siamo al corrente del fatto che la plastica, sia essa in forma di bottiglie, cannucce, sacchetti, ecc., finisce spesso nei corpi idrici, minacciando la fauna acquatica. Identificare e caratterizzare queste sostanze inquinanti è relativamente semplice. Tuttavia, non disponiamo di risultati quantitativi affidabili perché le tecniche impiegate non possiedono sensibilità e/o precisione. Il progetto AQUPLAST, finanziato dall’UE, cerca di sviluppare un nuovo metodo di monitoraggio della distribuzione delle micro e nanoplastiche nei compartimenti ambientali e migliorerà la valutazione del rischio nell’ambito della salute ambientale e umana. Basandosi sulla cromatografia liquida e la spettrometria di massa ad alta risoluzione, la metodologia impiegata permetterà di comprendere meglio i rischi derivanti dall’inquinamento da micro e nanoplastica, nonché la correlazione tra la presenza di queste plastiche con fattori antropogenici e stagionali.
Obiettivo
Plastic pollution is an issue of environmental concern intensively discussed in the scientific literature and public media in recent years. Particularly, microplastics (MPs) and/or nanoplastics (NPs) are a kind of pollutants potentially hazardous for ecosystems and human health that can be ingested by aquatic fauna. In this context, the presence of MPs and a lesser extent of NPs have been reported in the environment and biota. However, the detection of these pollutants generally it happens through techniques that allow its identification and characterization but have not enough sensitivity and/or accuracy to provide quantitative reliable results. Therefore, this project will focus on developing an accurate and reliable analytical procedure by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry for monitoring the occurrence and spatial-temporal distribution of MPs and NPs in environmental compartments and the further risk assessment in environmental and human health. This project shows an interdisciplinary nature that involves environmental, analytical chemistry and social sciences research field. This latter, considering the anthropogenic approach of this action. In addition, this proposal includes a two-way transfer of knowledge between the researcher and the host institution, as well as the training of the researcher in new advanced techniques both at the host as partner institution. The results of this project will allow to correlate the presence of MPs and NPs with anthropogenic and seasonal factors through accurate analytical methodologies. Moreover, it will allow a better understanding of risks of MPs and NPs pollution for environmental and human health, providing data that could be used by policymakers. To emphasize, this project is aligned with the European Union strategy of developing accurate analytical methods for quantify MPs and NPs in environmental matrices and biota in order to perform appropriate risk assessment.
Campo scientifico
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit GrantCoordinatore
46010 Valencia
Spagna