Unravelling Nanoplastics: The Fate of Emerging Contaminants and Nanoplastics Concomitance in Environmental Dynamics

Descrizione del progetto

Comprendere le nanoplastiche e gli agenti inquinanti emergenti nell’ambiente

Sebbene le nanoplastiche siano ampiamente diffuse nell’aria e nei sistemi idrici, manca una valutazione accurata dei rischi che comportano per l’ambiente e la salute. Con il sostegno del programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, il progetto UNFENCED studierà come le nanoplastiche interagiscono con gli agenti inquinanti emergenti, come farmaci, pesticidi e PFAS, in condizioni ambientali realistiche. Il progetto analizzerà tre sistemi chiave che coinvolgono plastica invecchiata e miscele di inquinanti in ambienti di acqua dolce, in ambienti influenzati dalle acque reflue e nell’atmosfera. Inoltre, combinerà la spettrometria di massa ad alta risoluzione, la cheminformatica, la modellizzazione fotochimica e la validazione sul campo per monitorare in che modo queste interazioni influenzano il trasporto, la trasformazione e la tossicità degli inquinanti. I risultati saranno usati per sviluppare modelli meccanicistici e set di dati convalidati. UNFENCED migliorerà la nostra comprensione dell’inquinamento combinato da plastica e sostanze chimiche e favorirà una valutazione più accurata dei rischi ambientali.

Obiettivo

Nanoplastics (NPs) are a heterogeneous class of materials formed by the fragmentation and weathering of plastics, now ubiquitous in aquatic and atmospheric compartments. Their nanoscale properties enable strong interactions with emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and PFAS, influencing transport, transformation, and toxicity. Yet current monitoring and risk assessment rarely address NP-EC dynamics under realistic environmental conditions, leaving critical knowledge gaps for ecosystem and human health protection.
The project UNFENCED- Unravelling Nanoplastics: The Fate of Emerging Contaminants and Nanoplastics Concomitance in Environmental Dynamics will develop advanced analytical workflows and mechanistic models to map how NPs drive the persistence and biological effects of ECs. Three flagship NP-EC systems will be studied: (i) aged polystyrene + carbamazepine in freshwater, (ii) aged polypropylene + diclofenac in wastewater-influenced systems, and (iii) secondary atmospheric NPs + PFAS. High-resolution mass spectrometry, cheminformatics, and photochemical modelling will be integrated with field validation campaigns, directly linking chemical fingerprints with ecotoxicological outcomes.
UNFENCED will deliver validated datasets, open protocols, and a roadmap for NP-EC risk assessment, providing tools for regulators, utilities, and industry in line with the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan and water safety regulations. Beyond science, impact will be maximized through policy briefs, an interactive open-data dashboard, and a dedicated industry workshop. Guided by supervisors Prof. Federico Bianchi and Prof. Monica Passananti at the University of Helsinki, I will acquire advanced expertise in atmospheric processes and photochemical modelling, consolidating my career as an independent researcher at the interface of environmental chemistry and regulatory innovation.