Objective "Fish populations are declining in inland waters in many parts of Europe due, in part, to the impact of aquatic pollutants on fish health. In many aquatic environments fish are exposed to effluents from wastewater treatment works (WwTW), and these can contain complex mixtures of chemicals arising from human waste. The impact of many of these contaminants and their mixtures on fish health is unknown and remains to be investigated. With future pressures on water resources resulting in less dilution of WwTW effluents in some river catchments, there is a urgent need to develop monitoring tools to assess effluent exposure and its effects on fish health.The objectives of this project are to investigate how the (bio)chemical profiles change in fish blood as a result of exposure to WwTW effluents, and to identify key (bio)chemical signatures that could be used to monitor exposure to wastewater effluents. To do this, the fellow will use the exciting omics-based technique of metabolomics. This involves the holistic mass spectrometry profiling of as many of the biochemicals as possible in the blood and, in the context of this project, will also involve profiling of chemical contaminants and their metabolites alsopresent in the samples. Fish will be exposed to WwTW effluents and the (bio)chemicals in their blood samples profiled to identify markers of effluent exposure and effect. The work will result in an array of candidate (bio)chemicals which can then be evaluated in future projects for biomonitoring of fish health in European rivers. The results will be of wide interest to the government regulatory bodies, environment protection groups, waterand waste industries and the wider public in Europe. The project will bring Dr David to work with Professor Hill, and allow him to benefit from a number of scientific and complementary training activities which will prepare the fellow for an independent research career in environmental science." Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesfisheriesengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processesnatural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencesnatural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrymass spectrometry Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX Address Sussex house falmer BN1 9RH Brighton United Kingdom See on map Region South East (England) Surrey, East and West Sussex Brighton and Hove Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Tina Lehmbeck (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data
