Project description
A toolkit to support the environmental management of pesticides
Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) is a valuable tool to track and quantify pollutant degradation in environmental systems. However, some analytical challenges still restrict the possibility to exploit its full potential. Moreover, to give a sound base on CSIA application in real-case studies, it is crucial to understand the transformation processes of pesticides and their associate isotope fractionations. The EU-funded ISOTOPEST project aims to optimise extraction and analytical methods for measuring isotope ratios in the triazine herbicide atrazine and the organochlorine insecticide methoxychlor, an unexplored pesticide of high environmental concern. The project aspires to increase the database of isotope fractionations to bring further demonstration of CSIA in field studies, and to provide a monitoring, water management and remediation tool.
Objective
Assessing the source and fate of pesticides in the environment is vital for improving European water management policies and remediation actions. Although compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) has proved to be a valuable tool to identify sources and track and quantify pollutant degradation in environmental systems, its application to pesticides is still emerging. There are currently some analytical challenges that restrict the possibilities to exploit the full potential of CSIA in pesticides for environmental applications, mainly related with low pesticide concentrations in environmental matrices. The first task of this project aims to overcome these barriers by optimizing extraction and analytical methods for measuring isotope ratios in an unexplored pesticide of high environmental concern: the organochlorine insecticide methoxychlor. Understanding the processes of transformation of pesticides and their associate isotope fractionations is crucial to give a sound base on CSIA application in real case studies. Nevertheless, the database of isotope fractionations associated to different transformation reactions for each pesticide is extremely incomplete. The second task of this project aims to increase this database by performing laboratory experiments for assessing biodegradation of methoxychlor and the herbicide atrazine. Finally, to take the next step and bring CSIA of pesticides to the field, the third task of this project is focused on application of CSIA in two contaminated sites for assessing the fate of the target pesticides (atrazine and methoxychlor) and their metabolites. This will provide a further demonstration of the options of CSIA in the evaluation of strategies for natural or induced attenuation, and to trace the sources, sinks and fate of pesticides in the environment. This project will thus contribute to the competitiveness of Europe in environmental monitoring, risk assessment and contamination mitigating concepts of pesticides.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
- engineering and technology environmental engineering natural resources management water management
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08007 BARCELONA
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.