Project description
Technology to assess nanoplastic impact on waters
Aquatic ecosystems are threatened by contaminants, particularly nanoplastics (NPLs), which can penetrate epithelial barriers and harm aquatic life. However, identifying the specific effects of NPLs remains challenging due to limitations in traditional static testing methods. Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) systems offer a promising alternative, simulating natural aquatic conditions within controlled microenvironments. These technologies mark a step forward in delivering accurate and ethical assessments of NPL-related risks. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TOXCHIP project will use LOC technology to evaluate the real-world impacts of plastic pollution. By generating reliable data, the project will inform science-based policies, advance the field of aquatic ecotoxicology, and contribute to the EU’s goals of protecting biodiversity and improving water quality.
Objective
Aquatic ecosystems are facing increasing pressure from contaminants, including nanoplastics (NPLs). These particles pose serious risks to organisms, as they can cross epithelial barriers and cause adverse effects. However, identifying the concrete impacts of NPLs remains challenging due to methodological flaws in traditional static methods. NPLs tend to aggregate in static water, altering their interactions with organisms and causing inconsistencies in data and cause-effect relationships. To address these challenges, Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) technology is proposed in TOXCHIP. LOC systems integrate multiple laboratory functions onto a single chip, creating microenvironments that simulate natural aquatic conditions. These microenvironments regulate flow rates, shear forces, and mixing, preventing conditions that promote NPL aggregation and enhancing the accuracy of ecotoxicological assessments. By creating a more dynamic and controlled fluidic environment, LOC devices offer a powerful solution to understanding the risks of NPLs. High-throughput screening technologies like LOC represent a significant advancement toward more accurate, cost-effective, and ethical analysis. The next generation of risk assessment will most likely rely on such advances to protect human and environmental health in the face of a complex pollution landscape. The anticipated outcomes have the potential to push the boundaries of aquatic ecotoxicology by offering groundbreaking insights and more precise evaluations of plastic pollution’s real-world impacts. Beyond its scientific contributions, TOXCHIP holds significant economic and societal implications. This pioneering approach supports the EU’s mission to protect biodiversity and enhance water quality and lays the groundwork for future risk assessment frameworks. By generating reliable, actionable data, TOXCHIP will bolster the development of science-based regulations and policies, ultimately advancing a more sustainable aquatic future.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies microtechnology lab on a chip
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences hydrology limnology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
4715-330 Braga
Portugal
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.