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Description
Environmental contamination with pesticides causes negative impact on soil, surface and ground waters, affecting the food chains and ecosystems. It was demonstrated that various diseases in specific population groups can be related to their contact with pesticides. EU’s Water Framework Directive identified pesticides as emerging pollutants (EPs) posing significant risks to or through the aquatic environment and the protection of water resources as a top priority. The Stockholm Convention recommends such EPs, including pesticides, to be included in legislative monitoring programs (http://chm.pops.int/TheConvention/ThePOPs/TheNewPOPs/). In this context, highly accessible sensors for fast detection of pesticides at the point-of-need are of very high demand.
The goal of the POLSENS project is to develop a sensor that is able to detect pesticide pollutants by two methods at the same time: optical spectroscopy and electrochemistry. We will achieve this objective as described in the following: 1) we will fabricate nanostructured metallic surfaces suitable for both optical and electrochemical sensing, and 2) will integrate them in a microfluidic cell and a standard cuvette for both small and large sample volumes. We will then 3) establish the optical and electrochemical response of some pesticides (e.g. endosulfan, thiabendazole). Next we will 4) demonstrate dual optical-electrochemical sensing of pesticides in simulated and real samples. Finally we aim to 5) asses the presence and level of pesticides in surface waters from Cluj County.
The rapid and sensitive detection of pesticide pollutants directly on-field (i.e. close to possible sources of pollution: industrial, agricultural) has a direct positive impact on life quality. The project will also establish a solid research collaboration between the Romanian and Norwegian partners based on their mutual interest and each one’s expertise on development of novel devices for detection of substances of wide interest.
Summary of project results
Environmental contamination with pesticides causes negative impact on soil, surface and ground waters, affecting the food chains and ecosystems. EU’s Water Framework Directive identified pesticides as emerging pollutants posing significant risks to or through the aquatic environment and set the protection of water resources as a top priority. In this context, highly accessible sensors for fast detection of pesticides at the point-of-need are of very high demand. The POLSENS project aimed to develop portable sensing platforms able to quickly and reliably detect environmental pollutants in a highly affordable manner.
Within this project we fabricated nanostructured metallic surfaces suitable for both optical and electrochemical sensing. These were integrated in a microfluidic cell and a standard cuvette for analyses of both small and large sample volumes. We established the optical and electrochemical response of some pesticides (e.g. endosulfan, thiabendazole), and demonstrated optical and electrochemical sensing of pesticides in simulated and real samples (river water or fruit juice). Results were included in scientific articles in highly-ranked journals (e.g. Food Chemistry, Discover Nano, Optics Express, Analytica Chimica Acta, etc.), and presented at international conferences (e.g. International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, International Conference of the Balkan Physical Union, International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials, 31st Topical Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry). A workshop was also organized as a side-event of the 14th International Conference Processes in Isotopes and Molecules. Two applications for intellectual property applications (including one joint) were submitted to the Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM).
The nanostructured sensors developed by POLSENS are able to detect pesticide pollutants by two methods, namely optical spectroscopy and electrochemistry. Given the known negative effects of such pollutants, these sensors are a benefit for a large population, even more because the principles we established, the technologies and protocols we developed can be applied to a wide variety of pollutants from waters, not only pesticides. For the Romanian research institutions involved in this project it was a good occasion to move from fundamental research towards a more applied one, with clear potential for developing real-life devices. The 133 (Google Scholar) citations received during project duration by our published scientific articles are one kind of relevant impact achieved by the implementation of this project. Such a visibility obviously contributes to enhancing performance of Romanian research internationally
Summary of bilateral results
Within this project a new collaboration was established between Romania and Norway. We believe this will evolve into a long-term collaboration with our partners in Norway, from which our younger colleagues, the next generation of Romanian researchers can profit. The submitted patent applications are contributing to increasing the application of research results. We have had two PhD students, both female, who were involved in the project''s activities and included results in their theses.The project initiated a collaboration between the involved Romanian research institutions and the private company Nanom Mems. This partnership can lead to innovation and even commercialization of new technologies.