Utilization of long term (passive) sampling methods combined with in situ microcosms for assessment of (bio)degradation potential

Project facts

Project promoter:
Charles University in Prague
Project Number:
CZ09-0024
Target groups
Researchers or scientists
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€643,169
Final project cost:
€636,208
From Norway Grants:
€ 540,777
The project is carried out in:
Hlavní město Praha

Description

Soil and groundwater contamination is an important issue due to the potential health and environmental risks. Bioremediation is one of the most often used remediation strategies because it not requires as much equipment, labour, or energy as other clean-up methods. The PASSES project deals with research of processes occurring in saturated zone of contaminated sites before, during and after bioremediation. Detailed knowledge of these processes is crucial for impact assessment as well as for achieving maximal remediation effectiveness. The main aim of the project is to assess the possibility of stimulating biodegradation of organic pollutants. This includes to design and test selected combinations of innovative analytical and genomic approaches that will enable to exactly predict whether biodegradation is feasible on specific localities. Therefore, the intended impact is the improved sustainability of remedial actions in practice.

Summary of project results

The PASSES project primarily deals with pollution of the underground environment (consisting of soil, groundwater and soil air) that often cause significant risks to human health and to the ecosystems. Corrective measures may be different; often it is environmental remediation or clean-up, whose main objective is to ‘clean the site’. Therefore the PASSES project focused on utilisation of innovative methods for assessing and monitoring of contaminated sites to obtain accurate information on them. The technologies developed within the project are a tool that should provide exact information for decision making and designed remediation should be more effective and sustainable. The main objectives of the project were to design and verify technology for assessment of (bio)degradation potential (verified technology was achieved in 4/2017) - that should provide information whether (bio)degradation is feasible on specific contaminated sites and to develop ecotoxicity passive sampler (utility model achieved in 9/2016) for assessment of toxic effects caused by different chemicals commonly used for remediation. The 6 scientific papers (2 reviewed and 4 impacted) were already published and one more (impacted) was submitted before the end of the project. The project gave unique opportunity for young researchers to be involved and be responsible for some parts of this international project. They gained experience on how to work in the international team and broaden their expertise in the environmental monitoring field. They also had opportunity to improve their language skills and to establish professional contacts in other countries. Female researchers constituted 61% of the project staff and three of them recently returned from their maternity leave. In long term, the PASSES project provided novel technologies allowing assessing potential impacts of different remedial technologies, thus giving opportunity to take these impacts into account. Implementation of the verified technology designed within the project will provide both, the cost effective, environmental friendly solution to test remediation feasibility as well as the precise information for subsequent decision making. The PASSES technology should help to remediate contaminated sites in the more sustainable and cheaper way.

Summary of bilateral results

Environmental remediation technologies are often inappropriate – project provided a suitable tool for their feasibility testing and optimisation, cost effective and environmental friendly solution to test remediation feasibility, involvement of young researchers and broadening their expertise, technology for assessment of (bio)degradation potential on specific contaminated sites Ecotoxicity passive sampler for assessment of ecotoxicity of various remedial actions. Its outputs were verified technology, an utility model, 6 scientific papers published + 1 submitted. The objectives were achieved through intensive collaboration and mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and experience. All the goals were fulfilled. FoS ensured a scientific background of the project and its leadership, ALS - experience with passive sampling and analytics, Dekonta company gave experience with monitoring and contaminated sites management. Together they disposed of a unique set of skills that enabled reaching of stated project objectives.Bilateral relations were established and likely be extended in the future. The outcomes have brought new opportunities and impacts the environment, for example contaminated sites (big issue in Czechia) can be cleaned up in more sustainable and cheaper way.