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H2020Doctoral network2015–2019

ANSWER · ANtibioticS and mobile resistance elements in WastEwater Reuse applications: risks and innovative solutions

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2015-10-01 → 2019-09-30
EU contribution
€3,708,690
Participants
18
Scheme
MSCA-ITN-ETN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

ANtibioticS and mobile resistance elements in WastEwater Reuse applications: risks and innovative solutions

The major mission of ANSWER was to train 15 ESRs to address the risks associated with chemical/biological contaminants of emerging concern, i.e. antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (A&ARB&ARGs) and wastewater (WW) reuse. The main scientific outputs of the project were the (i) understanding of the fate of A&ARB&ARGs within urban WW, soil, ground/surface water, and crops (determination of A&ARB&ARGs with highest risk of transfer from WW to soils-crops, assessment of the physicochemical factors favoring the persistence of A&ARB&ARGs in soils-crops, determination of the environmental/public health risk factors related with A&ARB&ARGs in soils-crops), (ii) validation of bioassays for A&ARB&ARGs effects evaluation and hazard identification (development/application of protocols for advanced bioassays for A/TPs, assessment of the effects of A/TPs and relation to AR), (iii) development of a modelling framework capable of predicting the fate and assessing the risks associated with A&ARB&ARGs in the environment (development of models on ARB&ARGs passage in soil/water resources affected by WW reuse schemes, development of models to assess the impact of conventional/advanced technologies on ARB&ARGs), (iv) assessment of the efficiency of innovative technologies to minimize A&ARB&ARGs (evaluation of the efficiency of ozonation to minimize A&ARB&ARGs, development/assessment of the efficacy of new photocatalytic reactors and cost analysis), and (v) development of a database for A, TPs, ARB&ARGs in environmental matrices and development of guidelines for the determination of ELVs. Along with its scientific goals, ANSWER ensured via a number of dissemination/communication activities that its outcomes and impacts were widely shared with the respective research and innovation community, including industry, stakeholders, scientists, general public, and with EU/national policy makers setting the research agendas of the future. One of the main communication outcomes of ANSWER was the development of the children's book ″The Secret Handbook of the Blue Circle″ (PAPADOPOULOS Publishing (Greek); IWA Publishing (English)).

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

In response to the increasing problem of water shortage, the reuse of treated urban wastewater is considered the most suitable and reliable alternative for sustainable water management and agricultural development. In spite of the benefits associated with this practice, major concerns currently exist, related to the adverse effects regarding chemical and biological contaminants of emerging concern such as antibiotics and mobile antibiotic resistance elements such as antibiotic resistant bacteria and resistance genes. These are now considered as a serious public health problem by various international organizations and the European Commission, because of their spread in the environment, the food chain, drinking water, etc. To tackle these problems, scientists with an interdisciplinary research/training background are urgently needed. This ETN will train a new generation of ESRs to address the risks associated with such contaminants and wastewater reuse. Innovative chemical, microbiological, toxicological and modelling tools, and novel process engineering will form the scientific and training core of their innovative research projects and training. The project will contribute to understanding the fate and transmission of antibiotics and resistance from wastewater to the environment and humans, through soil, ground/surface water and crops. Relevant ELVs will be determined, essential for the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks. This project directly tackles these aspects, by bringing together a multidisciplinary research team, with the private sector, and policy makers and through communication activities towards stakeholders and the wider public.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS · NicosiaCoordinatorCyprus
  • ABWASSERVERBAND BRAUNSCHWEIG · WENDEBURGGermany
  • ADVENTECH - ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES LDA · Sao Joao Da MadeiraPortugal
  • AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridSpain
  • AGES - OSTERREICHISCHE AGENTUR FUR GESUNDHEIT UND ERNAHRUNGSSICHERHEIT GMBH · WienAustria
  • BioDetection Systems B.V. · AmsterdamNetherlands
  • ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE,S.R.O · KOSSlovakia
  • HIGHCHEM SRO · BratislavaSlovakia
  • ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA · RomaItaly
  • KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE · KarlsruheGermany
  • KWR WATER BV · NIEUWEGEINNetherlands
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDEN · DresdenGermany
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria
  • THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION OF ISRAEL - THE VOLCANI CENTRE · Bet DaganIsrael
  • THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM · JerusalemIsrael
  • UNIVERSIDADE CATOLICA PORTUGUESA · LISBOAPortugal
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI SALERNO · Fisciano SaItaly
  • VA TECH WABAG GmbH · ViennaAustria

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union