STE CECs · Subterreanean estuaries: A source or sink of contaminants of emerging concern to the coastal ocean?
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31
- EU contribution
- €203,852
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Subterreanean estuaries: A source or sink of contaminants of emerging concern to the coastal ocean?
The MSCA project “Subterranean estuaries: A source or sink of contaminants of emerging concern to the coastal ocean?” examines the role and drivers of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) as a source of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs; e.g., pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides) to the coastal ocean. SGD, which refers to groundwater flowing to the coastal ocean is understudied in many regions of the world, despite its critical contribution to coastal water and chemical budgets. For instance, previous studies have linked SGD-derived nutrient pollution to eutrophication, ocean acidification, and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms in coastal areas. Recently, SGD has also been identified as a source of CECs as well. CECs can be toxic to aquatic organisms and contribute to antimicrobial resistance, even in trace quantities. Thus, understanding the source(s) and processes that influence their concentrations in the environment is critical. The coastal aquifer, also known as the subterranean estuary (STE) is a biogeochemically active zone that SGD travels through before flowing into coastal waters. This project broadly takes a multi-pronged approach to better understand the importance of SGD as a source of CECs and the drivers of CEC biogeochemistry in the STE. The objectives of this MSCA were to answer the following research questions: (1) Does eutrophication drive the release of CECs from STEs? (2) Does the nitrogen biogeochemical cycle drive CEC transformations in STEs? And (3) Can we model reactive CEC transport within CECs?
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an understudied vector for pollution to the coastal ocean. Earlier work demonstrated that SGD is a major source of nutrients, carbon, and metals to the ocean, but it remains unclear whether SGD is a source or sink of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to coastal waters. Many CECs can have negative ecological impacts even in trace quantities. For instance, disruption to invertebrate reproductive health or promotion of antimicrobial resistance have been directly linked to CECs in numerous studies. Before reaching the ocean, SGD travels through the subterranean estuary, a natural biogeochemical hotspot. I recently obtained initial evidence that SGD can release CEC compounds such as pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals to the coastal ocean, but do not have insight into how microbial processes may alter CECs in subterranean estuaries. I will study CEC behavior in the subterreanean estuary to resolve biogeochemical processing driving CEC release from contrasting coastal aquifer. I will rely on an interdisciplinary combination of field, lab, and modeling experiments to establish the controlling factors governing CEC behavior within subterranean estuaries and their eventual release to the coastal ocean via SGD. Field experiments will be conducted in contrasting silicate and carbonate systems to cover the wide range of conditions existing along the European coastline. Laboratory column experiments and groundwater modeling will provide conceptual insight into drivers of CEC in SGD. I will be based at the University of Gothenburg (UGOT), Sweden with a secondment in Germany and close collaboration with researchers in Spain, France, and Poland. These results will inform future EU initiatives and provide key information for upcoming EU CEC watchlists.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- GOETEBORGS UNIVERSITET · GoeteborgCoordinatorSweden
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union