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Project title

Ultra-sensitive optical sensor system for simultaneous, in-situ detection of multiple pesticides in water

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Dublin City University (DCU)

Lead Applicant

Fiona Regan

Project Abstract

Hydro-climatic extremes [1], such as droughts and floods, have increased due to climate change and could lead to severe impacts on socio-economic, structural, and environmental sectors. Soil water assessment models have shown that pesticides are transported into waterways because of intense rainfall events [2,3]. Current monitoring methods are not suited to detection of such water quality impacts, which can deplete invertebrate populations and very rapidly impact biodiversity as well as ecosystem health. Many surface- and groundwaters are used as source for drinking water supplies, and therefore occurrence of chemicals is problematic for water treatment facilities. Rapid, real-time sensing technologies do not exist yet, but are urgently needed to address these climate-related water quality challenges. Environmental contamination with pesticides negatively impacts entire ecosystem. Traditional methods, such as gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectroscopy, are widely applied for the detection of pesticide residues in the environment. However, these methods are applied to samples collected according to Water Framework Directive monitoring programme – in timelines not suited to environmental protection. Passive samplers have been used to detect presence of pollutants, investigate temporal trends in pollutant concentrations, and determine time weighted average (TWA) concentration for aquatic pollutants. When passive samplers are employed in place of other sampling techniques several advantages are noticed (e.g., the ability to sample large volumes of water, the passive operation). Citizen science (CS) generally refers to public participation in a variety of scientific investigation. In the context of this project, we will involve citizens in water sampling campaigns to monitor pesticides over wider areas and time periods. The STARDUST project translates several technological advances into an innovative solution for discrimination between safe and contaminated water in continuous and real-time manner. We envision that on the longer run any strategies for mitigation of the hydro-climatic extreme events will need to rely on digitalization and sensors. The proposed activities will benefit a wide range of “problem owners” and society by responding to the need for continuous clean water (SDG 6). Pesticide detection is only one of the existing problems. The proposed solution is also applicable to other harmful compounds adding value and impact. There is currently no solution for monitoring of pesticides at a point-of-need, and therefore STARDUST may radically improve the existing procedures. STARDUST primarily targets the topic 2 by proposing physical and digital solutions for “smartening the water system”, but also contributes to the topic 1 as the development will be carried out in the context of adaptation and mitigation strategies to cope with hydro-climatic extreme events, and both experts on the analysis of surface and ground waters are involved.

Grant Approved

�149,492.00

Research Hub

Healthy Environment

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

01/03/2024

Initial Projected Completion Date

28/02/2027