Unit:
Department of ChemistryLibrary of the School of Science
Author:
Galani Aikaterini
Dissertation committee:
Νικόλαος Θωμαΐδης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Χημείας, ΕΚΠΑ
Αναστάσιος Οικονόμου, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Χημείας, ΕΚΠΑ
Ευάγγελος Γκίκας, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Χημείας, ΕΚΠΑ
Βασίλειος Βασιλείου, Καθηγητής, Σχολή Δημόσιας Υγείας, Yale
Ανδρέας Σκορίλας, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Βιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Μαργαρίτης Αυγέρης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Αθηνά Μάρκου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Χημείας, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Large-scale monitoring campaigns of contaminants of emerging concern in the environment employing high- resolution mass spectrometry
Translated title:
Large-scale monitoring campaigns of contaminants of emerging concern in the environment employing high- resolution mass spectrometry
Summary:
Thousands of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are released from diffuse and point sources in surface waters. Point sources represent a major input of high loads of CECs in the environment because the technology applied in Wastewater Treatment plants (WWTPs) is insufficient to eliminate them. Consequently, the most persistent CECs end up in freshwater reservoirs, groundwater and even drinking water. Additionally, CECs may also enter the trophic chain depending on their properties. The occurrence of CECs in biota can threaten the stability of the ecosystems due to their toxicity and potential bioaccumulation to animals of higher trophic levels. Even though there is an increasing number of studies dealing with CECs in the literature, the investigation of their behavior in the ecosystem and the various natural and non-natural processes remains a challenge. CECs are known to create complex mixtures of unknown composition, which makes monitoring these substances challenging unless wide-scope screening methods and state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation is utilized.
The proposed thesis is divided into three working packages (WP) that aim at (i) characterizing CECs in ecosystems of decisive environmental importance (Danube river basin) using advanced analytical methods and data processing tools, (ii) performing risk assessment to prioritize the compounds based on their hazard and (iii) evaluating the concentration levels of CECs in the influent wastewater and application of Wastewater- based Epidemiology (WBE), which is a chemical tool used to reflect the lifestyle and public health of the WWTP serving population. Due to the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) ongoing pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 variants, an analytical protocol including three steps (concentration, extraction and detection) will be developed and validated, in order to estimate the virus load in influent wastewater from Athens. Wastewater surveillance could be used as an early warning system for epidemics.
Main subject category:
Science
Keywords:
CECs, target screening, risk-assessment, environment, WBE, public health, habits and lifestyle, COVID-19, early warning system
Number of references:
248
