FISHING FOR MARKERS OF EFFLUENT EXPOSURE USING METABOLOMICS

Project Information

FISHMETABOLOME

Grant agreement ID: 302097

Project closed

Start date 1 June 2012

End date 31 May 2014

Funded under

• Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Total cost € 209 033,40

EU contribution € 209 033,40

Coordinated by

THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX
United Kingdom

Objective

"Fish populations are declining in inland waters in many parts of Europe due, in part, to the impact of aquatic pollutants on fish health. In many aquatic environments fish are exposed to effluents from wastewater treatment works (WwTW), and these can contain complex mixtures of chemicals arising from human waste. The impact of many of these contaminants and their mixtures on fish health is unknown and remains to be investigated. With future pressures on water resources resulting in less dilution of WwTW effluents in some river catchments, there is a urgent need to develop monitoring tools to assess effluent exposure and its effects on fish health.The objectives of this project are to investigate how the (bio)chemical profiles change in fish blood as a result of exposure to WwTW effluents, and to identify key (bio)chemical signatures that could be used to monitor exposure to wastewater effluents. To do this, the fellow will use the exciting omics-based technique of metabolomics. This involves the holistic mass spectrometry profiling of as many of the biochemicals as possible in the blood and, in the context of this project, will also involve profiling of chemical contaminants and their metabolites also
present in the samples. Fish will be exposed to WwTW effluents and the (bio)chemicals in their blood samples profiled to identify markers of effluent exposure and effect. The work will result in an array of candidate (bio)chemicals which can then be evaluated in future projects for biomonitoring of fish health in European rivers. The results will be of wide interest to the government regulatory bodies, environment protection groups, water
and waste industries and the wider public in Europe. The project will bring Dr David to work with Professor Hill, and allow him to benefit from a number of scientific and complementary training activities which will prepare the fellow for an independent research career in environmental science."

Fields of science

• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › fisheries
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › water treatment processes › wastewater treatment processes
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › hydrology
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › environmental sciences
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › analytical chemistry › mass spectrometry

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX

Administrative Contact

Tina Lehmbeck (Ms.)

• EU contribution: € 209 033,40
• Address: SUSSEX HOUSE FALMER ; BN1 9RH Brighton ; United Kingdom
• Region: South East (England) › Surrey, East and West Sussex › Brighton and Hove
• Activity type: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Total cost: No data