Coordinator: Maria Eduarda da Cunha Pereira
The main goal of the Line Environment Monitoring and Analysis is to provide knowledge, technologies, methodologies and products to assess the effects and possible threat of contaminants and other stressors on marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, enabling their protection and the sustainable exploitation of the services they provide to the Society. Priority research activities are: assessment of climate changes and human pressure on marine, freshwater and terrestrial organisms and ecosystems; monitoring, modeling and risk assessment of contaminants in ecosystems; analysis of environmental matrixes for contaminants of emerging concern, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, wood preservatives, major, minor and trace elements namely Hg, Cd, As, and Pb, anions (cyanides, phosphates, carbonates, halydes), metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles; monitoring plans of contaminants in waters, soils, sludges, sediments, plants and fauna; assessment of drinking water quality; analysis of food matrices, food safety and security; elaboration of mitigation strategies to decrease food, water and soil contamination; development of membranes for water treatment and reuse; design and testing of sensors for rapid screening of contaminants; development of innovative products and low carbon technology; use of biotechnology and molecular tools to address cell cascades signaling the impact of contaminants; evaluation of indoor and outdoor air contaminants with emphasis on the most health-relevant particulate and gaseous pollutants, including personal exposure studies with emphasis on susceptible populations; development of innovative approaches for sample treatment, including automation and miniaturization, to cope with intensive environmental sampling and extended data acquisition for monitoring purposes. The co-existence of groups devoted to synthesis, analytical development and environmental chemistry permits the design and evaluation of new products to monitor environmental contaminants.
A special emphasis is also placed on waste prevention and reduction, reusing and recycling since these strategies can help to save natural resources and energy and reduce pollution. These activities are included in the research and innovation strategy of REQUIMTE; aim to support, among others, the Water Framework directive and the Integrated Coastal Management; and are developed in close cooperation with the economic sector, environmental policy-making authorities at regional, national and international level, and with other stakeholders. This Line also contributes to REQUIMTE Science and Society program through outreach activities with schools, children, families and the general public, and by participating in advanced training courses in the frame of PhD, Master, Integrated Master and BSc programs.
Research Groups that contribute to the Thematic Line:
- Molecular Synthesis
- Natural Products: Chemistry and Bioactivity
- Analytical Development
- Environmental Chemistry
- (Bio)Chemistry & OMICS
- (Bio)Chemical Process Engineering
- Materials for Sustainability and Wellbeing