NITROGENES: Effect of legacy and emerging compound co-contamination on NITROGEN mEtaboliSm in inland waters under different climate change scenarios

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sheffield
Department Name: Civil and Structural Engineering

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) biotransformation processes underpin nutrient cycling and facilitate the biodegradation of many organic contaminants in water bodies. Chlorinated solvents (CS) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are, respectively, one of the most widespread legacy and globally important emerging contaminants in aquatic systems. These organic chemicals may reduce the diversity of nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms in the natural environment, but their effect as co-contaminants on the activity of N microbiota and N metabolism in the N-cycle is unknown. Previously, the biotransformation of N, CS and PFAS in aquatic media was examined in separate environmental compartments or in simplified lab environments, limiting their relevance and transferability of results. This makes protection of the N-cycle and remediation challenging in the context of climate change, which is expected to modify N fluxes to water bodies. NITROGENES aims to explore N-biotransformation in the presence of CS and PFAS co-contamination in multiple linked environmental compartments (river, hyporheic zone, aquifer) under changing climate temperature and hydrological stressors induced by climate warming. The project will combine field, lab and modelling studies and apply advanced isotope and microbiological methods. Field studies will be performed to deduce the impact of sediment geochemistry and catchment hydrology on N, CS and PFAS fluxes. Lab experiments will assess the role of PFAS molecular structure on N microbiota and the interaction with PFAS in mixtures with CS. Numerical models will be used to integrate the results of field and lab studies to determine longer-term changes in N biotransformation that may occur after exposure to PFAS and CS under different climate warming scenarios. NITROGENES will deliver modelling tools and guidance to manage and design strategies that protect N resources and mitigate impacts on freshwater aquatic ecosystems potentially affected by CS and PFAS.

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