Project
DISCOVER - DRAVA ISOTOPES: Comprehensive Overview of Various Environmental Contaminants and Risks using Advanced Analytical Techniques
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and others, are widespread in the environment and pose a serious threat to human health and the balance of natural ecosystems. They can travel long distances through air, water, and the food chain, making it difficult to trace their sources and accurately assess the risks they pose.
In areas with a long industrial history, such as the Meža Valley in Slovenia, pollution by heavy metals is a legacy of centuries of mining activity. Even today, harmful substances like Pb and Cd remain present in soil, rivers, and airborne dust, continuing to affect human and environmental health, especially children's health.
Despite efforts to monitor and reduce pollution, a key challenge remains: understanding how these elements move through the environment and how they reach and impact living organisms.
This is where the DISCOVER project comes in, combining cutting-edge scientific methods and technologies to uncover where toxic elements originate, how they spread, where they accumulate, and what risks they pose for the future.
RESEARCH GOAL
The overall objective of the research project is to develop advanced analytical methods for studying sources, behaviour, and fate of potentially toxic elements, such as Zn, As, Cd, Sb, and Pb, present in the contaminated Meža Valley environment.
Our team uses:
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Isotope fingerprinting: Tiny variations in the isotopic composition of PTE like Zn, Cd, Pb, and Sb help us track their origins and movements.
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Nanoparticle analysis: Detecting and studying PTE in nanoparticle form reveals new exposure pathways.
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Bioavailability testing through passive sampling: Innovative methods mimic how plants and animals absorb PTE, showing which forms are most harmful.
These tools will help us answer key questions:
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Can we link PTE pollution to specific industrial activities or natural processes?
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How do nanoparticles of PTE behave in soil, water, and air?
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What is the risk to plants, animals, and people living in affected areas?
WHY IT MATTERS
By improving our ability to trace and understand PTE, DISCOVER will:
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Provide better risk assessments for affected communities.
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Support clean-up and pollution prevention strategies to reduce exposure
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Contribute to healthier ecosystems in regions with a history of mining and industry.
FOCUS AREA: THE MEŽA VALLEY
The Meža Valley has a long mining history, dating back to Roman times. Over 19 million tons of ore were extracted here, leading to high levels of Pb, Zn, Cd, and As in the environment. Although protective measures have reduced exposure in recent decades, recent studies suggest that PTE levels are rising again.
INNOVATION IN ACTION
The DISCOVER project combines state-of-the-art techniques like multi-collector mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) and single-particle ICP-MS with field sampling and chemical imaging. This unique approach will:
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Reveal hidden pathways of toxic metals.
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Help distinguish between historic and ongoing pollution sources.
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Deliver scientific insights to guide policymakers.
