Project objectives:
BIOSPEC will determine reliable and predictive quantitative parameters for assessment of the biouptake potential of trace heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni)
by development of robust well-characterised sensors, which can be deployed routinely in situ by institutes monitoring water quality. This is a significant
advance over any existing methodologies, which typically involve extensive sample preparation and multi-step analyses, resulting in various operationally
defined fractions which are often meaningless or empirical at best. To achieve this objective, a systematic approach will be adopted in which well-defined
simple ligands, isolated natural ligands, soil solution samples and natural freshwaters are analysed in parallel by a range of analytical techniques in conjunction
with metal biouptake studies. Furthermore, we adopt an innovative and more appropriate basis for the classification of metal species by differentiating
the total metal in terms of dynamic (i.e. mobile and labile complexes) and free metal ion concentrations. Such an understanding of these dynamic aspects has
previously been very limited and is crucial to any real progress in the interpretation and practical utilisation of speciation data. Theoretically well-founded
dynamic models will be developed that have reliable predictive value, facilitate data interpretation, and can optimise the design and strategy of routine
monitoring measurements.
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Project
Summary:
In collaboration with end-users, the BIOSPEC project will compare sensors for the routine prediction of metal bio-uptake, based on in situ metal speciation
measurements. The project addresses aims of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) to protect aquatic systems by setting environmental quality standards
for metals. The results will facilitate the implementation of this policy by formulating appropriate speciation-based parameters for heavy metals (Cu,
Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni) and by providing the tools to enable their routine measurement by end-users. Specifically, the project will: (i) determine simple predictive
quantitative parameters for assessing metal bio-uptake (ii) rigorously compare several dynamic speciation techniques (iii) assess the relative merits
of the techniques in the field (iv) assess the capabilities of the techniques to predict metal uptake by organisms under a range of natural conditions, and (v)
apply the sensors and models to routine monitoring at the river basin level.
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Dr Stefan Gödeke