Biological models and molecular biomarkers for assessing the toxic potential of water resources affected by anthropogenic pollution (SMARTWAY)

Abstract

The project addresses a topical issue at national and European level regarding the uncontrolled use of antibiotics and biocides and the toxic effects generated by them on the aquatic environment. The main goal is the development of experimental models using aquatic organisms and molecular biomarkers to evaluate the quality conditions of the aquatic environment and to predict the toxic potential. The realization of this project between 2019-2022 and the development / implementation of a molecular microchip is a national premiere. In addition, the implementation in the laboratory practice supports environmental protection agencies by monitoring and predicting the pollution generated by anthropogenic factors and at the same time favours the establishment of a national and international scientific networking specific to the field addressed. In 2019, starting from the objective of deepening the evidence of genetic determinism of the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, quantitative and qualitative studies were carried out on wastewater samples from two connections of an emergency medical unit in Bucharest and on samples from surface water and sediment taken from the natural settlements initially established, the Teleajen River and the Danube River. Alternative testing methods for assessing the toxic potential of aquatic ecosystems were also addressed. Alternative methods have been tested in parallel with conventional methods, which are based on morphological identification of organisms, using benthic macroinvertebrates.