Identification of chemicals in edible fish containing microplastics as potential source for human exposure. (HE-MSCA-PF-2022- 101108795)
Microplastics (MPs) are extremely persistent, ubiquitous and have the ability to adsorb/absorb chemicals from the surrounding environment. Marine organisms ingest microplastics and the chemicals are transferred through the food chain, and may potentially reach humans through the consumption of fish and shellfish. Therefore, the identification of chemicals arising from this potential human exposure source is of great interest for ensuring food safety and establishing the appropriate legislative framework. ChemFishPlast will offer to public authorities a comprehensive list of chemicals to be monitored for ensuring food safety, which is expected to have a positive impact on net fishery exports in the European Community. ChemFishPlast is in line with the European Mission on healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters, deepening the knowledge of the mechanisms of chemicals migration and microplastics contribution to the marine species contamination.
General objectives
This project aims to provide:
1. A simple and robust analytical methodology, based on the combination of supramolecular solvents (SUPRASs) with liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), that will allow to detect and identify emerging contaminants associated with the intake of microplastics in edible marine species through suspect and non-target analysis;
2. The first overview on chemical-microplastic contamination in edible marine species from the Mediterranean Sea;
3. The relationship between the emerging contaminants present in marine organisms and microplastics. For this, the quantity, size, integrity, and polymer-type of the microplastics found in the marine species analysed will be determined;
4. A list of the identified emerging contaminants prioritised according to the level of confidence of the identification, frequency of detection, human risk exposure to emerging contaminants and toxicity.
Contact information:
Supervisor/a: Soledad Rubio Bravo
Correo electrónico de contacto: qa1rubrs@uco.es
Investigador/a principal: Ayman Saber
Correo electrónico de contacto: ayman.nabil89@gmail.com
Página web del proyecto: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101108795