Environmental remediation and ecotoxicity

Pollution control is a challenge that must be tackled both locally and globally. The growing demand for increased agricultural productivity, forests, food, and water quality is also a major challenge. In both cases, nanostructured materials, biomaterials, and sensors are strategic for applications in environmental remediation and monitoring, since our cities and ecosystems are exposed daily to different types of agents – organic, inorganic, and/or microbiological. Research into ecotoxicity and nanosafety is essential for risk management, avoiding future contamination problems, and mitigating the potential impacts of new materials on human, animal, and environmental health. Such studies generate fundamental scientific knowledge to support decision-makers, innovative companies, industries, and regulatory agencies aiming to commercialize new products and technologies. The use of microscopic, spectroscopic, and biomolecular characterization techniques associated with synchrotron light and data science favors the study and modeling of interactions between materials, toxicants, biosystems, and the environment; a strategic advantage to establish and consolidate CNPEM as a reference in remediation, monitoring, and environmental toxicology towards innovation with safety and sustainability (safe and sustainable by design). How can we develop advanced materials and intelligent sensors for environmental remediation and monitoring? How to produce new materials on a safe and sustainable basis, bearing in mind aspects of manufacture, use, and disposal?