A European research project is developing a portable sensor system that could detect multiple pesticides in surface and groundwater on site, helping authorities respond faster to pollution triggered by floods, heavy rain and landslides.
Researchers are developing a next generation sensor system that could detect pesticide pollution in water in real time, potentially helping authorities respond faster to contamination caused by floods, heavy rainfall, droughts and other extreme weather events.
The technology is being developed under the STARDUST project, coordinated by SINTEF in Norway, with researchers from Norway, Romania, Poland, Ireland and Denmark. The project aims to develop an optical sensor capable of detecting multiple pesticides in both surface water and groundwater.
Current monitoring systems often require water samples to be collected and transported to laboratories for analysis. This can make it difficult to capture sudden changes in water quality, particularly following extreme weather events.
“Today’s monitoring systems aren’t equipped to detect rapid variations. This leaves critical gaps in environmental protection and public health preparedness,” said Elizaveta Vereshchagina, a senior research scientist at SINTEF’s Department of Smart Sensors and Microtechnology.
Extreme rainfall and flooding can cause pesticides bound to soil to leach rapidly into rivers, lakes and groundwater. Such contamination can threaten aquatic ecosystems and water supplies.
Citizen scientists help collect samples
The STARDUST project has involved citizen scientists in Denmark and Ireland to collect water samples during periods of significant rainfall. Researchers use the samples to investigate the relationship between extreme weather and changes in water quality.
Samples are also used to test and validate the new sensor technology in laboratory conditions.
Researchers have already detected different types of pesticides using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), a technique that enhances light signals from molecules so they can be detected more easily.
SINTEF is combining SERS with microfluidics, a technology that allows samples to move through very small transparent channels. The combination is designed to enable rapid and accurate analysis using a miniature sensor system.
However, identifying different pesticides at very low concentrations remains challenging, particularly because samples can contain varying background substances.
Researchers say artificial intelligence could help overcome some of these challenges by improving the sensitivity and interpretation of sensor data.
Faster detection after extreme weather
Rapid changes in water quality can pose risks to biodiversity and drinking water safety. Researchers say real time monitoring could provide an important advantage when contamination occurs suddenly.
For example, a landslide in an upper river valley could introduce contaminants into the water and quickly transport them downstream. Conventional sampling and laboratory testing may not capture the change quickly enough.
“We hope our technology can provide real time measurements, showing how different pesticides move with the water. This may also make it possible to implement preventive measures before contaminated water does too much damage,” said Hans-Jorgen Albrechtsen, a professor at the Technical University of Denmark and a STARDUST project partner.
The project brings together expertise in nanotechnology, photonics, micro and nanofabrication, materials science, machine learning based signal processing and environmental chemistry.
One of its key features is that measurements are carried out on a very small microchip. Researchers ultimately hope to develop a system roughly the size of a rolling suitcase that could be transported to rivers, lakes and groundwater sources for direct measurements in the field.
Building resilience to climate pressures
STARDUST is funded by the European Union and the Research Council of Norway through the European partnership Water4All.
The project is also intended to support the integration of sensor results into water management systems after the research programme ends. Researchers say microsensor technology could strengthen resilience to increasing climate pressures by enabling faster detection of pollution.
The consortium includes the National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies and the National Institute of Materials Physics in Romania, the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Dublin City University in Ireland, the Technical University of Denmark and SINTEF in Norway.