projects and Working Groups

EnChanT: ENvironmental CHANges Through Biological Responses to Pollution

In 2024, several IABEP members—Simonetta Giordano, Valeria Spagnuolo, Fiore Capozzi, Angel Fernandez, Zulema Varela, Nuno Ratola, and Mira Aničić Urošević—collaborated on the preparation of a new COST Action proposal. The proposal, with Serbia as lead, was submitted on October 26, 2024, and is currently under evaluation.

 

Summary: During the past 50 years, many plant- and animal-based methods have been used to monitor environmental pollution, but standardized protocols are still lacking. The EnChanT project aims to gather and unify existing knowledge to create a reliable toolbox for assessing ecosystem health across air, water, soil, and vegetation.

The project will identify effective biomonitoring protocols for key pollutants like heavy metals, PAHs, POPs, and microplastics, and establish guidelines and background values to improve data comparability. Using advanced tools—including omics, AI, and digital modeling—participants will also explore new molecular biomarkers as indicators of environmental health.

EnChanT brings together scientists, policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to support nature-based, science-driven solutions for pollution assessment and ecosystem protection across Europe and beyond.

IABEP working group on sampling protocols

The IABEP Working Group on Sampling Protocols is committed to advancing and harmonizing biomonitoring practices for air pollution assessment. The group addresses a wide range of methods and promotes the adoption of best practices throughout the IABEP community.

Its work is centered on three key objectives:

  1. Endorsing validated protocols by supporting their dissemination and encouraging their wider use;

  2. Reviewing alternative sampling methods to assess their strengths, limitations, and potential improvements;

  3. Identifying knowledge gaps and open questions in emerging techniques.

To support these goals, the Working Group organizes dedicated workshops at IABEP meetings, providing a collaborative forum for discussion and innovation. All members interested in advancing and standardizing biomonitoring protocols are strongly encouraged to participate.

For more information or to express your interest in joining the Working Group, please Paolo Giordani, Yannick Agnan, or Hugo Counoy.

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