ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING (in the eyes of a biologist) JAN ROELOF VAN DER MEER University of Lausanne NANO-TERA MEETING MAY 5,2015
Me, myself and I
Environmental monitoring in the eyes of engineers…
NASA/JPL – Mars Rover
WHY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING?
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE = HEALTH RISK ENVIRON CHANGES = HABITAT DESTRUCTION
TRADITIONAL MONITORING
Specific location Specific sample Specific time Lab analysis Interpretation
SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING
FOREST FIRES
DEEPWATER HORIZON SLICK
https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satmet/modules/
URBAN HEAT
CHALLENGES AND KEY ADVANCES
SAMPLING LOCATIONS • grids, ad hoc networks, autonomous, passive, swarms ANALYSIS METHODS • biology, simpler, faster, precise INTERPRETATION • models, data accessibility
NANO-TERA ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECTS •
•
• •
•
CabTuRes: enabling autonomous sensors based on carbon nanotubules IrSens: Infrared sensing of atmospheric pollutants LiveSense: Biological sensor tools OpenSense: Network communication between sensors Xsense: wireless remote sensing of rock changes and avalanches
•
•
•
•
OpenSense II: Crowdsourcing high‐resolution air quality sensing IrSens II: A multicomponent sensor for air pollutants and greenhouse gases X‐Sense II: MEMS acoustic detectors for natural hazard warning systems Envirobot: An anguilliform robot tracking environmental pollutants
As a comparative illustration: FP7 Ocean of Tomorrow projects 2013 call: •
12 collaborative projects (~60 Mi €, 8‐25 partners each)
Key topics: • • •
Rapid sensors for pollutants, toxins, pathogens Real‐time and in‐situ sensors, autonomous platforms Grid‐based and ad hoc network sensing, data communication
ADDING BIOLOGY TO THE ANALYSIS
LESS = MORE?
WHY BIOASSAYS? • Very difficult to correctly predict ecotox risks from chemical concentrations • Use organisms to make an “integrative” measurement or to assay “bioavailability” • Very difficult to interpret reactions from organisms • Ethical concerns / regulations
Measuring heart beat rates of a crab Picture: Ceri Lewis, Tamara Galloway University of Exeter, UK
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
• In situ examination of exposed organisms • Exposure of model organisms under standardized conditions • Use of cell cultures, single cell models • Use of genetically engineered single cell model organisms • Use of isolated biological components
Pictures: Eawag, UNIL, Uexeter, CSIC‐CNB
REAL-TIME IN-SITU (BIO)SENSORS
ENVIROBOT (UNIL, EPFL, HES‐SO, Eawag)
FP7‐BRAAVOO (10 partners)
ENVIROBOT vs BRAAVOO • • •
Flexible modules: different exchangeable sensors Limited space Mobile system, operation 1 day
• • • •
Fixed set of sensors Less space constraints Fixed position Operational for 1 month
General physical sensors: Temperature, camera, turbidity General chemical sensors: pH, oxygen Specific chemical targets: atrazine, lead, copper Biological sensors: general distress, mercury
General physical sensors: Temperature, turbidity General chemical sensors: pH, oxygen, salinity, Biological sensors: Bacteria: general distress, mercury, antibiotics, oil Immunosensors: algal toxins, pesticides, flame retardants Algae: general distress to photosynthesis
BRAAVOO
Envirobot
SENSOR TYPES
ENVIROBOT’s BIOSENSORS Daphnia movement chamber
David Bonzon EPFL‐LMIS4
Clémence Roggo (UNIL)
Bacteria movement chamber
Benoîte Bargeton (UNIL) David Bonzon (EPFL)
Milica Jovic (EPFL)
IMMUNOSENSORS
Xenopus oocyte sensor
RAINBOW TROUT GILL CELLS
R
C
Time [h]
Data: Vivian Lu, Eawag
Response to pentachlorophenol (in µg/L)
Impedance (%)
Response of the cells by impedance measurements. Very robust cells – lifetime = months Active at normal water temperatures (15‐20°C).
Medium
Lake Zurich
• • •
Tap water
L15ex
37 Priority chemicals being tested Time 9 wastewater Sample 1 treatment samples Exposed for 24 hours, gut cell Sample 4 impedance loss
Sample 2
Sample 3
Sample 5
Sample 6
Sample 7
Sample 8
Sample 9
Data: Vivian Lu, Eawag
BENCHMARKING RAINBOW TROUT GILL CELLS
HOW GOOD ARE BIOASSAYS?
B. sartisoli PAH sensor E. coli C6‐C11 alkane sensor E. coli BTEX sensor
Siham Beggah (UNIL)
Bioavailable compound Chemical analysis for bioreporter cells
SEAWATER CONCENTRATIONS
Cells are always ready and active for a sample measurement
Siham Beggah (UNIL)
AUTONOMOUS BACTERIA REPORTER CHIP
Pressure‐controlled valves Current chip design: operations up to 1 week T20 min
T1h50
T3h10
50 µg As/L Day 1
0 µg As/L
Siham Beggah (UNIL)
Day 2
Frederic Truffer (HES‐SO)
Integrating biosensors into the robot modules
Milica Jovic (EPFL)
• Sampling mission • Analysis mission (physical and chemical sensors) • Analysis mission (biological sensor) • Self guidance
Alessandro Crespi (EPFL)
NEXT STEPS IN ENVIROBOT
QUO VADIS “environmental monitoring�?
More data and faster! Interpretation vs democratization? Mitigation and action possibilities?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Envirobot Consortium Thank you for your attention