Next-gen sensors: Catching water pollution in real time
Extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and torrential rains, affect water quality in lakes, rivers and coastal areas. This creates significant challenges for ecosystems and water supplies because pesticides bound in soil can quickly leach into water sources. Now, researchers want to monitor this in a new way.
Next-generation sensors aim to detect water pollution in real-time, addressing challenges posed by extreme weather events. Current monitoring systems are inadequate for capturing rapid variations in pesticide levels, which can leach into water sources during floods, droughts, and torrential rains. The STARDUST project, led by SINTEF, aims to develop an optical sensor system capable of identifying multiple pesticides in real time, both in surface water and groundwater.
Researchers from Norway, Romania, Poland, Ireland, and Denmark are collaborating on this interdisciplinary project. Citizen scientists in Denmark and Ireland collect water samples during periods of heavy rainfall, which are crucial for understanding the impact of extreme weather on water quality. The sensor technology utilizes surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), a method that amplifies light signals from molecules, enabling fast and accurate analysis.
The STARDUST consortium combines expertise in nanotechnology, photonics, machine learning, and environmental chemistry to improve sensitivity and overcome challenges related to sample backgrounds and low pesticide concentrations. The ultimate goal is to create a portable, suitcase-sized device that can be deployed in rivers, groundwater, and lakes to monitor water quality in real-time, allowing for preventive measures to be taken before contaminated water causes significant damage.
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