Rizikos vandens Biotai vertinimas retiesiems žemės elementas patekus į aplinką iš šiuolaikinių (ir karinių) technologijų
ASSESSMENT OF RISKS TO AQUATIC BIOTA FROM RARE EARTH ELEMENTS RELEASED BY THE USE OF MODERN (AND MILITARY) TECHNOLOGIES
(S-LU-24-13)
PROJECT IMPLEMENTERS:
Leaders
Dr Levonas Manusadžianas (LT)
levonas.manusadzianas@gamtc.lt
Prof Dr Oksana Stoliar (UA)
oksana.stolyar@tnpu.edu.ua
| Primary implementers (LT)
Dr Brigita Gylytė
Dr Rolandas Karitonas
Dr Jūratė Vaičiūnienė (Centre for Physical Sci & Technol) |
Primary implementers (UA)
Dr Lesya Gnatyshyna
Dr Vitaliy Baranovskii
Dr Vira Khoma
Dr Viktoria Martinyuk |
| Secondary implementers (LT)
Dr Sigita Jurkonienė (Lab Plant Physiol)
PhD st. Meriam Zarian (Lab Plant Physiol) |
|
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Research Council of Lithuania
Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine
BUDGET: 99 907 Eur (LT)
DURATION: 2024-01-26 – 2025-12-31
DIVISION:
Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre (LT)
Laboratory of Comparative Biochem & Molecular Biology, Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University (UA)
Context:
The environment is the ultimate sink for toxic compounds derived from modern technologies. Among emerging pollutants, Rare Earth Elements (REEs) have gained significant attention due to their extensive use in electronics, green energy, medicine, and military industries. In Ukraine, ongoing war activities have significantly increased the risk of REEs contamination in the environment. In Lithuania, REE pollution sources include laser and solar battery production and medical contrast agents. The current understanding of REE impacts on aquatic organisms is limited, highlighting the need for detailed scientific studies and methodologies to assess their ecological risks.
Project Goal:
To expand fundamental scientific knowledge about the risks posed by Rare Earth Elements to aquatic biota. The research will focus on the toxic effects and bioaccumulation of REEs used in military equipment across various trophic levels of aquatic organisms, utilizing standardized and modified ecotoxicity tests and biomarker suites.
Project Objectives:
- Perform meta-analysis to assess anthropogenic REE contamination levels in aquatic environments of Lithuania and Ukraine.
- Investigate short-term and long-term ecotoxicological effects using algae, aquatic plants, crustaceans, and molluscs.
- Evaluate REE bioaccumulation in organisms and identify specific biomarkers and biotests sensitive to REE pollution.
- Develop recommendations for REE monitoring and mitigation strategies.
