In 3 years, we have gone down the road from understanding which microbes carry out Hg detoxification in complex marine sediments to bringing into culture some promising candidates for Hg bioremediation. This has been already a great undertaking and making it work in natural sediments is the next challenge
MER-CLUB is an ambitious scientific project which aims to tackle the issue of mercury pollution in marine sediments. Mercury pollution is a global problem with large environmental, socio-economic and health impacts.
The MER-CLUB project is developing a clean-up system based on bioremediation, a green technology which uses the potential of natural microbes to break down harmful pollutants.
From polluted sites, the team of scientists has successfully isolated promising microbial candidates capable of detoxifying mercury (Hg) in vitro.
The project is now entering into its final stage, testing these promising microbes in natural sediments. Coordinated by AZTI in Spain, the project is supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and gathers partners in France, Sweden, Germany and Spain.
Not only do our waste and fishing nets contribute to the pollution of our freshwater and ocean, but also chemical products that end up in the water. Mercury (Hg) is one of the most dangerous natural pollutants. However, like other sources of pollution, there are natural solutions available.
The MER-CLUB project is playing a crucial role in supporting the European Zero Pollution Action PlanEN••• by developing a clean-up system to remove mercury from the marine environment.
Bioremediation is a process that relates to the use of natural microorganisms to consume and break down environmental pollutants. MER-CLUB aims to target the variety of marine Hg detoxifiers with the ultimate goal of naturally cleansing the marine environment of mercury contamination. Since its launch in 2020, the project has been quite a success:
says Laura Alonso-Sáez, the coordinator of the MER-CLUB project.
To decontaminate, marine sediments are used, not only because they are the final repository of most environmental pollutants, but also because this is where most crucial Hg biogeochemical processes take place. Key to these processes are the sediment bacteria which drive both the harmful and beneficial aspects of the cycle. While some of them produce extremely toxic substances which accumulate in the food chain and pose a danger to human health, others hold significant value for their ability to neutralise toxins and are, therefore, interesting for bioremediation.
says Silvia G. Acinas from ICM-CSICEN••• (Spain), in charge of building a Hg-detoxification reference gene catalogue from MER-CLUB samples collected from Mediterranean, Atlantic and Baltic sediments.
After successfully isolating marine bacterial cultures and consortia with Hg-detoxifying capabilities in vitro, we are now testing their performance in microcosms with natural sediments at SLUEN••• (Sweden), as a preliminary step before upscaling.
say Nerea Duroudier and Ibon Lekue from the private company AFESA (Spain), who will be in charge of building the bioremediation pilot plant at the final stage of the project.
In addition to its positive impact on the environment this project is also an excellent opportunity for career researchers in emerging fields.
Carla Pereira, UAB, said:
This is also the case of the PhD student Carla Pereira, the junior postdoctoral researcher Elena Hernández del Amo or the tenure track researcher Andrea García Bravo (ICM-CSIC) who said:
Furthermore, according to a recent study, three women scientists from the Mer-Club consortium are among the top 5,000 women working in Spanish institutions: Andrea García Bravo, Olga Sánchez and Laura Alonso-Sáez.