• We investigate pollutants and nutrients in the environment.

  • We elucidate processes and mechanisms in the field and laboratory.

  • We explore biochemical reactions that shape the environment.

  • We study DNA preservation in rocks to investigate environmental biomes.

  • We explore the nanoscale to understand processes of global relevance.

  • We use models to quantify processes and mechanisms.

News

  • Thilo Hofmann featured in Austrian newspaper "Der Standard"

    13.03.24
    News

    EDGE's Thilo Hofmann is featured in the Austrian newspaper "Der Standard" in an article about the Kick-Off event of the new Environment and Climate Research Hub (ECH). The Environment and Climate Research Hub, led by Thilo Hofmann and Sabine Pahl, ...

  • New Publication in Heliyon explores the Impact of Heavy Metals on Carbon and Nitrogen Uptake of Heterostegina Depressa

    12.03.24
    Publication

    A recent study delved into the uptake of inorganic carbon and nitrogen by the photosymbiont-bearing benthic coral reef foraminifera Heterostegina depressa in the presence of heavy metals. Incubation experiments were conducted using artificial seawater enriched with copper, iron, lead, and ...

  • Welcome New Group Member: Anika Mikes

    05.03.24
    Personal

    Anika Mikes joined EDGE as an M.Sc. student in February. Her master's thesis will focus on the fate of selected water-soluble polymers during biological wastewater treatment. Anika obtained her B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Vienna and is currently ...

  • Welcome New Group Member: Julius Heinemann

    28.02.24
    Personal

    Julius Heinemann joined EDGE as an M.Sc. student in February 2024 to support the project collaboration between the University of Vienna and BASF on biodegradable plastics in compost. His master's thesis will focus on optimizing the Fenton reagent method for ...

Latest publications

Impact of Heavy Metals (Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn) on Carbon and Nitrogen Uptake of the Diatom-Bearing Benthic Foraminifera Heterostegina Depressa

Foraminifera are protists primarily living in benthic marine and estuarine environments. We studied uptake of inorganic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of the photosymbiont-bearing benthic coral reef foraminifera Heterostegina depressa in the presence of heavy metals.
Incubation experiments were accomplished with artificial seawater enriched with copper, iron, lead and zinc at two different concentration levels (10 and 100 fold enriched in contrast to the usual culture medium). Additionally, isotopically labelled 13C-sodium bicarbonate and 15N-ammonium chloride were added to trace their assimilation over time (1 d, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d). Pulse-amplified modulated fluorescence measurements were performed to measure the potential impacts of heavy metals on chlorophyll fluorescence of the photosymbiont. Increased levels of copper (430.5 μg Cu/l) exhibited the greatest toxicity, while for low levels no effect on the overall metabolism of the foraminifera and the fluorescence activity of the photosymbiont could be detected. Iron (III) increased the symbiont activity, independent of concentration applied (44.5 and 513.3 μg Fe/l), which indicates Fe-limitation of the algal symbiont. Lead enrichment showed no detectable effect even at high concentration. Low concentrations of zinc (35.1 μg Zn/l) promoted the metabolism of the foraminifera, while high concentrations (598.4 μg Zn/l) were toxic. At low levels, two metals (Fe and Zn) promoted symbiont activity, at high levels, iron still boosted photosynthesis, but Zn and Cu had a negative impact on the obligatory photosynthetic symbionts.
Mario Bubl, Petra Heinz, Wolfgang Wanek, Michael Schagerl, Thilo Hofmann, Michael Lintner
2024 - Heliyon, 10: in press

An integrated approach to testing and assessment (IATA) to support grouping and read-across of nanomaterials in aquatic systems

Even small changes in physicochemical properties of nanoforms (NFs), can drive differences in their environmental fate and hazard. The large number of new materials being developed means it will not be feasible to test and characterise the fate, behaviour and (eco)toxicity of each individual NF. This is further amplified by transformations of NFs over their lifecycle, changing the processes governing their risk. A common complexity arises from dissolution, where the combined toxicity of the exposure arises from both the solutes and any remaining particles contribution to the overall toxicity of the exposure. For efficient and effective risk assessment, it is the most relevant form of the NF for a given exposure that should be targeted for testing and assessment. In aquatic systems, functional fate processes (including dissolution, dispersion stability and chemical and biological transformations) determine the NF’s exposure relevant form. Whilst transformations in the environment alter the initial properties of an NF, different NFs may follow a shared functional fate pathway and ultimately present a similar fate and hazard profile in the environment. Therefore, these processes may be used to scientifically justify grouping NFs and read-across for specific endpoints from data rich NF(s) to verified members of the group that have not been tested yet. Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) have been used in other regulatory contexts to support the collection and integration of relevant existing information as well as the targeted generation of new data to support grouping and read-across. Here, a new IATA is presented consisting of decision nodes focused on dissolution, dispersion stability, chemical transformations and the relative contribution to toxicity of the particle and dissolved component of the overall exposure. The IATA focuses on the fate of NFs in aquatic systems outside of the body, but it can be considered a template for future assessment of in vivo kinetics, which will require further development. Guidance on tiered testing approaches and thresholds for grouping within each decision node are critically discussed. Worked examples for ecotoxicity of metal oxide NFs in aqueous systems (in microbial communities isolated from soils and for lettuce plants in hydroponic systems) demonstrate successful identification of the exposure relevant form of the NF in these case studies and allows for different grouping of NFs through application of the IATA.

Richard K. Cross, Dave Spurgeon, Claus Svendsen, Elma Lahive, Simon Little, Frank von der Kammer, Frédéric Loosli, Marianne Matzke, Teresa F. Fernandes, Vicki Stone, Willie J.G.M. Peijnenburg, Eric A.J. Bleeker
2024 - Nano Today, 54: 102065

The efficacy of Pb, As(V) and Sb(III ) removal by biochar is determined by solution chemistry

Biochars (BC) are cost-effective and sustainable sorbents to clean up waters polluted with metal(loid)s. Understanding the influence of water chemistry is critical in identifying processes that limit metal(loid) removal. To address this, we investigated the removal of lead [Pb], arsenate [As(V)], and antimonite [Sb(III)] using BC in the presence of various solution constituents. A design of experiments approach was used to investigate sorption for each metal(loid)-BC setup (Pb with a straw BC, As(V) with charred wood-dolomite and Sb(III) with a steam-activated wood BC) with twenty-five different background solutions varying in calcium (Ca), natural organic matter (NOM), phosphorus (P), and iron [Fe(III)] content. Background solution composition affected removal of Pb (29 to 100%) more strongly than that of As(V) (37 to 92%) and Sb(III) (20 to 70%), with the selected BC at the metal(loid) concentrations studied. Pb removal was associated with Fe(III)–NOM–Ca organo-mineral phases for solutions containing Fe(III), NOM and Ca. As(V) sorption was enhanced by Ca due to cation-bridging and reducing the competition for sorption sites by NOM and P in high NOM and/or P containing solutions. Sb(III) sorption was hindered by oxidation to Sb(V) through redox active moieties in the BC in all solutions. Sb(III) removal decreased in the presence of high Fe(III), because Fe(III)/Fe(III)–NOM phases blocked accessibility to sorption sites in the highly porous BC, and/or due to enhanced oxidation of Sb(III) to the more mobile (but less toxic) Sb(V). Ideally, the design of BC sorbents for the removal of metal(loid)s from contaminated waters should a priori consider complex solution compositions.

Sampriti Chaudhuri, Gabriel Sigmund, Naresh Kumar, Thorsten Hüffer, Andreas Mautner, Thilo Hofmann
2024 - Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, in press

Lecture series

CMESS Lecture: Transformation Reactions of Organic Contaminants and Oxygen: From Field Sites to Reaction Mechanisms

Ass.-Prof. Sarah Pati
University of Vienna
25.04.2024
12:00 h
HS 2, UBB (University Biology Building)

EDGE Lecture: Pharmaceuticals in the Environment in Direct and Indirect Water Reuse Scenarios

Dr. Sara Rodriguez Mozaz
Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA)
23.05.2024
16:30 h
Eberhard Clar Saal, UZA2

EDGE Lecture: Physical-Biological Couplings in Environmental Fluid Dynamics: From Soil Heterotrophic Respiration to Microplastics Uptake by zooplankton

Ass.-Prof. Markus Holzner
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)
13.06.2024
16:30 h
Eberhard Clar Saal, UZA2