Pollution talks: sensors equipped plants for heavy metal pollution detection and bioremediation

Preservation of healthy and high-quality soil and the production of health-safe food is imperative for every country. In the Republic of Serbia, 65% of the territory is agricultural soils, the quality constantly decreasing due to the constant loss of organic matter. The problem is also the increasingly present pollution of the soil, which most often originates from the inadequate application of agrochemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) and irrigation with poor-quality water. Heavy metals like Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, Ni etc, which are extremely stable and cannot be broken down by chemical or biological processes but only transformed into less toxic forms, are a special problem. Italy, in particular the region surrounding the proposing Institution, is a major producer of rice and other cereals, which are well known for being prone to heavy metals accumulation in the cereal grains, raising major concerns about food safety. This is why remediation methods (phyto and bioremediation) represent an ideal solution, because thanks to autochthonous strains of microorganisms from the locality itself and adequate plant species, the best results are achieved. At the same time, the development of chemical sensors for the rapid in-situ detection of potential heavy metal pollution, would allow for immediate remediation actions. Thus, the team from Italy and from Serbia joined their expertise with the aim to move forward in tackling the joint problem of food system pollution at its source, the primary agricultural production. The specific objectives of this project are: 1. Establishing the “black card” and “black library” of heavy metal pollutants in the soil. 2. Identifying the best microorganisms and plants for bio- and phytoremediation based on the obtained “black library”. 3. Designing ratiometric optical molecular sensors for the prompt detection of heavy metals. 4. Development of “sentinel” plants through the incorporation of luminescent chemical sensors for the in-situ rapid detection of heavy metals. 5. Establishing a solid cooperation between the Institute of General and Physical Chemistry and UPO on the basis of common research interests as well as the technological innovation demands of the agro-industrial activities in the surrounding territory of both Institutes.