Project

In 2001, a global agreement, the Stockholm Convention, was signed to protect humans and the environment from known persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

POPs in food, humans and the environment have largely been discovered using advanced chemical analysis methods. A limitation of this method is that the new pollutants we find tend to be similar to the pollutants we already know about.

In the DEMO project, we take as our starting point the thousands of chemical substances that we already know are produced in significant quantities.

Based on this knowledge, we will develop and apply mathematical models to understand and predict whether these substances have properties that indicate that they can be transported via air and sea on a global scale and accumulate in the Arctic.

Based on an initial ranking, we will then repeat the analysis, but then also take into account how likely it is that we will find these prioritized substances in Svalbard, at what levels and where. We will use the revised list of relevant substances to plan and conduct fieldwork in Svalbard.

Finally, we will develop and apply new chemical analysis methods to see if any of the relevant substances are present in the environmental samples.

Through these research activities, we hope to gain better insight into whether there are chemical substances that may have gone under the radar, primarily with regard to their possible occurrence in the Arctic, but possibly also in a regulatory context.

Preliminary results from the project have been presented at scientific conferences, as well as communicated to relevant decision-makers involved in chemical strategies for substances that can accumulate in the Arctic (the Norwegian Environment Agency, OECD and the Stockholm Convention (POPRC)).

The project is also contributing to the upgrade of the existing modelling tool developed by the OECD to calculate long-range environmental transport and the overall lifetime of chemical substances in the environment.

Project

ACTRIS is a pan-European distributed research infrastructure (RI). It produces data for the understanding of short-lived atmospheric constituents and their trends, impacts on health, climate, and interactions. This is a European infrastructure that was established as "European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)" in April 2023, with Norwegian membership.

ACTRIS provides high quality, reliable data of ca 100 atmospheric variables serving scientists addressing atmospheric, climate and air pollution science.

In particular, the understanding of spatially and temporal trends is greatly improved. NILU leads the ACTRIS data centre, which currently offers measurements from 80 state-of-the-art observational platforms/locations distributed across Europe. 3 of these are Norwegian:

• Zeppelin (Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard)
• Birkenes (Agder county)
• Trollhaugen (Antarctica)

All ACTRIS data are managed and made available to the user communities through the ACTRIS Data Centre.

ACTRIS-Norway’s overall objective is implementation of the ACTRIS Data Centre. These efforts will strengthen the curation and access to datasets of surface trace gas and aerosol concentrations in Norway, Europe and beyond. New functionalities and improvements to existing data centre functionalities will be implemented including database updates and data portal updates. This builds on a well-established internationally leading initiative already established and led by Norway.

New services integrating with international programmes will be developed, with the potential to elevate the profile of Norwegian research in this area. The EBAS and ACTRIS systems are a key aspect of Norwegian atmospheric composition research, and the leading international data centre of its type. The project will strengthen Norwegian participation in international environmental frameworks, European Infrastructures, and Open Science initiatives.

Project

The main aim of the CELLUX project was to develop a novel pharmaceutical based on CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in the form of eye drops to treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

This treatment, in combination with stem cell-based therapeutic strategies, aims to halt degeneration and restore vision. The progression of AMD is associated with an increase in oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the eye, leading to retinal cell death. This chronic disease is a major cause of blindness in elderly people and affects millions worldwide. CeO2 NPs have antioxidant properties due to their unique electronic structure; when reduced to the nanoscale, oxygen defects appear on their surface, serving as sites for free radical scavenging.

Within the project, CeO2-NPs were developed to regulate cellular redox potential and protect tissue from oxidative stress. Nanoceria eye drops were formulated, and treatment with these drops reduced the loss of retinal cells and visual dysfunction, as well as decreased inflammation. In combination with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell transplants, increased RPE cell survival was demonstrated in rats, along with improved retinal light responses.

We demonstrated that such antioxidant therapy is a promising approach for enhancing the efficacy of RPE cell therapy in retinal degenerative diseases. Safety assessments of the nanoceria were performed in various models, and no hazardous potential was detected. Additionally, no irritation to human corneal epithelium was observed, confirming that the eye drop formulation is safe for ocular application.

NILU studied the safety of CeO2 NPs using in vitro models, measuring both the induction of cell death and DNA damage. Furthermore, the mechanisms of CeO2 NPs interaction with cells were studied using confocal microscopy, and the antioxidant protective effects of CeO2-NPs were compared with those of known antioxidants.

The project was financed through the ERA-NET EuroNanoMed3 program and was coordinated by the University Hospital (VHIR) in Barcelona. The consortium consisted of six partners from five countries: Spain, Norway, Italy, the Czech Republic, and France.
The results of the project are promising and will be published in scientific journals, even after the project is completed. Furthermore, the results will be used in new applications for research funding to achieve a higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL), with the goal of developing and producing eye drops for the treatment of patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Project

The RISKRES project aims to investigate the exposure of the Norwegian economy to climate and environmental hazards, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. The project will begin by exploring the Norwegian economy by analyzing activities in different sectors at a fine scale, understanding the spatial distribution of value added. The goal is to distribute Norway's GDP at a point level. A map of Norwegian activity can be overlaid with maps of natural hazards (for example, floods) to understand the most vulnerable areas of the economy, the economic sectors affected, and the regions involved. The role of critical infrastructure, such as transportation or energy infrastructure, will be explored to evaluate Norwegian economic dependence on this infrastructure.
This project aims to explore the role of linkages within the economy, specifically in terms of demand and supply, to analyze how the impact of a hazardous event can propagate throughout the economy. The project will also discuss measures that can be taken to mitigate such risks and evaluate the mitigation potential of several approaches. The goal is to inform policymakers and local actors of the means available to them to reduce their exposure and minimize the impact of future events.

Started in September 2023, the project has so far focused on the following activities: Collecting data on location and key economic parameters at company level, as well as maps of flood risk for both coastal and river floods. Both datasets were plotted on a map of Norway to indicate which economic actors are most exposed to floods. Preliminary results are made available at https://apps.sustainability.nilu.no/activitymap-no.

In addition, the project contributed to a study on limits to graphite supply in the battery scale-up scenarios, required for electrification of the global transportation sector. Main conclusions were that both natural and synthetic graphite supply could be a constraining factor in the most ambitious decarbonization scenarios (Net Zero emissions in 2050), highlighting the importance of systematic recycling of graphite in batteries.

Project

URBANITY aims to redefine urban environmental management and mobility planning by integrating innovative sensor technologies with active citizen participation. By addressing the challenges of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the project seeks to foster sustainable urban environments and promote healthier cities in Norway.

At the heart of URBANITY is a novel approach to environmental monitoring. The project employs state-of-the-art low-cost sensors for real-time, high-resolution data collection on air quality and traffic. These sensor networks, combined with advanced data assimilation and machine learning techniques, will provide municipalities with actionable insights to design and implement effective environmental policies. Citizens, too, play a pivotal role as co-creators, contributing data and engaging in participatory processes to shape their urban spaces.

URBANITY's methodology is centered on Urban Living Labs (ULLs) in Oslo, Bergen, and Kristiansand. These labs serve as dynamic platforms for experimentation and innovation, uniting citizens, local authorities and researchers to co-design mobility solutions tailored to local needs. By blending digital tools, such as geographic information systems, with traditional participatory methods, URBANITY ensures inclusivity and broad engagement.

Beyond monitoring, URBANITY focuses on actionable outcomes. From improving emission inventories to co-creating sustainable mobility services, the project emphasizes scalable, citizen-centered solutions. By fostering community participation and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, URBANITY envisions a future of cleaner air, reduced emissions, and resilient urban environments.

Project

A good indoor environment at school is important for the health and well-being of pupils and staff, and has a significant impact on pupils' learning outcomes.

Good maintenance of buildings and operation of the technical facilities is important to have good indoor climate, but it is also crucial that staff and pupils use the school buildings correctly and are involved in practical indoor environment work at school level.

This requires that staff and pupils are aware of and have knowledge of how their behavior affects the indoor climate, as well as how the individual can contribute to ensuring as good an indoor climate as possible at the school.

Data from indoor climate sensors, combined with information about how employees and pupils experience indoor climate and related health problems, can provide new opportunities to both identify indoor climate problems, find the cause and identify the right measures, and to create new tools that engage and involve the users of the school buildings.

Today's schools are largely equipped with sensor systems for indoor climate, but there are no tools to collect data on user experiences. Data from integrated sensors is to a small extent available to the school. Information on connections between sensor data and experiences is currently lacking.

DIGG-MIN-SKOLE vill combine data from sensors that are an integral part of the school's technical facilities and/or individual indoor climate sensors with self-acquired data related to user experience.

This data will be used to develop a machine learning model that can estimate the probability that the users will experience reduced well-being/health problems, which factors in the indoor climate are most likely to be the cause of the health problems (temperature, light conditions, noise, CO₂ etc.) and identify targeted mitigating measures at school /classroom level.

Unit managers, staff and students must contribute to the design of (part) tools so that the results from the machine learning model are suitable for use in the school's everyday life. The end result will be a technical specification and demonstration of a user-oriented management system (BOF) in several schools.

Project

Oversikt

MASSIVE-prosjektet er et banebrytende initiativ designet for å forbedre helse, byliv og fremme globale partnerskap, med spesielt fokus på bærekrafts målene (SDG) 3 (God helse og livskvalitet), 11 (Bærekraftige byer og lokalsamfunn) og 17 (Samarbeid for å nå målene). Dette innovative prosjektet benytter en helhetlig tilnærming for å undersøke de komplekse sammenhengene mellom klimaendringer, luftkvalitet, helse og generelt velvære. Det tar sikte på å utnytte og videreutvikle banebrytende digitale verktøy og sosiale løsninger og Naturbaserte Løsninger (NBS) for å skape robuste strategier for å redusere klima- og luftforurensning. Disse strategiene vil bli utformet med hensyn til ulike faktorer som styring, samfunnsstrukturer og økonomiske implikasjoner, for å sikre en omfattende og flerdimensjonal tilnærming.

Mål

• Omfattende overvåking og vurdering: Evaluere det dynamiske forholdet mellom luftkvalitet, helse og velvære under forskjellige klimaforhold.
• Indikatorutvikling: Lage og implementere indikatorer som samsvarer med ansvarlig forskning og innovasjon (RRI) og bærekraftsmålene (SDG), som gir målbare resultater og referansepunkter.
• Eks-post effektevaluering: Analysere prosjektets effekter på ulike samfunnsaspekter som sosial inkludering, samfunnsmyndiggjøring, holdninger til klimaendringer og luftforurensning, og generell samfunnsvelvære.

Demonstrasjonsbyer

• Jinan og Qingdao, Kina: Disse byene vil tjene som nøkkelsteder for implementering og testing av prosjektets initiativer, med særlig fokus på urbane miljøer i raskt utviklende land.
• Santiago, Chile: Som en kontrast vil Santiago gi innsikt i prosjektets anvendelse i forskjellige geografiske og kulturelle kontekster, og øke prosjektets globale relevans.

Viktige tilnærminger og verktøy

• Europeiske digitale verktøy for borgerengasjement: Bruke avanserte digitale plattformer for å engasjere borgere i Kina og Chile, og øke offentlig deltakelse og bevissthet.
• Kinesiske økologiske overvåkningsplattformer: Implementere sofistikerte sensornettverk og stordataanalyser for å overvåke økologiske endringer og luftkvalitet i Kina.
• Avanserte modelleringsteknikker: Bruke Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) og CityChem-modeller, kombinert med maskinlæringsalgoritmer og dose-responsfunksjoner, for å gjennomføre grundige analyser av miljøpåvirkninger på helse.

Konsortium

Prosjektet samler et mangfold av partnere, inkludert forskere, lokale myndigheter, samfunnsgrupper, NGOs og akademiske institusjoner. Denne samarbeidsorienterte tilnærmingen er designet for å fremme samfunnseierskap og myndiggjøre interessenter gjennom aktiv involvering og samskapning av prosjektets initiativer.

Prosjektleder

Hai-Ying Liu, Seniorforsker, NILU

Project

The scientific community still has no consensus on if and how Arctic warming and sea ice loss can influence weather and climate in the Northern Hemisphere. The BASIC project sets out to better understand the climate response to Arctic change, especially focusing on the new Arctic characterized by more open water in summer (hence bluer) and increased newly-formed sea ice in winter. This latter change has been mostly overlooked, but it has potentially profound climate impacts.

Sea ice change can affect the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) through modulating ocean salinity: AMOC is a large ocean current driven by the sinking of denser water in the northern North Atlantic. It carries tropic warm water into the North Atlantic and thus along the Norwegian coast, but has been weakened by the increase of freshwater due to long-term sea ice melting. As multi-year ice is decreasing rapidly, the recent and future increasing newly-formed ice may change such impacts.

A bluer Arctic may change the respective roles of Arctic Ocean temperature and sea ice in impacting climate. Model experiments have shown that the climate responses to an ice-free state are appreciably distinct from an ice-covered state. We expect that, before the Arctic reaches an ice-free state, Arctic sea ice may shrink stepwise and go through a threshold where ocean temperature takes over to impact climate. Identifying this threshold is important for climate prediction.

Bluer Arctic with increased newly-formed winter sea ice is concurrent with an Arctic warming extending downwards into ocean interior and upwards to mid-troposphere (~5 km). But the climate models have divergent abilities to simulate the observed deep Arctic warming, which caused debates in this field. BASIC will develop a new methodology to conquer this problem.

The BASIC project will analyze available observed and simulated datasets and run new experiments with the Norwegian Earth System Model to address the above issues.

Project

Alternativ tittel: SNOWDEPTH – Globale snødybdemålinger fra satellittdata for permafrost, nedbør i høyfjellet og klima-reanalyser

The SNOWDEPTH project will, as the first in the world, directly measure snow depths globally at high spatial resolution from freely available ICESat-2 NASA spaceborne laser altimetry data available since autumn 2018.

To generate global monthly snow depth maps, including for mountainous and forested areas, we will combine the ICESat-2-derived snow depths with Sentinel snow cover/depth data in an ensemble-based data assimilation (DA) framework.

This global snow depth data will fill a large data and knowledge gap within hydrology and cryosphere/climate sciences and is directly relevant for the three application cases within the project: permafrost, high-elevation precipitation and climate reanalysis. The project has two parts and is supported by field activities for ground reference.

In phase 1, we will develop algorithms to derive snow depths at two complementary scales:

• local snow depths from ICESat-2 profiles that capture the high spatial variability in areas with small-scale topography, and
• global snow depth maps with monthly temporal resolution, using DA methods.

In phase 2, we will use the derived snow depths within three application fields where they directly benefit to advance the state of the art:

• Permafrost: include snow depths in an existing model framework to greatly improve modelling of the ground thermal regime, both locally at targeted field sites and at global scale. The current lack of snow depth data is a key bottleneck for permafrost modelling.
• High-elevation precipitation: analyse how snow depths vary across orographic barriers to increase understanding of high-altitude precipitation processes. These are currently largely unconstrained due to lack of measurements.
• Climate reanalysis: verify and improve operational and climate reanalysis products through cross-comparison and improved process understanding. In data-sparse areas, reanalysis products are less accurate and largely model-driven given the lack of observations.

Project

Alternativ tittel: Effektiv resirkulering av ee-avfall gjennom automatisert og intelligent ressurs dataflyt

The rapid technological advances with increasing application of ICT have accelerated the generation of electronic waste (e-waste). In addition, the green transition objectives under the European Green Deal advocates the utilization of renewable technologies and digital infrastructures, which will continue to increase the demand for critical raw materials, especially rare-earth elements.

Inefficient waste management systems are identified as one of the most challenging barriers in the transition to a sustainable and circular economy (CE). The lack of high-quality data from various stakeholders at the national and international levels along with the heterogeneous nature of e-waste makes the challenge of regulating and supporting e-waste management systems a daunting task for the authorities. In addition, insufficient information about the quantity of e-waste, diversity of products, and resources quality have created multi-dimensional e-waste management challenges for authorities at the local, national, and international levels.

We propose REWARD, an integrated information infrastructure, that aims at systematically identifying reusable and recyclable materials in e-waste products while determining the associated social, environmental, and economic (SEE) dimensions of circularity interventions. In REWARD, the data on e-waste generation and e-waste resources, along with SEE parameters will be fed to the integrated information infrastructure to facilitate automated data sharing and identifying optimal e-waste resources recycling options among e-waste actors. In addition, REWARD provides predictive resource planning and policy recommendations for the improvement of e-waste resource recovery in the future.

The project REWARD addresses the following thematic priorities:

• resource-efficient ways of covering consumer needs
• increased material recycling and use of recycled materials
• identifying barriers and solutions to circular business models and value chain

Project

Alternative title: Deteksjon, opprinnelse, transport og global strålingspåvirkning av luftbåren mikroplast

The project with the short name "MAGIC" will incorporate advances in atmospheric sampling (e.g., from Global Atmosphere Watch stations, GAW) and detection of microplastics (e.g. long timeseries of measurements) into atmospheric dispersion and inverse modelling algorithms.

This will allow for accurate determination of their atmospheric levels, precise quantification of their sources and reliable constrain of their atmospheric budget.

Important processes affecting the atmospheric dispersion of microplastics will be carefully studied (e.g., turbulence- induced resuspension and oceanic ejection, non-spherical particle modelling) and modelled for the first time.

The obtained knowledge will be used to answer the primary objective of MAGIC for the role of microplastics in the global radiative budget at present and future years.

Our inter-disciplinary team is in a unique position to assess the state of atmospheric microplastic emissions and dynamics and their impact on Earth’s radiative balance. This will enable a targeted approach to investigation and monitoring of atmospheric microplastic signals in atmospheric data and dispersion models.

Primary objective

The primary objective of MAGIC is to investigate sources and sinks of atmospheric microplastics transported to remote regions through the atmosphere and their subsequent climate feedback.

Secondary objectives are to:

1. Develop FLEXPART model in order to account for non-spherical structures (microfibers).
2. Develop an inverse modelling algorithm that will be used for source quantification of atmospheric microplastics.
3. Identify source origin of atmospheric microplastics deposited in snow and ice in high northern latitudes.
4. Develop and ingest a module into FLEXPART for the resuspension of atmospheric microplastics (grasshopper effect, large-eddy simulations).
5. Create protocols of standard operating procedures for sampling of atmospheric microplastics in PM₁₀.
6. Develop an analytical determination methodology for atmospheric microplastics (TED-MS, TD-PTR-MS).
7. Define the climatic role/impact of atmospheric microplastics at present and future times (radiative transfer modelling).

Project

Nitrogen is a basic component of life and it is present both in proteins and DNA. Its basic chemical form in nature is the non-reactive gaseous N₂.

However, in the 20th Century humans converted N₂ into more reactive forms. Today, NH₃ (ammonia) sustains life and almost 40% of the global population owes its life to NH₃ through the use of fertilisers' in food production. Though, implications of ammonia for population and environment have received a lot of attention in the last decades.

On one hand, its presence in the atmosphere in low concentrations is beneficial as it makes the rain less acidic by neutralising sulphuric acid aerosols. On the other hand, increased emissions of NH3 result in reactions with sulphuric and nitric acids contributing 30%-50% to the total PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ mass.

Enhanced production of ammonium aerosols can cause premature mortality as they penetrate human respiratory system and deposit in the lungs. Furthermore, ammonium aerosols affect the Earth's radiative balance, both directly by scattering incoming radiation and indirectly as cloud condensation nuclei causing a positive climate feedback (warming).

Despite its importance, NH3 is one of the most poorly quantified gases with a limited number of continuous ammonia measurements in Europe, America or Asia.

However, the lack of observations is covered by satellites and nowadays satellite algorithms are advanced enough to provide daily global concentrations of atmospheric NH₃.

We use the existing knowledge of Lagrangian dispersion modelling and Bayesian inversion in NILU accompanied by continuous and satellite measurements to quantify regional (Europe) and global emissions of NH₃.

The optimised fluxes of NH₃ are studied and the impact to the environment and the population is examined. The methodology is designed to maximize the utility of empirical data for the least understood aspects and use models for source identification, which cannot be inferred from measurements alone.

The main points of COMBAT's developments and progress:

(Publications - see below.)

- The coupling of FLEXPART model with the Kinetic PreProcessor (KPP) to account for chemistry has resulted in a Conference publication (16th IGAC Scientific Confeence). A publication will be lead by the University of Bremen.

- The methodology to calculate NH3 emissions from satellite measurements was adapted to the needs of LSCE and this has resulted in a Conference publication (16th IGAC Scientific Confeence). A publication on this will be lead by the LSCE .

- Satellite measurements of NH3 from CrIS product are being processed to the inverse modelling framework. This will result in a publication focusing in Europe using the new reanalysis product from ECMWF (ERA5).

Project

The Arctic is a region which to high extent influences the atmospheric behaviour in the Northern hemisphere and for this reason attracts the attention of the scientific community. The Atmosphere Research Flagship Programme (http://nysmac.npolar.no/research/flagships/atmosphere.html) is an activity aimed to unite the efforts of scientists working in different fields of polar atmospheric research.

An important task of this activity is the study of solar UV radiation and ozone column that are considered important parameters for both climatic studies and biophysical examination of ecosystems. Several observational stations based in Ny-Ålesund, Hornsund and Barentsburg perform measurements of these parameters on a long-term basis.

The objective of the present proposal is to create the basis for their integration into a regional monitoring network, which will also lead to a closer cooperation of the researchers involved in these activities. Since the technical features of the current instrumentation at the stations involved are quite diverse, it is important to compare their ability to provide reliable and homogeneous data sets.

For that reason, an intercomaprison campaign planned in the frame of the proposed activities is considered an important element for the establishment of a Svalbard UV network. Another significant goal is the joint analysis of the available data and elaboration of common data format and data processing strategy for the future network that will provide a homogeneous data set. It is expected that the results achieved in the frame of the present proposal will contribute to more realistic conclusions made by the climatological and biophysical studies.

Project

Being a fast developing field of research of increasing complexity, education and training on the impact and fate of MP pollution is lacking behind both in teaching state-of-the art research as well as methodology.

After 2 years of the first phase project PlastPoll, this objective has become even more crucial, acting on the increase of available methodology and understanding of the impacts of nano- and microplastic pollution, as a global challenge impacting even remote and fragile regions as the Arctic.

An overall goal is to train students in combining theoretical, experimental and field approaches for an excellent and sound scientific understanding of relevant processes and observations while at the same time contributing to the understanding of the fate and impact of MPs in the environment by developing this still young field of research on a global scale together.

An invaluable added value to the underlying JPI projects ANDROMEDA and FACTS will result in the evolution of the scope from temperate regions to arctic and high arctic regions. The continuation of the successfully established collaboration between Norway, China and USA will support the strong interaction between not only the supervisors, but also the students themselves. They will be both encouraged and facilitated by exchange visits, webinars and winter-/ summer schools including from the ANDROMEDA and FACTS consortia.

We will additionally offer master student projects in all three locations, which will create additional opportunities for students to participate in specific parts of this project.

At the same time, the exchange of experts will ensure the direct transfer of recent knowledge, leading on arctic research of MP in the environment.

The unique combination of participating research institutions (NILU, NPI) and universities (UiT, UCSF, TU) is complementary in scientific quality, academic programs, experience and qualification.

Project

A sound scientific basis is needed to assess the risks to workers and consumers, to inform regulatory bodies and to ensure a responsible development of nanotechnology. Most of the existing laboratory (in vitro) biological models, exposure systems and doses, as well data (in silico) models do not reflect the real life exposure to nanomaterials (NMs). A significant source for unreliable results is represented by possible interactions of NMs with the reagents and detection systems for toxicity evaluation. The fast pace at which NMs enter the market requires a shift from expensive and ethically doubtful animal testing to innovative, reliable and socially acceptable in vitro and in silico test systems.

NanoBioReal aims to design and establish "real-life like" biological methods from single cell to three-dimensional reconstructed models, including "organ- on-a-chip" systems, as well as data models.

A special focus will be placed on label- and interference-free methods, including label-free microscopy and impedance-based methods. Their capacity to mimic true short and long term exposure situations will be tested by comparison with appropriate testing on animal models and with results from EU and national projects (NANoREG, NANoREG2, NorNANoREG, ProSafe). At the end of the project, reliable, efficient and relevant biological and data models and methods will be delivered to support a safe®-by-design approach to NM development answering the needs of various end-users, stakeholders and regulators.

National partners:

Dept. of Clinical Dentistry (IKO), Fac. of Medicine, Univ. of Bergen (UiB), Norwegian Inst. for Air Research (NILU), National Inst. of Occupational Health (STAMI), and Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Subcontractors:

NorGenotech.

International partners:

Catalan Inst. of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), Univ. of Gdansk. Collaborators: Dept. of Physics and Technology (UiB), Dept. of Electrical Engineering (HVL), NIOM, TkVest and TkØst.

Project

The main aim of CELLUX is to develop a novel pharmaceutical based on CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) eye drops to treat Age Macular Degeneration (AMD) that in combination with stem cell-based therapeutic strategies, can stop degeneration and restore vision.

The progression of AMD is associated with an increase of oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the eye leading to retinal cell death. This chronic disease represents a major cause of blindness in elderly people, and affects millions of people worldwide.

CeO2 NPs have antioxidant properties due to a unique electronic structure that when reduced to the nanoscale, oxygen defects appear at their surface, behaving as sites for free radical scavenging.

The project is financed via ERA NET EuroNanoMed3 program and it is coordinating by University Hospital (VHIR) Barcelona. The consortium consists of six partners from five countries: Spain, Norway, Italy, Czech Republic and France.

The project started in January 2020 and will be performed in a period of 36 months. The project tasks are broken into 6 work packages (WPs).

NILU is involved WP2. "Mechanistic effects and safety of the NPs in vitro" and is responsible for the task 2.1: Cellular interaction and distribution of CeO2 NPs.

NILU will study safety of the CeO2 NPs by the endpoints cytotoxicity (alamarBlue assay) and genotoxicity (enzyme-linked version of the comet assay). Oxidative stress at the DNA level, as well as DNA strand breaks will be studied by the comet assay. Further, mechanisms of interaction of CeO2 NPs with cells will be studied by confocal microscopy (cellular uptake, endocytosis and exocytosis). Antioxidant protective effect of CeO2-NPs will be compared with effect of known antioxidants as ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene.

In the last year NILU has:

i) Established a retinal cell model (RPE) at NILU`s premises

ii) Performed cyto- and genotoxicity testing of the oxidant Tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH) and of CeO2 NPs produced by the partners in the project on the well-known cellular model A549 as well as in RPE cells.

iii) Investigated the antioxidant protection against DNA damage with known antioxidants on a well-known cellular model (A549) The known antioxidants ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene were tested for their capacity to protect cells from oxidative DNA damage, applying the comet assay.

Experiments are ongoing to test these antioxidants in combination with TBH and CeO-NPs, measured by cell viability and DNA damage. No cell death nor induction of DNA damage was measured after exposure to CeO-NPs.

NILU also investigated cellular interaction of CeO-NP and by confocal microscopy. NILU participated with several scientist at the consortium meetings. Experimental work is a bit delayed due to COVID 19 and laboratories lock down.

Project

In REGAME we will update chemistry transport models (FLEXPART, OsloCTM) to include the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) of methane (CH4), enabling better constraints on the CH4 budget (KIE is dependent on source/ sink).

We will update the atmospheric inversion framework FLXINVERT to include novel use of satellite CH4 fields (Sentinel 5P).

This will include significant changes to FLEXINVERT, which will also be applicable to other satellite data e.g. carbon dioxide (CO2) and improve the model capabilities to handle large data fields in general.

With these upgrades we assess CH4 emissions from the major sources (wetlands, biomass burning, anthropogenic) at the global scale using all available data (e.g. ICOS, NOAA data, data on ebas.nilu.no).

This data includes measurements from the Zeppelin Observatory in the Arctic, to Troll in Antarctica, i.e. from pole-to-pole. Our cross disciplinary team is in a unique position to assess the state of the Arctic/ Antarctic ocean CH4 reservoir.

This reservoir is currently considered a minor source but has potential for large scale disruption if emissions increase suddenly and rapidly.

We will perform measurements of CH4 over the ocean (research vessels Helmer Hanssen, Kronprins Haakon) assess temporal variability of CH4 emission from the seabed and movement through the water column (due to e.g. variable microbial activity, ocean stratification, currents and seep emission rates), with long-term (1 year) measurements at a mooring south of Svalbard (deployed for the NorEMSO project) in an area bearing gas hydrates and active CH4 seeps. Furthermore we add to the knowledge of potential seep locations by performing echo-souding surveys.

Combining insights from these temporal and spatial studies will allow a more targeted approach to assessing the ocean source in general. Specifically in REGAME we will run a regional/ Arctic inversion including these data to constrain high latitude emissions including from the ocean.

Project

Existing air quality (AQ) monitoring and management (AQMS) methods and evolving modelling practices across Norwegian and European cities have achieved significant improvements of AQ but further progress is needed due to some quality-driven requirements, such as low-latency AQ prediction. This can only be achieved by intelligent data processing at multiple levels of granularity.

To this end, affordable, effective and intelligent tools are needed that utilize the current advances in digitization of all spheres of society, providing radical innovation of air quality management.

The AirQMan project promises autonomous computational methods and techniques that can be used to develop such solutions, and has the potential for opening up a new era in air quality management. Our strong belief is that such a system can be realized across the Edge-Fog-Cloud continuum, extending data processing and computational intelligence from the Cloud to multiple levels of Fog nodes towards the edge of the network.

The project will develop AirQDM – a novel data processing design model that will autonomously determine the optimal data fusion processing flow, the right data sources, and the right trained deep learning (DL) model for maximizing the accuracy of a prediction related to an AQ request.

A second innovation of the project, AirQWare will determine (predict) the optimal distributed deployment for an efficient computation of the DL model while satisfying requirements on accuracy and latency, and adapt the deployment of the DL model during runtime as necessary to maintain accuracy and latency requirements.

By applying the AirQMan approach, the new generation of AQMS will provide: i) low-latency data validation and fusion to increase the accuracy of air quality evaluation, and to support intelligent services, respectively, and ii) cognitive decision making with various degrees of autonomy enabling low-latency actuations of AQ mitigations.

Project

The project will develop and test the first targeted and long-acting nanomedicine with neuroprotective properties for ischemic stroke, with potential application in other neurological diseases.

The Team will demonstrate that the targeted delivery of a long-acting glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) nanoparticle to the brain in order to enhance the neuroprotective character of GOT (i.e., prevention of neuronal apoptosis and cell death) in a model ischemic stroke. Systemically administered GOT has been demonstrated to deplete blood glutamate levels, which in turn causes an efflux of excess glutamate from the brain.

One major shortcoming of this approach is that the systemic effect of GOT on brain glutamate concentration is short-lived (~1 h), mainly because of its rapid elimination from the body. The project will: i) increase the circulatory half-life of GOT and ii) target GOT to- or near to- the ischemic region of the brain where GOT can exert its therapeutic catalytic activity. These objectives will be met by preparing a Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB)-targeted nano-formulation of GOT (GOT-NP).

What is particularly original in this strategy is that accumulation of GOT-NP at the blood-side of the BBB will promote the efflux of glutamate from the brain by increasing the glutamate gradient on either side of the BBB. As such, GOT-NP does not actually have to cross the BBB to produce an enhanced neuroprotective effect. Crossing the BBB, which is substantially more challenging, would represent an added bonus of selectively depleting glutamate in the cerebrospinal fluid.

In addition to the design and synthesis of GOT-NP, this project will investigate and validate iii) the mechanism of in vitro neuroprotection as well as iv) the in vivo biodistribution and neuroprotective effect of GOT-NP in an animal model of ischemic stroke, in order to conclude pre-clinical studies and place the Team in a position to embark on clinical testing.

Project

Project

The main objective of the INTER project is to develop Intelligent Environmental Reporters- green nanoparticles that can be used to measure residual oil directly in an environmentally friendly manner.

To understand how the particles can be used to estimate how much residual oil there is, and where, we will perform computer simulations in concert with physical experiments in the laboratory. We will also develop new analytical techniques that can read the particles' "memories", the oil reporters must be able to memorize how much oil they have encountered in the oil reservoir.

With time, all oil fields will experience a decline in production. To counteract this development, one may inject water into some wells and push the remaining oil towards other wells where it can be produced. Even after this, there is normally a lot of residual oil left. To determine how much, different methodes are used. One method is partitioning interwell tracer test (PITT), another is single well chemical tracer test (SWCTT). Both use the difference in flow speed of two different tracers. One tracer is a water tracer and the other is a partitioning tracer. Both are added to the injection water, and by measuring the difference in arrival time, an estimate of the residual oil can be given. This is important to know to plan continued oil production in a field. Unfortunately, today's tracer technology raises several health, safety and the environment (HSE) issues. Large volumes of highly flammable fluids may have to be stored on platforms or environmentally "red" chemicals are used.

The main objective of the INTER project is to develop Intelligent Environmental Reporters- green nanoparticles that can be used to measure residual oil directly in an environmentally friendly manner. To understand how the particles can be used to estimate how much residual oil there is, and where, we will perform computer simulations in concert with physical experiments in the laboratory. We will also develop new analytical techniques that can read the particles' "memories", the oil reporters must be able to memorize how much oil they have encountered in the oil reservoir.

So far in the project we have started the synthesis of carbon-silica hybrid nano particles, and silica particles doped with europium. These particles have further had their surface modified with a polymer. Preliminary results were presented at a conference in «Nanohybrides 16 Porquerolle June 2019» Measurement of particle stability in formation water has been started. Particles of silica with molybdate or tungstanate has also been synthesized. Molybdate and tungstanate will give increased fluorescence of europium, and thereby better sensitivity. These particles will be surface modified with polymers. Different oil soluble tracers will then be adsorbed to the polymer surface. The tracers will preferably be fluorescent dyes.

Numerical models for the aggregation of nanoparticles have been developed, and these models will be important for the quantitative interpretation of the flow experiments. The work on safer by designs has also started. Tests have been made with passive tracers like sodium iodide and known silica nanoparticles. Furthermore, XDLVO modeling with Comsol Multiphysics has been carried out considering how nanoparticles with different properties behave under varying conditions - rock, formation water, temperature, etc. The simulations consider van der Waals forces, EDL and Born repulsion as well as the velocity and Brownian motion.

Lyon has performed some tests of the first nanoparticles from NTNU. Several aspects have been revealed:

- we measured the hydrodynamic size under the two solvents and check the stability at room temperature

- we performed the excitation, emission and lifetime decay rates for both solutions and solid sample.

- the correlation curves collected by dynamic light scattering reveals aggregation of samples around 2 micrometers that decreases progressively after 12 hours to reach an average value of 500 nm.

After redispersion by sonication the particles remain on these levels independently of solvent used (a check with an intermediate polarity using isopropanol was performed)

The fluorescent spectra reveal a slight intense signal in the UV-visible zone in the range 400-500 nm with some narrow peaks that are common of powder and solution and no phosphorescence signal in the ms range. The lifetime value is estimated around 7 microseconds under excitation 340 and emission 440 nm.

NILU:

A batch of nano-sized silica particles made in the INTER project have been tested for their potential to damage the DNA and induce carcinogenic effects. The effect on DNA was tested on a human lung cell line, and on liver- and gill cell lines from Rainbow trout.

The particles did not induce a significant effect on the DNA, indicating a low genotoxic potential. Non-genotoxic substances may, however be carcinogenic. This can be tested with use of the so-called cell transformation assay, in which carcinogenic substances induce morphological changes in the appearance cells. Based on two separate experiments, there are indications that the silica nanoparticles can induce cell transformation at relatively high concentrations (> 10 µg/cm2), indicating a carcinogenic potential. Further experiments will be performed to confirm this observation, but the observation emphasize the importance of testing manufactured nanoparticles for their potential toxicity to do a proper risk assessment.

Project

Project

Being a fast developing field of research of increasing complexity, education on the impact and fate of MP pollution is lacking behind both in teaching, state-of-the art research as well as methodology.

An overall goal is to train students in combining theoretical, experimental and field approaches for an excellent and sound scientific understanding of relevant processes and observations while at the same time contributing to the understanding of the fate and impact of MPs in the environment by developing this new emerging field of research on a global scale together. An invaluable added value to the underlying JPI projects PLASTOX and BASEMAN will result in the evolution from the European to global scale as well as to broaden the scope from marine to also terrestrial MP pollution.

A strong interaction between not only the supervisors, but also the students will be both encouraged and facilitated by exchange visits, webinars and winter-/ summer schools. We will additionally offer master student projects in all three locations, which will create additional opportunities for students to participate in specific parts of this project.

At the same time, the exchange of experts will ensure the direct transfer of recent knowledge and understanding as well as help to develop a strong consortium, leading on global research of MP in the environment. The unique combination of participating research institutions (NILU, NPI) and universities (UiT, UCB, TU) is complementary in scientific quality, academic programs, experience and qualification.

Our collaborative educational project combines experienced scientists and educators (from different relevant disciplines), in an innovative project addressing the urgent need of knowledge on how MP move in the environment, harm organisms and how possible remediation actions can be designed.

Project

The project FACTS will create new knowledge and improve our understanding on the sources, transport, occurrence, and fate of small microplastics (MP) in the northern marine waters. FACTS will combine newest methods to describe transport and geographical sources of microplastics contamination. We will also investigate where microplastic particles will end up both in temperate waters of the southern North Sea and the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea.