Researcher Michael Gonsior has received a grant aimed at encouraging the incorporation of established research talent under the ATRAE programme, 2025 call. The grant, amounting to a total of 1,164,390 €, is linked to the development of the project “Biogeochemistry in the Anthroposphere: The Halogen Cycle in Natural and Artificial Systems”, which will begin on 1 October 2026 and end on 30 September 2030.

The project proposes an integrated framework to quantify and understand the presence of organohalogen compounds —formed by elements such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine— in aquatic systems. These compounds can have both natural and anthropogenic origins, but their total abundance and composition remain poorly understood due to current analytical limitations.

To address this challenge, the research will combine different complementary approaches: the bulk quantification of adsorbable and total organic halogens using combustion ion chromatography; targeted analysis of known tracers, such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals and pesticides; and ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques to identify unexpected compounds through non-target screening.

This strategy will help bridge the gap between bulk measurements of organic halogens and individually identified compounds, and will facilitate the discovery of new compounds with relevant contributions. The project will be applied especially in water-scarce regions of northeastern Iberia, where the relationship between pollution sources, water reuse practices and treatment processes will be analysed.

Through this research, ICRA strengthens its capacity to develop advanced tools for monitoring water quality and to improve the identification of pollution sources and mitigation strategies. The ultimate goal is to establish new metrics based on organohalogen compounds as indicators of water quality and ecosystem health.