L’humain à l’eau: Human impact on water management and pollution

In April 2024, the University of Montpellier hosted an exceptional conference titled “Human Impact on Water Management and Pollution,” dedicated to exploring water contaminants. Organized by three international researchers – Filomena Silva, Patrick Allard, and Ramia Al-Bakain – and supported by the Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions (MAK’IT), this conference brought together experts from various disciplines to share their perspectives and enrich the debate on a crucial issue for our future.

Our planet’s vital water resources are significantly affected by climate change and pollution generated by human activities with dramatic consequences on health and ecosystems. This conference will highlight humans’ impact on water resources: from water management challenges to water contamination with microplastics, PFAS (aka “forever chemicals”) as well as heavy metals and organic pollutants.

Understanding the cycle of water and its pollutants, from their production to dispersion in the environment and their impact on biodiversity, is therefore of prime key scientific and regulatory importance, especially as negotiations were simultaneously taking place in Ottawa to reach a global treaty aiming to end plastic pollution by 2040.

One of the highlights of the conference was the emphasis on a holistic approach to water management. The speakers stressed the need to consider the entire life cycle of contaminants, from their production to their elimination. They also discussed potential solutions, such as reducing plastic use, developing alternative materials, and implementing stricter policies.

An Interdisciplinary Organization

One of the most remarkable aspects of this conference was its interdisciplinary approach. The organizers, coming from different scientific backgrounds, created a unique space for dialogue. Filomena Silva, a specialist in food packaging, Patrick Allard, a geneticist, and Ramia Al-Bakain, a chemist, joined forces to address water contaminants from various angles.

Filomena Silva explained: “As a food scientist, I had never really considered the impact of my research on the environment. This conference allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and think about how my work on food packaging can affect water.”

The conference emphasized a holistic approach to water management. The speakers stressed the need to consider the entire life cycle of contaminants, from their production to their elimination. They also discussed potential solutions, such as reducing plastic use, developing alternative materials, and implementing stricter policies.

Miguel Oliveira, one of the speakers from Portugal, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinarity: “The interdisciplinary approach is the way forward. We need to address the presence of plastic particles, their effects, possible alternatives, and the role of citizens in solving this problem.”

Challenges of Water Pollution

The conference began with a series of presentations on different types of water contaminants, ranging from microplastics to forever chemicals like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The Mediterranean Sea is, for example, the most polluted sea in the world, with more than 3 trillion particles of microplastics. Additionally, 230,000 tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into the Mediterranean Sea every year, equivalent to approximately 500 containers of plastic daily.

The speakers highlighted the importance of understanding not only the presence of these contaminants but also their long-term effects on human health and ecosystems.

“We can no longer continue as if nothing is happening. Our water resources are so degraded and of such poor quality that we need much more radical solutions: we must stop the problem at its source, moving towards a world without plastic and without PFAS.”

Patrick Allard

The discussions highlighted the numerous challenges posed by water pollution. Microplastics, for example, are ubiquitous in our oceans and waterways, and their effects on human health are still poorly understood. Similarly, PFAS, often called “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, pose significant public health risks.

Towards a More Sustainable Plastic World

The roundtable “Towards a More Sustainable Plastic World: Natural Recyclability and Technical Recyclability to Reduce Plastic Pollution” brought together experts to discuss innovative strategies for tackling plastic pollution. The panel featured Lucille Chatellard (“Agropolymer Engineering and Emerging Technologies” cluster, University of Montpellier), Nathalie Gontard (“Agropolymer Engineering and Emerging Technologies” cluster, INRAE), Cristina Nerín (Emeritus Professor, University of Zaragoza), and Vincent Colard (Director of R&D Materials, CITEO).

Nathalie Gontard emphasized the importance of reducing plastic production and improving recyclability. She highlighted the need for a systemic approach that integrates scientific, industrial, and societal efforts and a comprehensive life cycle analyses to ensure that alternative solutions do not transfer environmental impacts from one area to another.

The best plastic is a plastic that doesn’t exist and the best waste is the waste that doesn’t exist. We need to focus on reduction as the primary strategy, supported by recycling and other measures.

Nathalie Gontard

Gontard also discussed the challenges of developing biodegradable plastics that do not compromise food safety or environmental health. This approach helps in selecting the most environmentally friendly options.

Cristina Nerín shared insights on the advancements in chemical recycling technologies, which can break down complex plastic waste into reusable raw materials. She stressed the importance of collaboration between academia and industry to enhance recycling processes and reduce environmental impact.

Vincent Colard focused on the role of design in creating recyclable packaging. He pointed out that simplifying the types of plastics used and improving collection systems are crucial for increasing recycling rates. Colard also mentioned the potential of deposit return schemes to boost recycling efficiency.

Lucille Chatellard discussed the socio-economic aspects of plastic pollution, advocating for policies that support sustainable practices and consumer education. Plastic packaging represents 35-36% of all plastic produced. However, 85% of this plastic packaging waste ends up in landfills, is incinerated, or ends up in the oceans.

In a pilot project at the Intercontinental Marseille Hotel, the production of plastic waste was reduced by 68% through the implementation of alternative practices and solutions. This project also resulted in economic savings and high satisfaction among both staff and customers. The roundtable concluded with a consensus on the need for integrated solutions that combine technical innovation, policy support, and public engagement to effectively address plastic pollution.

Towards a Sustainably Contaminated WORLD?

The researchers also discussed gaps in current research. Although studies have been conducted on the effects of PFAS on cancer, for example, much remains to be discovered about their impact on epigenetics and other aspects of human biology.

The conference underscored the need for more comprehensive data collection and research into the health effects of water contaminants. This includes mapping the presence of these contaminants in various water bodies and understanding their long-term impacts on both human health and the environment.

In regions suffering from water stress, such as the Middle East and North Africa, the use of treated wastewater for irrigation is a potential solution for agricultural sustainability. However, this practice is hindered by chemical contamination issues and a lack of trust in the safety of treated water. The researchers recommended strengthening wastewater treatment capacities and improving communication and coordination with agricultural communities.

The conference was also an opportunity to reflect on future perspectives. Participants discussed ways to strengthen collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and the general public. They emphasized the importance of awareness and education to encourage more sustainable behaviors. This conference demonstrated the importance of collaboration and collective engagement to address the environmental challenges of our time, especially as many regions of the world now face issues of access to quality water.

Programme:

23 aPril :

08:45-09:00 Opening by Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier

Introduction by Patrick Caron (Director of MAK’IT) & Charlotte Boullé (in charge of training programmes at ExposUM)

09:00-09:20 Introduction by the scientific committee: Ramia Al Bakain (The University of Jordan), Patrick Allard (UCLA), Filomena Silva (ARAID).

10:20-12:30 Session 1 : Plastics in our waters: concerns and future-facing solutions

• Plastics problematic in the Mediterranean Sea (Beyond Plastic Med)
• Micro/nanoplastics: their toxicity in marine organisms and innovative solutions – Miguel Oliveira (Centre for Marine and Environmental Studies – CESAM)
• Biocatalytic membranes for micro/nano plastic degradation within wastewater effluents – Jonas Gurauskis (Aragonese Foundation for Research & Development-ARAID)
• Round Table: Towards a more sustainable plastic world: natural recyclability and technical recyclability to reduce plastic pollution, with Lucille Chatellard (UMR IATE, University of Montpellier), Nathalie Gontard (UMR IATE, INRAE), Cristina Nerín (Emeritus professor, University of Zaragoza), Vincent Colard (Director of R&D Materials, CITEO) – moderated by Gilles Pradeau (MAK’IT)

12:30-14:00 Lunch

14:00-16:30 Session 2: Water scarcity management: sustainable approach and pilot projects

Introduction – Mouïn Hamzé (Scientific advisor of CIHEAM Bari): Water and Climate Change: Challenges for the Mediterranean Agricultural and Food Systems

• Panel 1 Water Management : Scarcity, Pollution, and Impact on Climate Change
  • Water resources scarcity due to global change. Challenges and solutions – Patrick Lachassagne (HydroSciences Montpellier, IRD)
  • Chemical diversity and the role of analytical capabilities in characterizing water contamination – Elena Gomez (HydroSciences Montpellier, University of Montpellier)
  • Evaluation of emerging contaminant removal processes during artificial recharge through a reactive barrier: from laboratory experiments to field application – Geoffroy Duporte (HydroSciences Montpellier, University of Montpellier)
• Panel 2 Research, Innovation and Geopolitical Challenges of Water in the Mediterranean Region
  • Research and innovation to face challenges on Climate Change and its impact in the food system of the Mediterranean region – Giuseppe Provenzano (Higher Education and Research Division, Union for the Mediterranean)
  • Adapting treated wastewater reuse face to global and climate changes in water scarcity regions: experience of groundwater artificial recharge and irrigation in Tunisia – Fethi Laachal (Water Research and Technology Centre, CERTE)
  • Water Reuse in Algerian Oasis Region: Institutional Management Bottlenecks and Demonstration of Operational Feasibility – Nassim Ait Mouheb (UMR G-EAU, INRAE)

16:30-17:30 Cocktail party

24 aPril :

09:00-12:00 Session 3: Our future with ‘forever’ contaminants

• Overview and update on PFAS chemicals and their toxicity – Sue Fenton (Director of the Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University)
• Prevalence of PFAS in the ecosystem – Mathieu Ben Braham (Générations futures)
• PFAS in Europe, water, and regulation – Jelena Prtorić (Journalist, Troubled-Waters.eu Project)
• A contaminated future? The concerns of the environment and the epigenome – Giacomo Cavalli (Institut de génétique humaine, CNRS)

12:00 Take home messages and conference closing