Join this Working Group

Motivation

Pollution of water bodies is increasing due to the widespread release of artificial compounds into the environment and their inadequate management and disposal. Of particular concern is the presence of “novel entities,” or emerging contaminants (ECs), including micro- and nanoplastics (M-NPs). The strong connectivity of the hydrosphere facilitates the transfer of ECs between environmental compartments, contributing to their widespread and persistent occurrence.

Research on contaminants of emerging concern encompasses the transport and fate of substances such as pharmaceuticals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and M-NPs. While recent attention has focused heavily on M-NPs, the environmental and historical significance of other contaminants highlights the need for a comprehensive and integrated framework to effectively address the ongoing pollution crisis.

Current research approaches span multiple technical committees and working groups, including Experimental Methods and Instrumentation, Fluvial Hydraulics, Coastal and Maritime Hydraulics, and Hydroinformatics and Remote Sensing. However, a dedicated platform that integrates these perspectives within a unified framework for emerging contaminants is lacking.

To address this gap, we propose the establishment of a new Working Group focused on advancing the understanding of emerging contaminant transport and dispersion through the principles of fluid mechanics and hydraulics, core disciplines within IAHR. This Working Group would provide a structured forum for discussing established experimental and numerical modelling approaches, as well as developing and testing innovative tools to enhance our understanding of water and environmental pollution caused by emerging contaminants, in alignment with the IAHR Strategic Plan.

Leadership Team

• Arianna Varrani

• Mirco Mancini

• Matthias Kramer

• James Lofty

• Kryss Waldschläger

Members

• Łukasz Przyborowksi

• Pablo Vallés

• Daniel Rebai

• Flora Pomazy

• Siamak Seyfi

• Shooka Karimpour

• Mohammad Ghazizadeh Fard

Proposed events

• Training/workshops to build and prepare the next generation of water-pollution researchers

• Masterclasses on emerging contaminants (including microplastics), organised as pre-events during Regional, World Congresses, as well as thematic

• Special sessions at conferences and congresses

• Series of webinars for early career researchers and YP

• Collaboration with EPD in YP-addressed events

Contacts

Any correspondence regarding this proposal can be addressed to avarrani@igf.edu.pl