ZeroPM: Zero pollution of Persistent, Mobile substances

Research Project, 2021 – 2026

Persistent and (polar) mobile (PM) substances are a potential threat to water quality. They do not (bio)degrade, and sorption is ineffective for removing such substances during water treatment. The EU-funded ZeroPM project will interlink and synergise prevention, prioritisation and removal strategies to protect the environment and human health from PM substances. With 15 partners, the project brings together leading researchers, regulators and green chemistry innovation experts. ZeroPM will be a pathfinding project, turning the ambitions of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability into reality and supporting the movement towards a zero-pollution, toxic-free environment.

ZeroPM will interlink and synergize prevention, prioritization and removal strategies to protect the environment and human health from persistent, mobile (PM) substances. To do this, ZeroPM will establish an evidence-based multilevel framework to guide policy, technological and market incentives to minimize use, emissions and pollution of entire groups of PM substances.

To prevent pollution, ZeroPM will activate the momentum of the EU's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and support its implementation through the development of scientific, policy and market tools supporting essential use and mitigation of prioritized PM substances, resulting in substitution to safe and sustainable alternatives. ZeroPM will prioritize PM substances and substance groups through the development and application of robust screening and prioritization tools aimed at identifying all PM substances on the global chemical inventory. These tools will take into consideration production, use, presence in the circular economy, hazard and risk established by advancing in silico and in vitro new approach methodologies (NAM) using non-animal approaches. ZeroPM will develop next generation remediation techniques to remove prioritized PM substances from water resources, drinking water and sludge-derived products sustainably.

ZeroPM unites leading researchers, regulators and green chemistry innovation experts that have been instrumental in advancing the science and awareness of PM substances, to form an exemplary multidisciplinary team. ZeroPM will deliver policy improvements, an increase in business opportunities and competitiveness, an improved livelihood for EU citizens and beyond state of the art methods, to prevent regrettable substitution and regrettable remediation of PM substance groups. ZeroPM will be the pathfinding project enabling the ambitions of the Chemical Strategy to become an on-the-ground reality, supporting the movement towards a zero pollution, toxic-free environment.