Emerging Micropollutants Project

THE CONTEXT

In recent years, the quality of water bodies has increasingly been affected by a growing number of emerging pollutants whose presence is difficult to detect due to both their extremely low concentrations and the complexity of their identification. The rising attention devoted to emerging micropollutants and micro- and nanoplastics is driving a paradigm shift in the very definition of aquatic environmental quality, which must increasingly respond to the need to protect both human health and the environment.

THE ORIGIN OF THE WORKING GROUP | PHASE I

Within LE2C’s Water Energy Nexus Competence Area, and with the involvement of Regione Lombardia, the Working Group on Emerging and Priority Micropollutants (GdL-MIE) was established in early 2018.

Its initial objective was to define the state of the art regarding the presence, distribution, and potential risks of emerging micropollutants in Lombardy, promoting a shared and multidisciplinary approach among public institutions, research centres, universities, and companies.

Through the GdL-MIE, LE2C contributed to the development of environmental protection strategies by disseminating regional knowledge on emerging pollutants, encouraging technological innovation in water treatment, and strengthening collaboration between research organisations, universities, and industry within the framework of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3).

The Working Group was initially joined, on a voluntary basis, by 15 organisations, including ARPA Lombardia, BrianzAcque, Gruppo CAP, IRSA-CNR, Istituto Mario Negri, the Joint Research Centre of the European Union, LE2C, Lariana Depur, MM, Politecnico di Milano, Regione Lombardia, and the Universities of Brescia, Insubria, and Milano-Bicocca.

Six major Lombardy organisations acted as Data Owners, providing monitoring data and scientific knowledge on surface water, groundwater, sediments, biota, wastewater, industrial effluents, and sewage sludge.

THE REPORT

The first outcome of the Working Group was the report “Emerging Pollutants: Current Knowledge on Their Presence, Containment Technologies and Research on Micropollutants and Microplastics in Lombardy’s Aquatic Environments”, published in September 2020 and officially presented during a webinar organised by Regione Lombardia on 12 October 2020.

The report introduced an innovative methodological framework for collecting and managing regional data on emerging pollutants. It also provided:

• a comprehensive overview of the occurrence of emerging contaminants in aquatic compartments and wastewater;

• an assessment of available technologies for removing emerging pollutants from wastewater and drinking water treatment plants;

• an overview of the state of research on microplastics, supported by a dedicated survey involving integrated water service operators.

This publication represented the first coordinated regional knowledge base on the topic.

The 2025 volume represents the natural continuation of the work initiated in 2020.

Published in September 2025 and presented on 20 October 2025, “Emerging Pollutants: Monitoring, Risk and Removal” explores the latest advances in monitoring and analytical techniques, the effectiveness of innovative treatment technologies, and the environmental and human health risk assessment of emerging contaminants and microplastics.

The report involved 30 organisations—including public institutions, water utilities, companies, research centres, and policy makers—and more than 80 researchers and technical experts. Its objective is to transform scientific evidence into operational tools for environmental governance, supporting more informed decision-making and integrated water management strategies.

To broaden the international dissemination of the Working Group’s results, the Executive Summaries in English of the two GdL-MIE scientific volumes (2020 and 2025) were published in 2026.

This initiative reflects our strong belief that the experience developed in Lombardy should engage with the broader European context, contributing to the exchange of methodologies, knowledge, and best practices for the protection of water resources and the advancement of environmental governance.

DOWNLAD HERE THE DOCUMENT

Organisations contributing to the 2025 Report

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN GDL-MIE AND REGIONE LOMBARDIA

In October 2022, LE2C and the Directorate-General for Territory and Civil Protection of Regione Lombardia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen and formalise their collaboration within the GdL-MIE.

The agreement marked a significant milestone, providing a stable framework for joint actions aimed at improving water resource planning and supporting regional policies on water quality protection.

• Executive Abstract (English Edition) (2026): the English-language edition of both GdL-MIE scientific volumes (2020 and 2025), created to promote the international dissemination of Lombardy’s experience and foster the exchange of methodologies and best practices across Europe.

• “Synthetic Fragrances in the Aquatic Environment” (October 2025): an executive publication raising awareness of synthetic fragrance compounds widely used in personal care and household cleaning products.

• “Emerging Pollutants: Monitoring, Risk and Removal” (September 2025): a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in monitoring, risk assessment, and treatment technologies for emerging pollutants and microplastics.

• “Sampling, Separation and Characterisation of Plastics in River and Lake Environments” (December 2023): technical guidelines developed by the Monitoring and Analytical Techniques Sub-Working Group to harmonise methodologies for sampling floating plastic particles in rivers and lakes.

• “Emerging Pollutants: Current Knowledge on Their Presence, Containment Technologies and Research on Micropollutants and Microplastics in Lombardy’s Aquatic Environments” (September 2020): the first regional report providing a comprehensive overview of emerging pollutants across groundwater, drinking water, wastewater, rivers, lakes, sediments, and biological matrices.

• “Review of European, National and Lombardy Regulations” (January 2019): a collection of the main legislative frameworks relevant to emerging pollutants at European, national, and regional levels.

EVENTS

• 7 November 2025 – Rimini (Ecomondo): PFAS and Emerging Pollutants in the Urban Water Cycle: Detection, Removal, Health and Risk Management

• 20 October 2025 – Milan: Presentation of the volume Emerging Pollutants: Monitoring, Risk and Removal

• 30 June 2021 – Turin (SIDISA): Presentation of the GdL-MIE Working Group

• 12 October 2020 – Milan: Webinar on emerging pollutants, treatment technologies, and microplastics in Lombardy waters

• 7 November 2019 – Rimini (Ecomondo): Round Table on Micro- and Nanocomponents in Water Resources

• 11–12 June 2018 – Milan: Emerging Micropollutants and Contaminants: Evidence, Solutions and Perspectives

If you are interested in the activities of the Working Group, please contact info@energycluster.it.