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Mentoring for Euriclea research
Writing / Irene Vega
The URJC research group Chemical Risk Assessment for the Environment and Human Health (RiSAMA), led by the Faculty of Health Sciences professor Yolanda Valcárcel, analyses the presence of antibiotics and resistance genes in different wastewater treatment plants in the Community of Madrid. This work is part of its line of research on contaminants of emerging concern, that is, chemical substances or materials, such as drugs or plastics, that are detected in water and are potentially harmful to the environment and human health.
In the case of antibiotics and genes, the wastewater from the Móstoles-El Soto treatment plant, close to the URJC Móstoles campus, is being analysed, and the possible contribution of wastewater from nearby hospitals is being assessed. One of the main objectives of this work is to detect whether these substances are not being properly eliminated or whether they are entering the environment and, therefore, contributing to the presence of resistant bacteria.
They are also working on the analysis of other chemical substances such as perfluorinated substances, which are found in many everyday consumer products, from cosmetics to kitchen utensils and fabrics. They have already presented the first results at an international conference on these substances in Antarctic drinking water, and are currently analysing, for the first time, water from cities in North Africa, as well as in the city of Madrid. The RiSAMA group has organised a workshop on February 20, which aims to raise awareness about the environmental and health hazards of these substances. This activity can be attended by students, teachers or PTGAS.
Collaboration with Canal Isabel II
The different projects that are being carried out are supported by a collaboration agreement with the Canal de Isabel II and are coordinated by Judit Kalman, also from the RiSAMA group. These works focus on the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in the context of Global Health, which analyses the different entry routes of these contaminants into the water cycle.
Likewise, the RiSAMA group has renewed the agreement with the Canal de Isabel II (which manages 155 treatment plants throughout the Community of Madrid), within the framework of the ESAR-NET+ Network of Excellence, in which 33 researchers from 13 centres throughout Spain are participating, including Professor Valcárcel's group, representing the URJC.
The collaboration between the Rey Juan Carlos University and Canal de Isabel II is thus consolidated with the aim of working from now on and in the future on different environmental health projects. The common objective of both institutions is to improve the quality of both residual and drinking water and to contribute to exploring new rapid, reliable and economic indicators for monitoring the consumption of substances of abuse (from psychotropic drugs to drugs) in the population.
Threats to public health around the world
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that antibiotic resistance It is one of the ten main public health threats facing humanity. The misuse and excessive use of these drugs is the main factor determining the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. Their misuse comes from both the human and veterinary sectors (fish farms or farms).
Antimicrobial resistance has a considerable cost to the economy. In addition to death and disability, prolonged illness results in longer hospital stays, the need for more expensive drugs and financial hardship for those affected.
For this reason, the Ministry of Health created in 2014 the National Plan against Antibiotic Resistance (PRAN), a strategic and action plan, whose objective is to reduce the risk of selection and dissemination of antibiotic resistance, preserving the effectiveness of existing ones. Professor Valcárcel organized in 2023 a day on this topic with great impact, and is currently a member of the PRAN as a representative of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the URJC.
On the other hand, Professor Valcárcel collaborates with the new Office of the General Urban Planning Plan, located at Plaza de la Villa, 5, Dream MadridThis office will be the meeting point for a deep collaborative process between the different sectors involved in the city and the residents to draft the new text of the General Urban Development Plan for Madrid 360, which seeks to address the housing problem, generate a friendlier public space and focus on sustainability. The Public Space roundtable, in which she participates together with other experts from different groups, has already held 2 meetings and her work as an advisor focuses on group 2 on blue infrastructure and group 3, dedicated to social factors.