Contaminant dynamics within the critical zone and remediation strategy

The main objective of this theme is to continue the work previously carried out while developing new relevant approaches in order to better understand, within the critical zone, the phenomena at the solid-solution interface and the transfer of elements (metals and metalloids) to plants in the context of anthropic forcing (mining/industrial activity, agriculture, climate change). Indeed, due to the services provided by the soil, it is essential to improve our understanding of the ecological and sanitary mechanisms that govern the mobility of contaminants (stability, persistence, fate in ecosystems, specific or combined mode of action through the “cocktail” effect, and physical, chemical and biological effects on the biosphere). The originality of this theme lies in integrated multi-analytical and multi-scale approaches (from the catchment area/plot to the particle and the plant), transdisciplinary in order to cross the disciplinary boundary to resolve a societal issue (rehabilitation pathway, health risk). In fine, this theme is structured around 2 main issues:

• Dynamics and geochemical behaviour of inorganic elements in the environment
• Relationship between speciation and bioaccessibility (human) / bioavailability (plant) of contaminants