From the 11th to the 15th of May 2025, the INCLUE project was actively represented at the SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting, held in Vienna, Austria. The annual SETAC meeting is a key international event that gathers over 2,000 scientists, practitioners, and policy experts working on environmental science, ecotoxicology, and chemical safety. This year’s theme, “Innovation for Tomorrow: Progress in Safe and Sustainable Concepts”, resonated strongly with INCLUE’s interdisciplinary mission to address emerging pollution risks in water and especially sludge management.
Two doctoral Candidates, Sara Cvetkovic (DC10) and Andrea Deiana (DC4), represented the INCLUE network. Both participated actively in the scientific programme, contributing fresh perspectives on environmental risk linked to micropollutants.
Sara Cvetkovic delivered an oral presentation titled Elucidating the Mode of Action of Priority Pollutants on the Thyroid Axis by Combining Two Eleuthero-embryonic Bioassays.
Her work investigates how specific environmental contaminants disrupt endocrine function—focusing on the thyroid axis—using innovative zebrafish-based models. The study attracted strong interest for its potential application in regulatory toxicology and environmental monitoring.
Andrea Deiana presented his research through a scientific poster entitled Effect of Thermal Hydrolysis on the Behaviour of Target Organic Micropollutants in Sewage Sludge.
This marked the first public communication of Andrea’s PhD work. His research explores how thermal treatment, a process used to sanitise sludge, affects the chemical fate of persistent organic pollutants. Preliminary findings suggest that rather than degrading, some micropollutants may become bound to organic matter, raising important questions about long-term environmental risks.
The INCLUE project was proud to see its researchers actively engaged in meaningful scientific exchange during a week that emphasised both collaboration and applied innovation. Events like SETAC Europe provide an essential platform for young scientists to connect with the global research community and contribute to shaping future solutions for chemical safety and water quality.
