Tyndall National Institute is helping lead a major European effort to tackle toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in the environment through a groundbreaking new project that uses engineered bacteria to detect pollutants in real time. Recently featured in the Irish Times, the BIOSENSEI initiative, funded by the European Commission, will deliver the first cellular biosensors designed for deployment outside the lab, a transformative step for environmental monitoring.
‘Forever chemicals’, including a group of persistent pollutants known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are increasingly found in our environment and pose serious risks to human health and ecosystems. Used in everyday items like cookware, cosmetics, and food packaging, PFAS resist degradation and can remain in soil and water for decades. These chemicals fall under the broader category of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs), which also includes pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and endocrine-disrupting pollutants. Their presence threatens the integrity of natural resources and has been linked to cancer, high cholesterol, reproductive issues, hormonal disruption, and weakened immunity.
The BIOSENSEI consortium brings together 10 partners from across Europe, including Tyndall, to create real-time, multiplexed, end-to-end biosensors that will detect ‘forever chemicals’ in the environment. These sensors will be deployed in real-world settings, marking the first time cellular biosensors are used outside laboratory environments.
Professor Alan O’Riordan, Head of the Precision Electrochemical Nanosensor Group at Tyndall said:
This is an exciting new chapter in the development of sensor technology here at Tyndall. The partners involved in this project represent world domain experts in their field and it is a privilege to be working with them on such an important development, which will protect future generations.
BIOSENSEI will develop scalable biosensors for water and soil applications. These sensors will use adapted microbes to detect pollutants. The cellular responses will be captured by silicon chip-based transducers, enabling highly sensitive and reliable detection.
The project follows a Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design approach and aligns with the EU’s Zero Pollution Vision for 2050. Data from sensor deployments will be visualised through an online dashboard, supporting environmental monitoring and decision-making.
The team at National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, in the Netherlands, (RIVM) said:
Reducing the legacy of hazardous chemicals in the environment is an important task that starts with solid detection. We of the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and Environment, are excited to contribute our knowledge on risks, safety, and sustainability to the development of this biosensor. It is an exciting opportunity to interweave our work with the wide variety of scientific fields involved and together bring a Safe-and-Sustainable-by Design approach into practice.
This project underscores Tyndall’s research excellence and highlights the impact that international collaboration can deliver in addressing global environmental challenges.
