The Laboratory for Ecotoxicogenomics and Endocrine Disruption (LEPE) brings together the expertise, knowledge, infrastructure and instrumentation necessary to test the effects of contaminants on the health of living organisms. The experiments are carried out in the laboratory, in microcosm, in mesocosm and in the field. The team is developing unique biomarkers for each target species in order to understand and validate the mechanisms of action of contaminants. The group also specializes in the study of endocrine disruptors and has, among other things, ultra-sensitive cell lines that identify contaminants capable of altering the hormonal response.
This pilot laboratory is a powerful, mobile and flexible infrastructure for testing and demonstrating, at low cost, and directly in industrial environments or on degraded sites, new remediation and decontamination processes before their implementation on a real scale. . The laboratory team works to develop technologies for the treatment, decontamination and recovery of various matrices polluted by metals and other types of pollutants. The development of processes contributing to sustainable development in the field of environmental technologies is a priority research area of the INRS. The laboratory has a multifunctional mobile pilot plant to operate various types of physical, chemical and biological processes for the treatment of soils, hazardous wastes, gases, as well as industrial residues and effluents directly on contaminated sites.
This laboratory is used in particular to carry out research work on understanding the environmental fate of energetic materials. The laboratory consists of two experimental pans, the size of which makes it possible to carry out restoration experiments similar to field conditions, but under controlled experimental conditions. These tanks can contain 4 to 9 m3 of soil from contaminated sites or clean soils to which specific contaminants can be added.
This laboratory aims to develop electrolytic techniques and oxidative processes to improve municipal and industrial wastewater treatment systems or replace conventional low efficiency technologies to remove refractory, inorganic and microbial organic contaminants. It includes 4 facilities: a) Laboratory treatment and control units, b) Analytical instrumentation units, c) Assembly of units, storage of reagents, installation ovens and scales, d) Heavy lab (pre-industrial pilot unit).
Analysis of trace metals in liquid or solid samples (biological tissues, suspended matter, sediments, soils) and bio-optical analysis. Research focuses on the path of toxic metals in the food chain, the bioavailability of contaminants, the impacts of anthropogenic activities and the assessment of the sensitivity of the natural environment. The main equipment is as follows: Particle and radioactivity counters (beta and gamma emissions); Atomic and mass emission spectrometers, by inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES and ICP-MS); Liquid, gas and ion chromatography devices (HPLC, LC-MS-MS, GC, GC-MS); ICP-MS coupled to an HPLC; Mercury analyzer.
These laboratories make it possible to analyze water samples by colorimetry, fluorometry, spectroscopy, radioisotopy and chromatography, as well as to analyze organic compounds and trace metals present in different matrices (water, effluents, sewage sludge, soils, sediments, biological tissues), and finally, to analyze the elements present in solid samples (rocks, soils, sediments, sludge). X-ray microfluorescence scanning: Non-destructive x-ray analyzes coupled with chemical X-ray fluorescence analysis of rocks, soils and sediments. Scanning electron microscopy: Production of high resolution images of the surface and composition of a sample using technology using electron-matter interactions.
