NormaRHIZO project

To support the implementation of a European directive on soil protection, it will soon be necessary to have a “toolbox” of scientifically validated and operational methods that can be used to assess the bioavailability of contaminants in soils.
The central purpose of the ANR NormaRHIZO project was to technically optimize and validate the scientific basis of the RHIZOtest © CIRAD/RHIZOtest

In this context, the central purpose of the ANR NormaRHIZO project was to technically optimize and validate the scientific basis of the RHIZOtest, to enable its standardization on an international scale (ISO, International Organization for Standardization).

The intention in fulfilling these objectives was to facilitate the international community’s acknowledgement of the RHIZOtest as a reference method for assessing the phytoavailability of trace elements in soils.

Objectives and programming

Le projet NormaRHIZO se décline en quatre sous-objectifs :

© CIRAD/RHIZOtest, M. Bravin

The NormaRHIZO project broke down into four sub-objectives:

  • Technical optimization of the RHIZOtest to make the tool and the method operational within a risk assessment framework.
  • Deepening and validation of the scientific basis of the RHIZOtest, making it possible to define its field of validity, assess its merits compared to the other physico-chemical and biological methods currently standardized or conventionally used in risk assessments and, lastly, compare its phytoavailability estimations with those measured in situ.
  • Standardization on an international scale (ISO) of the RHIZOtest tool and method.
  • Presentation and transfer of the RHIZOtest tool and method to potential users.

Partners

CIRAD, Recycling and Risk research unit (Coordinator)
Emmanuel Doelsch

INRA, Eco&Sols joint research unit
Philippe Hinsinger

INRA, InfoSol service unit
Claudy Jolivet

Paris Diderot University, IPGP Water Geochemistry Laboratory
Marc Benedetti

CNRS,  CEREGE, joint research unit,  InterfaST team
Jean-Marie Garnier

Duration and funding

ANR (logo)

The NormaRHIZO project, for a duration of three years (2010-2012), was funded to the tune of 500 k€ by the 2009 “Contaminants, Ecosystems, Health” project of the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR).