This project would be under the direction of : Mr. Jérôme LABANOWSKI, Ms. Leslie MONDAMERT and Ms. Elodie AUBERTHEAU
Research Units : IC2MP – E-Bicom Team
Doctoral School : Rosalind Franklin – Energy, Environment, Biohealth
Subject title:
Occurrence, dynamics and transfer of volatile organic compounds: from water resources to water intended for human consumption and food
Occurrence, dynamics, and transfer of volatile organic compounds: from water resources to drinking water and food
Keywords: Water-atmosphere interface, volatile organic solvents (VOS), water resources, drinking water, food contact materials, contamination
Thesis start date: from 01/10/2026
Summary :
Volatile organic solvents (VOS) are a family of compounds widely used in modern industrial societies, particularly as dissolving, extraction, cleaning, or formulation agents in numerous sectors. These compounds are routinely dispersed in the environment, distributed among the air, water, and soil, where they contribute to the contamination of aquatic resources.
Furthermore, many everyday objects can be secondary sources of VOS and contribute to the spread of these compounds. In particular, some materials can release solvents throughout their life cycle, contributing to their transfer into the environment or the food chain. Consequently, drinking water and food can contain these compounds, leading to chronic exposure of populations, in addition to environmental exposure, with potential long-term health risks.
In this context, this thesis aims to better characterize environmental and human exposure to VOS. It will be based on the assessment of contamination of water resources (surface water, groundwater), drinking water, and food contact materials. The methodology includes the development of analytical methods adapted to highly volatile compounds using GC-MS/MS with headspace sample preparation, the definition of relevant sampling strategies, and the execution of field campaigns and release tests under controlled conditions.
The study will focus on a range of representative solvents (dichloromethane, n-hexane, BTEX) to assess their occurrence, spatiotemporal variability, and mobility in environmental and food matrices. The ultimate goal is to better quantify exposure levels and contribute to risk assessments for aquatic resources and human health.
Volatile organic solvents (VOSs) are a family of compounds widely used in modern industrial societies, particularly as solvents, extraction agents, cleaning agents, or formulation agents across numerous sectors. These compounds are regularly released into the environment, where they are distributed among the air, water, and soil, contributing to the contamination of water resources.
Furthermore, many everyday objects can serve as secondary sources of VOSs and also contribute to the spread of these compounds. In particular, certain materials can release solvents throughout their lifecycle and contribute to their transfer into the environment or the food chain. Consequently, drinking water and food may contain these compounds, leading to chronic exposure of populations in addition to environmental exposure and with potential long-term health implications.
In this context, this thesis aims to better characterize environmental and human exposure to VOSs. It will be based on the assessment of contamination in water resources (surface water, groundwater), drinking water, and materials in contact with food. The methodology includes the development of analytical methods adapted to highly volatile compounds using GC-MS/MS with headspace-type sample preparation, the definition of relevant sampling strategies, and the conduct of field campaigns and release tests under controlled conditions.
The study will focus on a set of representative solvents (dichloromethane, n-hexane, BTEX) to assess their occurrence, their spatiotemporal variability, and mobility in environmental and food matrices. The ultimate goal is to better quantify exposure levels and contribute to the assessment of risks to aquatic resources and human health.
Context and problem:
Volatile organic solvents (VOS) are a family of chemical substances widely used in modern industrial societies. They serve as dissolving, extraction, cleaning, or formulation agents in numerous sectors (chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, materials, and energy industries), and are also present indirectly in everyday uses, notably through fuels, consumer products, and materials. Their common characteristic lies in their physicochemical properties, particularly their high volatility, which determines their fate in the environment and their dispersion in air, water, and soil.
Historically, the contamination of aquatic environments by organic solvents has been addressed primarily from the perspective of direct discharges (industrial effluents, wastewater treatment plants, accidental spills) and groundwater pollution, where limited dispersion and long residence times promote their persistence. In contrast, their presence in surface waters, and particularly in rivers, has long been considered secondary or transient, due to supposedly rapid dilution and volatilization processes. However, this view is now being challenged by several converging observations.
Continental hydrological systems are subject to rapid temporal dynamics (rainfall events, flow variations, intermittent discharges, accidents), which can generate short-lived but potentially significant concentration peaks. These events largely escape conventional monitoring systems based on discrete and spaced sampling. In this context, the absence of detection does not necessarily imply the absence of contamination, but may instead reflect a mismatch between pollutant dynamics and observation strategies.
In addition to this contamination of water resources, there is also contamination from the materials used in the manufacture of many everyday objects. Various objects, throughout their life cycle, can be considered secondary sources of solvents and thus contribute to the spread of these compounds in the environment, as well as in the food chain. Therefore, drinking water and food can contain solvents.
This exposure via water and food adds to environmental exposure and thus constitutes a route of chronic exposure for populations, likely to pose long-term health challenges.
Volatile organic solvents (VOSs) constitute a family of chemical substances that are widely used in modern industrial societies. They serve as dissolution, extraction, cleaning, or formulation agents in many sectors (chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, materials, and energy industries), and are also indirectly present in everyday uses, notably through fuels, consumer products, and materials. Their common feature lies in their physicochemical properties, in particular their high volatility, which governs their environmental fate and their dissemination across the air, water, and soil compartments.
Historically, contamination of aquatic environments by organic solvents has been addressed mainly from the perspective of direct discharges (industrial effluents, wastewater treatment plants, accidental spills) and groundwater pollution, where limited dispersion and long residence times favor their persistence. In contrast, their presence in surface waters, and particularly in rivers, has long been considered secondary or transient, owing to supposedly rapid dilution and volatilization processes. This view is, however, currently being challenged by several converging observations.
Continental hydrosystems are subject to rapid temporal dynamics (rainfall events, flow variations, intermittent discharges, accidents), which may generate short-lived but potentially significant concentration peaks. These events largely escape conventional monitoring systems based on discrete, temporally spaced sampling. In this context, the absence of detection does not necessarily imply the absence of contamination, but may instead reflect a mismatch between pollutant dynamics and observation strategies.
In addition to this contamination of water resources, there is also contamination from materials used in the manufacture of many everyday objects. Throughout their life cycle, various objects can be considered secondary sources of solvents and thus contribute to the release of these compounds into the environment, as well as into the food chain. As a result, drinking water and food may contain solvents. This exposure via water and food is in addition to environmental exposure and thus constitutes a chronic exposure pathway for populations, which may pose long-term health risks.
Subject description:
The overall objective of this thesis is to contribute to a better definition of environmental and human exposure to volatile organic solvents (VOS). To this end, the thesis will establish a contamination status of aquatic resources (surface water, groundwater), drinking water, certain foods, and materials in contact with them.
The overall objective of this thesis is to provide new elements for environmental and human health risk assessment, by documenting environmental and human exposure to volatile organic solvents (VOSs). For this purpose, the thesis will evaluate the level of contamination in water resources (surface water, groundwater), drinking water, certain foods and materials that come into contact with them.
Methodology and implementation:
More specifically, the methodology consists of:
– Develop and validate analytical methods adapted to highly volatile solvents, based on gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), using a “headspace” type sample preparation, in order to achieve limits of quantification compatible with the expected concentrations.
– Define the sampling strategy and relevant tests for the different matrices
– Organize and conduct water sampling campaigns
– Conduct migration tests using various materials in contact with food (under controlled conditions)
– Evaluate the presence, quantity and spatio-temporal variability of a cocktail of representative target solvents (dichloromethane, n-hexane and BTEX) in different matrices (rivers, groundwater, distributed water, food).
– Assess whether and to what extent this pollution affects aquatic resources, as well as the water and food consumed, and the resulting risks of exposure.
More specifically, the methodology involves:
– Develop and validate analytical methods tailored to highly volatile solvents, based on gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), using headspace-type sample preparation, in order to achieve limits of quantification compatible with expected concentrations.
– Define the relevant sampling strategy/tests for the various matrices
– Organize and carry out sampling campaigns for waters
– Conduct migration tests from various materials in contact with foods (under controlled conditions)
– Assess the occurrence, quantity and spatio-temporal variability of a cocktail of representative target solvents (dichloromethane, n-hexane and BTEX) across different matrices (rivers, groundwaters, distributed waters, food).
– Assess whether and to what extent this pollution affects aquatic resources, as well as water and food consumed, and the resulting exposure risks
Desired profile:
You hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in environmental science or chemical analysis, with experience in analytical chemistry. You demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and a strong interest in laboratory experimentation. Knowledge of organic contaminant analysis using chromatography-mass spectrometry is essential.
Driving licence required, must know how to swim.
You have a five-year degree (Master’s, engineering school, or equivalent) in environmental science or chemical analysis with experience in analytical chemistry. You are highly rigorous and have a keen interest in laboratory experimentation. Knowledge of organic contaminant analysis using chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is required.
Driver’s license is required; applicants must know how to swim.
Contact us for more information and to apply by 29/05/26:
Leslie MONDAMERT: leslie.mondamert@univ-poitiers.fr
