An indicator of pollution: the researcher Montse Bacardit has discovered that the almost inaccesible mountain lakes of the Central Pyrenees and their catchments are polluted by a suite of metals potentially toxic to the ecosystem. Montse Bacardit is graduated in Biology by the University of Barcelona. In her Ph.D. Thesis she has studied the pollution in high mountain catchments.

The Association Ribagorça Romànica will award 6 undergraduated and graduated students in biology and environmental sciences with grants to participate in the NITROPIR project. The students will collaborate in the synoptic survey that the LOOP will carry out in 500 Pyrenean lakes in order to analyse the changes produced in the water chemistry by the human N emissions.

Several newspapers reported the last findings of LOOP regarding the long-range trace metal contamination detected in the Pyrenees: "The experts detect traces of urban contamination in several isolated lakes in the Pyrenees" (El Mundo); "The CSIC detects urban contamination in Pyrenean lakes" (El País, Segre).

In her Ph.D. Thesis presented at the University of Girona, the LOOP's researcher Montserrat Bacardit shows how remote mountain areas are afected by toxics originated by human activities.

The Sorcerer II made a stop in Barcelona's harbour in its cruise aroud the world collecting DNA to sequence the genome of the oceans. During the pause, some researchers from the Craig Venter Institute made a tour on land to collect also samples from freshwater ecosystems in collaboration with local scientists. Among other places they visited Lake Redon.

A report on the levels of pollutants in lakes and rivers of Catalunya elaborated by scientists of the CSIC, the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) for the Department of Environment of the Generalitat de Catalunya revealed that the sediments of lakes in the Pyrenees contain metals and radionuclides of human origin. Majors of several towns in the area have expressed concern and urged a meeting with the Head of the Department of Environment.

The EMERGE project, in which LOOP participated, ended. EMERGE was funded by the European Commission, and among other objectives, it aimed to investigate the impact of airborne pollutants on alpine lakes. Sediments from over 390 lakes in all european ranges showed the extent of pollution by metals and organic chemicals in high mountains. An agreement between the Conselh Generau d'Aran and the University of Barcelona has been signed to monitor the impacts of the works of the new tunnel of Vielha on the Nere and Conangles streams.