Research
Research at the E&H department covers the complete pathway from the source of the contaminants to adverse outcomes, from the molecular level to populations, ecosystems and society
Research
Research
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Research topics
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Research facilities
Our laboratories include special rooms for gas and liquid chromatography, both connected to mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS). There are modern laboratories for the extraction and clean-up of environmental samples. A special clean air room has been installed in which contaminants can be extracted and fractionated that need special care with regard to background contamination, such as phthalates and siloxanes. Highly specialized toxicological laboratories are available as well, including a zebrafish facility.
ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS
Chemical target analyses includes a wide variety of organic environmental contaminants, such as:
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
- PCBs
- Organochlorine pesticides (e.g. toxaphene, DDT, HCHs, drins)
- Perfluorinated compounds
- Brominated flame-retardants
- PAHs
- Hormones
- Carbamates
- Organotin compounds
- Pharmaceuticals
- Phosphorus flame retardants
- Chlorinated paraffins
- Petroleum hydrocarbons
- Phthalates
- Microplastics (analyzed by microscopy and FTIR)
- and others
STATE-OF-THE-ART INSTRUMENTATION AND FACILITIES
Our labs are equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and facilities which includes among others:
- GC-MS (/MS)
- Pyrolysis-GC-MS
- GCxGC-ECD
- GC-FID
- GC-TOF
- LC-QQQ
- UPLC-TOF
- UPLC-QFOF
- LCxLC-TOF
- Field flow fractionation (FFF)
- High resolution LC or GC fractionation
- Pressurized fluid extraction
- FTIR
- Microscope
HIGHLY SPECIALIZED TOXICOLOGICAL WORK
An advanced toxicology laboratory is available for highly specialized toxicological work such as genomics, metabolomics and molecular biological studies (e.g. qPCR). Rapid and sensitive biomarkers and bioassays, both in vitro (e.g. protein binding assays, enzyme induction assays) and in vivo (e.g. zebrafish embryo assay) methods to measure the exposure, bioavailability, and effects of chemicals with endocrine disrupting potency are available. An imaging system for zebrafish behaviour and development is available.
The tox-lab consists of two ML-I rooms all equipped with the necessary facilities such as laminar flow hoods. A special ML-II room has been installed for bacteria culture work.CONTACT
Mr. Jacco Koekkoek (Lab Coordinator)
Email: jacco.koekkoek@vu.nl
Tel: +31 (0)20 59 89057 -
Projects
Click on the links below to read more about our current research projects:
- Assessment of pesticides in the Ethiopian Rift Valley
- ATEAM: Tools for exposure assessment and biomonitoring
- ATHENA
- BECOMING A SENTINEL SPECIES
- Chlorinated Paraffins
- CleanSea: Towards a clean, litter-free European marine environment
- DENAMIC: Developmental neurotoxicity of chemical mixtures in children
- (Deoxy)nucleotides Analysis
- ENFIRO: Alternatives for some brominated flame retardants
- EUROqCHARM
- Flame retardant chemicals in breast milk
- FORMAS-Baltic
- FREIA
- Hazardous chemicals in plastic packaging
- Immunoplast
- Intervention in the Anthropocene
- Limnoplast
- LINC Study: Linking EDCs in maternal nutrition and child health
- Lipidomics
- MicroLEACH
- Microplastics Studies
- MOMENTUM
- Neurotransmitter Analysis
- PETHUNT: Novel method for identification and quantification of PET microfibres in marine environments
- Plastic waste streams, toxics and the circular economy
- POLYRISK
- Quasimeme: Interlaboratory testing
- SHINE: (Non)-target screening of chemicals indoors
- SUPFES: Alternatives for perfluorinated compounds
- Toddler’s exposure to flame retardant chemicals
- UNEP: POP's interlaboratory assessments
- Zebrafish Research