Department Environmental Chemistry

In this project we seek to enhance our understanding of how contaminant exposure impacts key freshwater invertebrates, such as Gammarus pulex and Hyalella azteca. By exploring bioaccumulation processes—including uptake, elimination, distribution, and biotransformation—we aim to establish a mechanistic link between exposure and observed effects and to improve predictive capabilities across various environmental scenarios. To achieve this, we combine laboratory experiments, field observations, and toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TK-TD) modeling.

The project is divided into the following research questions:

• Receptor binding
  How relevant are receptor-bound contaminants to our current understanding of TK and TD processes in aquatic invertebrates?
  We apply a combination of toxicokinetic experiments, receptor binding assays and behavior studies to facilitate multi-compartment toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic modelling of contaminants (i.e., neonicotinoids).
   
• Temperature
  How does temperature impact the bioaccumulation of contaminants with partitioning in aquatic invertebrates?
  We are studying the bioaccumulation of various lipophilic or protein-binding contaminants under different temperature scenarios (i.e., elevated temperatures & heat waves). The studied analytes range from lipophilic herbicides and receptor-binding insecticides to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
   
• Dietary uptake
  How much do dietary uptake pathways contribute to the bioaccumulation of contaminants in the field?
  In a field study, we assess the contaminant dynamics in various invertebrate food sources (leaves, particles, and sediments) during spring and autumn, evaluating their potential for uptake.
   
• Active transport
  Can we verify the active transport of ionic contaminants in and out of exposed organisms in in vivo experiments?
  We investigate active uptake and elimination processes of cationic pharmaceuticals by combining fluorescence transporter inhibitor assays with conventional toxicokinetic experiments.