Research
From single substances to the risk of real-world mixtures
The environment is exposed to chemical mixtures, not one substance at a time, yet risk assessment and regulation still largely evaluate substances in isolation. My work follows that gap across scales: from the ecotoxicology of chemical mixtures and the concepts that predict their combined effect, through data-driven methods that fill in where experimental evidence is thin, to the regulatory instruments that could turn this science into protection. The common thread is making a more realistic picture of chemical exposure usable, in the laboratory, in the field, and in policy.
Themes
Mixture toxicity and combined effects
The ecotoxicology of chemical mixtures, and the concepts, Concentration Addition and Independent Action, that predict their joint effect from the toxicity of the components.
Risk assessment and regulation
Translating mixture science into policy, including a mixture allocation factor for REACH, and the assessment of chemicals under the Water Framework Directive.
Aquatic microbial ecotoxicology
The effects of complex chemical exposures on structure and function of microbial communities, in particular aquatic biofilms (periphyton).
Data-driven ecotoxicology
Using quantitative structure-activity relationships and machine learning to predict chemical toxicity where experimental data are scarce.
Selected current projects
- 2022 – 2027PARCPartnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals. Funded by the European Commission.
- 2024 – 2027ChemMixMaking sense of monitoring data to improve risk assessment of complex chemical mixtures. Funded by the Integrated Chemical Mixtures Project, Environment and Climate Change Canada.
- 2020 – 2026PREMIERPrioritisation and Risk Evaluation of Medicines in the Environment. Funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative.
- 2024 – 2027INCENTIVIZETransferable quotas, fees and taxes for a less toxic circular economy. Funded by Mistra, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research.
- 2025 – 2028Fuel Science Center (FSC2)DFG research cluster at RWTH Aachen.