Hormones are signal compounds the body uses to control biological functions. Endocrine disruptors are a very large group of chemicals that interfere with the functioning of the hormone systems in wild animals and potentially humans. The department investigate the chemistry and toxicology of endocrine disruptors by conducting lab and field experiments at the molecular level, and thereby elucidate the environmental occurrence, fate and effects of endocrine-disrupting pollutants, such as natural substances, pesticides and medicine residues.
Effect-oriented in-vitro and in-vivo testing in combination with wildlife investigations and advanced mass spectrometry-based technologies provides means to identify emerging environmental endocrine disruptors. Our interdisciplinary research within this area lies at the interface of environmental chemistry, toxicology and analytical chemistry.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals and their environmental effects are in general related human chemical pollution, but these substances can also naturally occur in ecosystems. Part of our research is how natural formation of endocrine disruptors can occur in ecosystems as well what is the impact to the environmental.