Chemistry and
Biology
www.ivm.vu.nl/CandB
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What we aim at
The Department of Chemistry and
Biology aims at developing and
applying state-of-the-art strategies
and measurement techniques that
contribute to a better quality of the
environment and human health
The safety of the environment and the
quality of our own health are important.
The growth of the global population puts
pressure on the environment and, in that
way, is threatening our health. With over 30
scientists and technicians, the Department
of Chemistry and Biology (C&B) addresses
the risks of chemicals that are being
produced in increasing volumes to satisfy
the needs of this growing population.
Although these chemicals often serve
useful purposes such as increasing fire
safety, they can be harmful to the
environment and the human body. The
result can be bioaccumulation in the food
chain, cancer, disrupted hormonal
processes, neurotoxic effects and
weakened immune systems. IVM develops
methods for their analysis, examines their
environmental fate, tests their toxicity,
advises authorities, trains other laboratories in measuring them, and teaches
young people to perform this highly
specialized work.
C&B’s research has a strong international
character, with projects carried out for
organisations and industries worldwide.
IVM receives students and guest
researchers from all over the world.
Staff members regularly give key note
lectures and other presentations at
international symposia and act as
examiners in PhD defenses in the
Netherlands and abroad.
Methodology
A wide range of analytical
instruments is available to
identify and quantify the various
contaminants in all sorts of matrices
and to determine their toxicity
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
The C&B laboratory is specialised in the
analysis of complex mixtures of contaminants. Techniques are available to detect
and quantify a wide range of organic
contaminants, such as persistent organic
pollutants (POPs), hormones, organotin
compounds, perfluorinated alkylsulphonates, brominated and phosphorous flame
retardants and pharmaceuticals. The
spaceous laboratory contains state-of-the
art instrumentation such as GC(xGC)-MS(/
MS), GC(xGC)-ECD, LC-QQQ and GC/
LC-ToF-MS.
EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
Exposure assessment covers the
determination and monitoring of priority
compounds, emerging pollutants and their
metabolites. Analytical methods are
developed for the determination of these
compounds. The results of exposure
studies are, often combined with toxicological results, used for risk assessments.
EFFECT-DIRECTED ANALYSIS
Chemistry and biology based methods are
combined in effect-directed analysis (EDA)
studies to identify novel or unknown
endocrine-disrupting and genotoxic
chemicals in environmental samples such
as biota or sediments. Biomarkers and
bioassays are used to drive fractionation,
extraction and chemical analysis of
complex environmental samples. Both in
vitro (e.g. reporter gene assays, protein
binding assays, enzyme induction assays)
as well as in vivo (e.g. zebrafish embryo
assay) techniques are applied. Novel
analytical methods are used for the identification of the responsible compounds.
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MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF
TOXICITY AND TOXICITY PROFILING
Modern molecular biological
techniques in the zebrafish and snail
as well as mammalian cell lines are
used to identify genes affected by
toxicant stress and to unravel the
biological targets of toxicant action.
The techniques include analysis
of gene expression (microarrays,
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to
multiply DNA fractions), gene function
and epigenetics (DNA methylation).
Knowledge about gene expression
and regulation is used to understand
toxic mechanisms of action and
help to understand how exposure
to chemicals during critical periods
of development may affect life-long
health. Identification of molecular
mechanisms of toxicity helps to develop
novel bioanalytical tools to rapidly
screen chemicals.
Small-scale in vitro bioassays are
developed and optimized to determine in
vitro toxicity profiles of sets of individual
compounds. Toxicity profiling is not only
restricted to the parent compounds but
also includes metabolites.
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Projects and Partners
The Department coordinates four
large European research projects:
ENFIRO, OBELIX, DENAMIC and
CLEANSEA. In addition, C&B
participates in numerous other
European projects and research for
other organisations.
ENFIRO
The theme of environmental
pollution by brominated flame
retardants has led to a European research project called ENFIRO, in which
environmentally-friendly substitution
options for brominated flame retardants
are studied, together with industries
and universities. This type of research,
new for IVM, goes beyond ‘just analysing
contaminants’. It requires thorough understanding of industrial production and
fire safety issues, but it will finally result
in a strong contribution to environmental
solutions in this field. More information:
www.enfiro.eu.
OBELIX (OBesogenic Endocrine
disrupting chemicals: LInking
prenatal eXposure to the development
of obesity later in life) is another large
European project. OBELIX examines
if prenatal exposure to endocrine
disrupting chemicals plays a role in
the development of obesity later in life.
In addition to exposure assessment in
humans, the potential human health
effects of environmental contaminant
exposure is examined. Dr. Juliette Legler
received a VIDI grant of NWO to study
the role of environmental chemicals in
obesity in more detail. More information:
www.theobelixproject.org.
DENAMIC
Epidemiological
studies have indicated
that exposure to environmental
agents during human development
can have deleterious effects on
cognitive development in childhood.
The European research project
DENAMIC aims to study and evaluate
environment-health relationships in
children. Therefore, DENAMIC develops
tools and methods for the neurotoxic
effects of mixtures of environmental
pollutants at low levels, possibly
resulting in (sub-clinical) effects
on learning (cognitive skills) and
developmental disorders in children (e.g
ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and
anxiety disorders).
Convinced of the importance of mutual
understanding, C&B maintains a
dialogue with chemical industry. A
better environment is reached when all
parties involved – industries, authorities
and scientists – collaborate.
Chemistry and Biology plays an active
role in the proficiency testing scheme
QUASIMEME (Quality Assurance of
Information on Marine Environmental
Monitoring in Europe): the Department
coordinates the workshop scheme
of QUASIMEME, and prepares and
tests reference materials. C&B also
participates in the NORMAN network
on the quality of analysis of emerging
pollutants. Through collaboration with
Deltares access to the coastal and
marine environment is effectuated.
TEACHING
C&B is active in training scientists
and laboratory staff. The department
is one of the three training centers
for UNEP Chemicals worldwide.
Through international interlaboratory
studies on persistent organic pollutants
(POPs), workshops and on-site training
IVM provides laboratory staff with POPs
analysis proficiency. These activities
contribute directly to the Global
POPs Monitoring Program under the
Stockholm Convention.
In 2012 C&B started the MSc
programme in ‘Environmental
Chemistry and Toxicology’ (in English),
in collaboration with the VU Institute
for Ecology, University of Amsterdam
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem
dynamics (IBED), and the VU Faculty of
Sciences (Analytical Chemistry).
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Krystek, P. A. Ulrich, C. C. Garcia, S. Manohar,
Aars, J., Hamers, T., Lamoree, M.H. (2011).
R. Ritsema (2011). Application of plasma
Blood plasma sample preparation method
spectrometry for the analysis of engineered
to determine thyroid hormone-disrupting
nanoparticles (ENPs) in suspensions and prod-
compounds in Effect-Directed Analysis.
ucts. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry,
Environmental Science and Technology, 45,
26, 1701-1721
7936–7944.
Legler, J. (2010). Epigenetics: an emerging
Van Boxtel, A.L., Kamstra, J.H., Fluitsma,
field in environmental toxicology. Learned
D.M., Legler, J. (2010). Dithiocarbamates are
Discourses: Timely Scientific Opinions.
teratogenic to developing zebrafish through
SELECTED HIGH IMPACT PAPERS:
Integrated Environmental Assessment and
inhibition of lysyl oxidase activity. Toxicology and
Ballesteros-Gómez, A., Rubio, S., van
Management, 6, 308-317.
Applied Pharmacology, 244, 156-161.
extraction, in-line clean-up and selective liquid
Legler, J., van Velzen, M., Cenijn, P., Lamoree,
Van Boxtel, A.L., Kamstra, J.H., Cenijn, P.H.,
chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for
M., Wegener, J.W. (2011). Effect-directed
Pietersen, B., Wagner, M.J., Antink M., Krab,
the quantitation of perfluorinated compounds in
analysis of municipal landfill soil reveals novel
K., Van der Burg, B., Marsh, G., Brouwer, A.,
food at the low picogram per gram level. Journal
developmental toxicants in the zebrafish Danio
Legler, J. (2008). Microarray analysis reveals
of Chromatography A 1217, 5913-5921.
rerio. Environmental Science and Technology, 45,
a mechanism of phenolic polybrominated
8552-8558.
diphenylether toxicity in zebrafish. Environmental
BRIDGING DISCIPLINES
Technological and economic change
produces innovations that have an
environmental impact. These impacts
are complex and may unfold only over the
long term. A unique challenge will be to
combine environmental chemistry and
toxicology with environmental economics
and governance analysis. Combining
C&B research with research skills from
other IVM departments has resulted in
the coordination of an European research
project entitled CLEANSEA. This project
will study all aspects of marine litter
and try to offer solutions for the global
problem of marine plastics.
OUTREACH AND
COLLABORATION
Through key note lectures, platform
and poster presentations C&B
staff contributes to international
symposia and workshops.
C&B publishes an increasing number
of papers in journals with high impact
factors. C&B staff members evaluate
science programmes in many countries.
Reviewing articles for scientific journals
is a daily business. C&B staff provides
expert opinions in the Dutch media. The
growing media interest underlines the
relevance of C&B’s work for the quality
of our environment.
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Leeuwen, S.P.J. (2010). Tetrahydrofuran-water
Brandsma, S.H., Smithwick, M., Solomon,
Science and Technology, 42, 1773–1779.
K., Small, J., de Boer, J, Muir, D.C.G. (2011).
Leslie, H.A., Leonards, P.E.G., Shore,
Dietary exposure of rainbow trout to 8:2 and
R.F., Walker, L.A., Bersuder, P.R.C.,
Van der Veen, I. & de Boer, J. (2012).
10:2 fluorotelomer alcohols and perfluorooc-
Morris, S., Allchin, C.R., de Boer, J.
Phosphorus flame retardants: Properties,
tanesulfonamide: Uptake, transformation and
(2010). Decabromodiphenylether and
production, environmental occurrence, toxicity
elimination. Chemosphere, 82, 253–258.
hexabromocyclododecane in wild birds
and analysis. Chemosphere, 88, 1119-1153.
from the United Kingdom, Sweden and The
de Boer, J. (2010). Chlorinated paraffins. The
Netherlands: Screening and time trends.
Vethaak, A.D., Jol, J.G. & Martinez-Gomez,
Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, Vol.
Chemosphere, 82, 88-95.
C. (2011). Effects of cumulative stress on fish
10. ISBN 978-3-642-10760-3. Heidelberg,
Germany: Springer Verlag GmbH.
health near freshwater outlet sluices into the
Pereira, A.A., van Hattum, A.G.M., de Boer, J.,
sea: a case study (1988-2005) with evidence for
van Bodegom, C., Rezende, C.E., Salomons,
a contributing role of chemical contaminants.
Hamers, T., Kamstra, J.H., Cenijn, P.H.,
W. (2010). Trace Elements and Carbon and
Integrated Environmental Assessment and
Pencikova, K., Palkova, L., Simeckova, P.,
Nitrogen Stable Isotopes in Organisms
Management, 7(3), 445-458.
Vondracek, J., Andersson, P.L., Stenberg, M.,
from a Tropical Coastal Lagoon. Archives of
Machala, M. (2011). In vitro toxicity profiling of
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 59,
Weiss, J.M., Eszter, S., Stroomberg, G., Boer,
ultrapure non-dioxin-like polychlorinated bi-
464-477.
R. de, Boer, J. de, Linden, S. van der, Leonards,
phenyl (NDL-PCB) congeners and their relative
P.E.G., Lamoree, M.H. (2011). Integrated
toxic contribution to PCB-mixtures in humans.
Simon, E., Lamoree, M.H., Hamers, T., Weiss,
identification strategy for unknown pollutants
Toxicological Sciences 121, 88-100.
J.M., Balaam, J., de Boer, J., Leonards, P.E.G.
on an LTQ-Orbitrap: androgen disrupting
(2010). Testing Endocrine Disruption in Biota
compounds identified using effect-directed
Hamers, T., Leonards, P.E.G., Legler, J., Vethaak,
Samples: A method to Remove Interfering
analysis. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry,
A.D., Schipper, C.A. (2010). Toxicity profiling: an
Lipids and Natural Hormones. Environmental
400, 3141-3149.
integrated effect-based tool for site-specific
Science and Technology, 44, 8322-8329.
sediment quality assessment. Integrated Environ-
Simon, E., Bytingsvik, J., Jonker, W., Leonards,
mental Assessment and Management, 6, 761-773.
P.E.G., De Boer, J., Jenssen, B.M., Lie, E.,
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INFORMATION AND CONTACT
Department of IVM, Institute for
Environmental Studies
VU University Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1085 (visiting address)
De Boelelaan 1087 (postal address)
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
t +31-20-5989 555
f +31-20-5989 553
e info@ivm.vu.nl
i www.ivm.vu.nl
Head of Department:
Prof. Dr. J. de Boer
22102 - Studio VU
Chemistry and Biology
www.ivm.vu.nl/CandB