Research at the Toxicology Group
Toxicology is undergoing a paradigm shift from routine testing of chemicals on laboratory animals, to integrating advances in molecular and cell biology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics and engineering to derive a mechanistic understanding of the progression of toxicity events across scales of biological organisation that lead to adverse health effects in humans and the environment. The research at Wageningen University’s Toxicology chair group drives this paradigm shift. The group develops toxicity testing strategies for the next generation risk assessment of chemicals in food and the environment.
Research themes
-
Advanced in vitro models
Traditional toxicity testing of chemicals uses animal tests. The research within this theme focuses on developing and implementing advanced human cell models to better understand the action of potentially harmful chemicals. This research therefore contributes to a reduction in animal testing. Advanced cell models include culturing multiple cell types together on a chip through which medium with the chemical flow. In so doing, the cells better resemble tissues in situ that see many chemicals and nanoparticles, like the liver and intestines. These organs-on-a-chip devices allow for a molecular view of the effects of chemicals and nanoparticles have on the communication between different cell types in an organ.
-
Food toxicology
While the risk assessment of avoidable chemicals in food, such as food additives and pesticides, are stringently performed in the EU, risk assessments for natural toxins in food are still patchy. Food may contain a wide variety of natural toxins or compounds that may be of concern when exposure exceeds safe limits. These include natural food additives, mycotoxins like aflatoxin B1, phytoestrogens like (iso)flavones, glucosinolates/ isothiocyanates, furocoumarins, tropane alkaloids, phthalates and mineral oils (MOAH and MOHS). Our research on this topic is oriented at quantifying the levels of natural toxins in food products by advanced chemical analytical methods followed by toxicity testing using a suite of in vitro toxicity tests, thus providing regulatory agencies the much-needed mechanistic data to support their risk assessments.
-
Toxicokinetics
Whether a chemical causes toxicity in an organism is dependent on what the chemical does to the body (a process referred to as toxicodynamics) and what the body does to the chemical (a process referred to as toxicokinetics). Indeed, a chemical may strongly inhibit the function of specific neurotransmitters in the brain, but if it is poorly absorbed and distributed to the brain, and metabolised and excreted quickly, the chemical will not reach the brain in sufficient quantities to cause neurotoxicity. Projects in this research theme develop and use new tools in tissue culture, computational modelling and analytical chemistry to understand and predict the extent to which chemicals in food and the environment accumulate in target organs like the brain, liver and kidney, as well as the developing foetus. This helps us identify species and individuals at risk of adverse health effects after exposure to a chemical or chemical mixture.
-
Environmental toxicology
The environment may be contaminated with different types of chemicals. Historically, most research has focused on contaminated sites while locations with relatively low level of contamination have received little attention. Based on recent research, evidence is building that even such low levels of contaminants may result in subtle, chronic effects that may be deleterious for the organisms involved. In this theme, effects of low, chronic exposure of organisms to contaminants is studied. Projects focus on the immune system, shortening of telomeres and the occurrence of resistant genes in small mammals. Other topics involve effects of nanomaterials on soil invertebrates, and the occurrence of chemicals in Antarctic organisms (analytical chemistry).