Human biomonitoring research unit
The Human Biomonitoring Research Unit (HBRU) has strong expertise in analytical toxicology and development of biomarkers for the assessment of human exposure to organic pollutants from different classes.
Activities
The HBRU primary goals are the development of biomarkers for the identification of human exposure to different occupational and environmental pollutants such as pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and persistent organic pollutants. Furthermore, HBRU aims to expand existing knowledge of the relationships between exposure to pollutants and subsequent biological/biochemical disorders.
HBRU analytical techniques are mainly based on chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry applied to various biological matrices such as blood, urine and hair. HBRU also has strong expertise in biomarkers of alcohol consumption as well as in the assessment of exposure to cigarette smoke in active and passive smoking.
The advantage of hair analysis is that it can cover a period of time ranging from weeks to several months, therefore highlighting chronic exposure, whilst urine or blood analysis only corresponds to a few hours prior to sample collection.
Brice Appenzelller, PhD, Group Leader
Strategic research goals
HBRU’s strategic research goals are as follows:
- Develop biomarkers to assess exposure to pollutants
- Investigate the suitability of different biological matrices for the monitoring of exposure level
- Analyse biological samples in national and international epidemiological studies
- Support researchers in study design and results interpretation in biomarker identification
Projects & clinical trials
Featured team members
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Leonie
Aengenheister Postdoctoral Fellow -
Brice
Appenzeller Group Leader -
Alba
Iglesias Gonzalez Postdoctoral Fellow -
Linda
Macheka Postdoctoral Fellow -
Paul
Palazzi Research Engineer
Scientific publications
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Incorporation of Fast-Elimination Chemicals in Hair Is Governed by Pharmacokinetics-Implications for Exposure Assessment – 01/01/2022
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Harmonized human biomonitoring in European children, teenagers and adults – 09/02/2023
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Association of diet quality indices with serum and metabolic biomarkers in participants of the ORISCAV-LUX-2 study – 01/01/2023
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Characterizing the adult exposome in men and women from the general population – 26/01/2023
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Skin microbiome differentiates into distinct cutotypes with unique metabolic functions upon exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – 09/02/2023
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Environmental tobacco smoke at home and in public places prior to smoking ban enforcement – 23/12/2022
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Associations Between Wearable-Specific Indicators of Physical Activity Behaviour and Insulin Sensitivity and Glycated Haemoglobin in the General Population – 12/12/2022
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Measurement of hair thyroid and steroid hormone concentrations in the rat evidence endocrine disrupting potential of a low dose mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – 15/09/2022
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Pervasive exposure of wild small mammals to legacy and currently used pesticide mixtures in arable landscapes – 23/09/2022
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Cadmium exposure in adults across Europe – 01/09/2022
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