Environmental Health

As society rapidly develops new chemicals, materials and technologies, there is a growing need for faster, more predictive and more sustainable safety assessment strategies. Safeguarding the health of both people and the planet requires an ambitious shift in innovation – one that is aligned with major policy objectives such as the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan and the broader transition toward a toxin-free environment.

The Environmental Health research group develops scientific solutions to address the pressing challenges of pollution and chemical exposure. The group focuses on advancing next-generation tools for hazard and risk assessment, supporting both regulatory frameworks and industrial innovation. Multidisciplinary research efforts assess the biological effects of pollutants at molecular, cellular, tissue, and organismal levels, with an emphasis on human health and freshwater ecosystems.

The group plays an active role in the European and global regulatory science landscape, helping ensure that chemical safety assessments evolve in step with progress. This work directly supports the EU's ambitions under the Green Deal, the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework and Zero Pollution goals, promoting a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. 

By bridging fundamental research and regulatory applications, the group provides expertise in chemical safety to support national and international agencies, industries and public bodies. These efforts contribute to the advancement of safe innovation and a sustainable, healthy environment for all.

The Environmental Health group provides comprehensive expertise in the following areas:

A major focus lies in the development and validation of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) that offer robust, predictive and animal-product-free alternatives to traditional toxicity testing. These efforts directly support the 3R principles and accelerate the shift toward animal-free safety assessments.

The group also plays a role in shaping international regulatory science, contributing to the development of OECD Test Guidelines and Guidance Documents through active participation in the Working Party of National Coordinators for the Test Guidelines Programme (WNT) and the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN). Participation in the PARERE network ensures that new methodologies are assessed for their regulatory relevance and applicability, facilitating their adoption in regulatory contexts.

Expertise also supports the application of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, helping industries integrate safety, sustainability and functionality from the earliest stages of product development. By promoting early hazard identification and sustainable innovation pathways, the group contributes to reducing pollution at the source, in line with the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan.

Close collaboration with stakeholders across the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and manufacturing sectors helps bridge the gap between research and practical application, accelerating the scaling-up of innovative safety solutions. The ultimate goal is to drive a safer, more sustainable future where science, policy and innovation converge to protect human health and the environment.