Thomas Backhaus
Chemistry
University og Gothenburg
Sweden
Biography
My main interest is in the toxicology and ecotoxicology of chemical mixtures. Major aims are the development of appropriate modeling approaches, tools and methods for mixture risk assessment. We often investigate the joint action of modern pollutants (in a vain attempt to evade the term ”emerging pollutants”), such as pharmaceuticals, biocides and antifoulants, but also pesticides. An additional research areas includes the ecotoxicology of man-made nanoparticles. Although we sometimes work with standard aquatic test species, such as algae (e.g. Scenedesmus, Navicula), bacteria (Pseudomonas, Vibrio), Lemna, and daphnids, we put a lot of effort into working with microalgal and bacterial biofilm communities, (so-called periphyton). We do that in order to analyze the impact of various (mixtures of) toxicants on a more ecological level. Work in all these areas has lead to activities in the broader area of chemical risk assessment. A focus is on the analysis of regulatory approaches and guidelines for chemical risk assessment, in order to explore how scientific evidence is used or ignored. Do regulatory approaches and our science understanding in toxicology and ecotoxicology go together? Where are contradictions, where is room for improvement?
Research Interest
My main interest is in the toxicology and ecotoxicology of chemical mixtures. Major aims are the development of appropriate modeling approaches, tools and methods for mixture risk assessment. We often investigate the joint action of modern pollutants (in a vain attempt to evade the term ”emerging pollutants”), such as pharmaceuticals, biocides and antifoulants, but also pesticides. An additional research areas includes the ecotoxicology of man-made nanoparticles. Although we sometimes work with standard aquatic test species, such as algae (e.g. Scenedesmus, Navicula), bacteria (Pseudomonas, Vibrio), Lemna, and daphnids, we put a lot of effort into working with microalgal and bacterial biofilm communities, (so-called periphyton). We do that in order to analyze the impact of various (mixtures of) toxicants on a more ecological level. Work in all these areas has lead to activities in the broader area of chemical risk assessment. A focus is on the analysis of regulatory approaches and guidelines for chemical risk assessment, in order to explore how scientific evidence is used or ignored. Do regulatory approaches and our science understanding in toxicology and ecotoxicology go together? Where are contradictions, where is room for improvement?
