The project:
This master project will be part of NILU`s strategic project ChemHealth: “Chemicals and health: Development of methodology for characterization, exposure, and effects of chemicals in ambient and indoor environment with the aim of supporting the EU-strategy for a non-toxic environment”. The master student(s) will make use of in vitro models representative of the human respiratory system to investigate the toxic responses elicited by exposure to airborne PM and chemicals. Using an Effect Directed Analyses (EDA) approach, airborne PM and air samples will be subjected to chemical analysis (performed by the chemists), and biological effects investigated. Possible chemical compounds analysed will be metals and PAHs, while toxicological endpoints investigated may include cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and/or pro-inflammatory responses. The project can accept 1-2 students.
About NILU:
The project will be performed in NILU?s Health Effects Laboratory, located at Kjeller. NILU is one of the leading European institutes in environmental and climate research. Toxicological research at NILU is undertaken by the Health Effects Laboratory (HEL). The group consists of 6 scientists, 1 PhD student and 1 engineer, and section leader is Elise Rundén Pran (European registered toxicologist). The main areas of interest for HEL are nanotoxicity, genotoxicity, advanced in vitro models, risk assessment, and adverse outcome pathways, and HEL is partner in many international and national projects. Supervisors: Elise Rundén Pran and Eleonora Longhin.