Toxicological food safety

By development and use of innovative mechanism-based in vitro models our research activities are focused on investigations of toxic compounds from the food chain for hazard identification and mechanistic understanding of effects. We have an extensive experience in general toxicology and risk assessment and is now adding cellular and molecular toxicology methods. The research emphasis is on three areas.

- Endocrine disruption, especially effects on steroidogenesis and adrenal hormone secretion. The human adrenocortical cell line H295R is used for screening of potential endocrine disrupters in food. We are also investigating mechanisms behind the effects in studies on enzyme activity and expression of key genes in the steroidogenic pathway.

- Developmental toxicity; we are exploring the zebrafish embryo model for predicting risks in mammals and for mechanistic studies on developmental toxicity using molecular methods.

- Transport mechanisms of chemicals, especially for intestinal absorption and milk excretion. We have a long track record in metal toxicology research and is now investigating the impact of metal transporters for absorption of essential and toxic metals in the human intestinal Caco-2 cell line. Active transport of chemicals into milk is investigated in a murine mammary epithelial cell line, HC11.

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