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Researcher
Thimo Groffen
- Research Expertise:I am an environmental scientist with background in biology and environmental toxicology. My research interests focus on biomonitoring of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAS) in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the environmental and human health risks they pose. Currently, I am investigating the distribution of PFAS in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, and the potential ecological and human health risks related to PFAS pollution. In the terrestrial environment, my main focus is on biomonitoring of PFAS in the terrestrial food chain (soil, invertebrates, plants and songbirds). I am studying factors that affect bioavailability from soil to biota and the potential toxicity related to PFAS accumulation in these organisms. Furthermore, I am developing or optimizing analytical methods to analyze PFAS in different environmental matrices. In the aquatic environment, the main focus of my research is also on biomonitoring PFAS in the food chain, the toxicity of PFAS to aquatic organisms and on factors that might affect PFAS bioavailability. In addition, I am examining different monitoring techniques (i.e. active and passive biomonitoring) in order to investigate their potential for usage in future PFAS research. In my previous research, I developed an analytical method for the analysis of PFAS from multiple abiotic and biotic samples, examined the distribution of PFAS in great tits and invertebrates along a distance gradient from a fluorochemical hotspot, and studied the potential effects of very high PFAS concentrations on reproduction and oxidative status of great tits. My previous studies on the aquatic environment were primarily investigating the PFAS concentrations in aquatic ecosystems in Africa.
- Keywords:PERFLUOROALKYL ACIDS, AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, Biology
- Disciplines:Animal biology, Ecology, General biology, Plant biology, Systems biology, Other biological sciences, Other natural sciences, Aquatic biology, Aquatic chemistry, Conservation and biodiversity, Environmental chemistry, Environmental impact and risk assessment, Environmental monitoring, Soil biology, Soil chemistry
- Research techniques:- Development and application of analytical methods for the analysis of PFAS from biotic and abiotic matrices. - Examining bioavailability, -accumulation, and toxicity of PFAS in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
- Users of research expertise:Everyone (government, universities, industries, etc.) with an interest in bioavailability, bioaccumulation and toxicity of PFAS in the environment.