Division Head of Human-Biomonitoring
Centre of Toxicology / Molecular Medicine
Honorary Professor at The University of Queensland, Australia (QAEHS)
Education
Research
The primary objective of my research is to develop sensitive and specific methods for the determination of well-known or suspected "endocrine disrupting chemicals" in human blood and urine samples of individuals exposed at the workplace or via the environment. Particular focus is on phthalates (e.g. DEHP, DBP, DINP, etc.) and their substitutes (DINCH, terephthalates, adipates), non-persistent pesticides and fungizides (e.g. neonicotinoids, organophosphorus compounds, glyphosate, etc.), UV-filters and solvents (e.g. alkyl-pyrrolidones) by using 2-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as well as metals (e.g. cadmium and manganese) employing atomic absorption spectroscopy or ICP-MS. Particular focus is also on the metabolism and elimination kinetics of these compounds in-vivo. For this purpose, stable isotope labelled compounds are ingested by volunteers or in animal experiments and blood and urine are subsequently analysed for suspected metabolites. Overall aim is to identify appropriate biomarkers of exposure which in turn can be used in larger-scale molecular epidemiological studies to provide additional data for risk assessment in humans, in particular possible susceptible subgroups such as children and persons in reproductive age. Finally, the data can be used to identify causal relationships between exposure and endocrine effects or other health effects in humans.
Memberships
Publications/Personal repositories:
PubMed:Koch HM
Scopus ID: 35336917300
Google Scholar ID: zvHsWnIAAAAJ
ResearcherID:B-3277-2011
ORCID: 0000-0002-8328-2837
Languages: German, English