From Exposure to Effect: Micro- and Nanoscale Characterization of Environmental Contaminants

By combining synchrotron X-ray imaging with dynamic speciation analysis and nanotoxicological approaches, we can gain new insights into how contaminant speciation, transformation processes, and interactions with environmental components, including co-occurring stressors such as nanoplastics, influence transport, bioavailability, uptake, depuration, and toxicity. Examples from nematode and daphnid biotests involving radionuclides, trace metals and labelled nanoplastics will illustrate how micro- and nanoscopic exposure characterization can improve our understanding of contaminant behavior and biological responses, ultimately strengthening environmental impact and risk assessment.

Professor Ole Christian Lind is head of the Environmental Radioactivity research group at Norwegian University of Life Sciences and is currently chairing Research Theme 5 of the Norwegian Nuclear Research Center (NNRC). From 2018-2023, he served as Research Director of Centre of Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD CoE). With almost three decades of experience in environmental chemistry and radiochemistry, his research focuses on reducing uncertainties in environmental impact and risk assessments. His work spans source-term characterization, the transport and fate of radionuclides and trace elements, and the influences of physicochemical properties and multiple stressors on contaminant behavior. He has a particular interest in applying advanced micro- and nanoscale analytical techniques to understand processes governing contaminant mobility, bioavailability, and environmental impacts.