Sandra is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, the University of Queensland. Sandra submitted her PhD in June 2022, where she assessed occupational exposure to Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in airport firefighters, by determining the blood serum concentration and half-lives of PFAS and assessing the relationship between exposure and health effects. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at QAEHS, Sandra is interested in identifying and monitoring chemical exposure in humans and wildlife, as well as assessing the associations between chemical exposure and the potential effects on health.
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Firefighter Exposure Risks and Subsequent Reproduction Effects QAEHS HDR Student Project |
2016–2023 |
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Understanding Human Exposure to Benzotriazoles, Benzothiazoles, Benzotriazole UV-Stabilizers and Organophosphate Ester Flame Retardants in the Australian Population using Human Biomonitoring QAEHS HDR Student Project |
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Assessing Effectiveness of PFAS Exposure Control in Exposed Communities and Firefighters National Health and Medical Research Council |
2020–2025 |
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Chemical Contamination in Humans and Links to Neurodegenerative Diseases QAEHS HDR Student Project |
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Establishing the Fitness for Purpose and Research Applications of Human Biomonitoring Programs Based on the Subsampling and Pooling of Deidentified Surplus Pathology Samples QAEHS HDR Student Project |
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| Evaluation of changes in PFAS in Airservices Australia’s Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) and Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) staff and ex-staff over time (Airservices III Study) |
Journal Articles
Que, Danielle E., den Ouden, Fatima, Bosschaerts, Stijn, Zammit, Ian, Nilsson, Sandra, Wang, Xianyu, Symeonides, Christos, Liu, Yarui, Toms, Leisa-Maree L., Hobson, Peter, Langguth, Daman, Covaci, Adrian and Mueller, Jochen F. (2025). Trends of Organophosphate Ester Flame Retardant Metabolites in Age- and Sex-Stratified Pooled Australian Urine Samples from the Past Decade (2012–2023). Environmental Science & Technology, 59 (18), 8997-9007. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c02367
Lettoof, Damian C., Suzuki, Marina, Nilsson, Sandra, Nguyen, Thao V., Bourne, Nicholas, Pegg, Cassandra L., Stockwell, Sally, Bose, Utpal, Devine, Jacob, Contor, Tyler, Webber, Bruce L., Kaksonen, Anna H., Walsh, Tom, Vardy, Suzanne and Beale, David J. (2025). Ecosurveillance reveals subtle metabolic effects on the non-native cane toad (Rhinella marina) from low levels of accumulated environmental per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Environmental Pollution, 372 125968, 125968-372. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125968
Nilsson, Sandra, Kucharski, Nathaniel, Orr, Julia, Bräunig, Jennifer, Thompson, Kristie, Jolliet, Olivier, Langguth, Daman, Kennedy, Carl, Hobson, Peter, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Toms, Leisa-Maree (2025). Serum concentrations of PFAS across Australian States and Territories. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 265 114542, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114542
Suzuki, Marina, Nilsson, Sandra, Shepherd, Claire E., Zammit, Ian, Suryana, Eurwin, Mueller, Nicole, Halliday, Glenda, Wang, Xianyu, Symeonides, Christos, Dunlop, Sarah and Mueller, Jochen F. (2025). Number of Carbons Is a Critical Parameter for Accumulation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Human Brain. Environmental Science & Technology, 59 (7), 3366-3375. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.4c09458
Orr, Julia J., Toms, Leisa-Maree, Hobson, Peter, Kennedy, Carl, Langguth, Daman, Kucharski, Nathaniel, Olazo, Adriana Santivanez, Mueller, Jochen F. and Nilsson, Sandra (2025). Spatial variations in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in pooled sera from inland, coastal, and island populations. Environmental Research, 266 120482, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120482
Taucare, Grechel, Chan, Gary, Nilsson, Sandra, Toms, Leisa-Maree L., Zhang, Xingyue, Mueller, Jochen F. and Jolliet, Olivier (2024). Temporal trends of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances concentrations insights from Australian Human Biomonitoring 2002-2021 and the U.S. NHANES programs 2003-2018. Environmental Research, 262 119777, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119777
Que, Danielle E., Wang, Xianyu, Nilsson, Sandra, Zammit, Ian, Muir, Derek C. G., Rauert, Cassandra, Toms, Leisa-Maree L., Prasad, Pritesh, Shiels, Ryan G., Eaglesham, Geoff, Hobson, Peter, Langguth, Daman and Mueller, Jochen F. (2024). Trends of benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles in Australian pooled urine samples from 2012 to 2023. Environmental Science and Technology, 58 (45), 19960-19969. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.4c08824
Beale, David J., Nguyen, Thao V., Bose, Utpal, Shah, Rohan, Nelis, Joost Laurus Dinant, Stockwell, Sally, Broadbent, James A., Nilsson, Sandra, Rane, Rahul, Court, Leon, Lettoof, Damian C., Pandey, Gunjan, Walsh, Thomas K., Shaw, Stephanie, Llinas, Josh, Limpus, Duncan, Limpus, Colin, Braun, Christoph, Baddiley, Brenda and Vardy, Suzanne (2024). Metabolic disruptions and impaired reproductive fitness in wild-caught freshwater turtles (Emydura macquarii macquarii) exposed to elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Science of The Total Environment, 926 171743, 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171743
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Nilsson, Sandra, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, O’Brien, Jake W., Bräunig, Jennifer, Gómez Ramos, María José, Donaldson, Eric, Samanipour, Saer, Martin, Jonathan W., Mueller, Jochen F., Kaserzon, Sarit L. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2023). Novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances discovered in cattle exposed to AFFF-impacted groundwater. Environmental Science and Technology, 57 (36), 13635-13645. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03852
Lazarevic, Nina, Smurthwaite, Kayla S., D'Este, Catherine, Lucas, Robyn M., Armstrong, Bruce, Clements, Archie CA., Trevenar, Susan M., Gad, Imogen, Hosking, Rose, Di Law, Hsei, Mueller, Jochen, Bräunig, Jennifer, Nilsson, Sandra, Lane, Jo, Lal, Aparna, Lidbury, Brett A., Korda, Rosemary J. and Kirk, Martyn D. (2023). Liver and cardiometabolic markers and conditions in a cross-sectional study of three Australian communities living with environmental per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination. Environmental Research, 226 115621, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115621
Engelsman, Michelle, Banks, Andrew P. W., He, Chang, Nilsson, Sandra, Blake, Debbie, Jayarthne, Ayomi, Ishaq, Zubaria, Toms, Leisa-Maree L. and Wang, Xianyu (2023). An exploratory analysis of firefighter reproduction through survey data and biomonitoring. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (8) 5472, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20085472
Nilsson, Sandra, Bräunig, Jennifer, Carey, Renee N., Hui, Jennie, Smurthwaite, Kayla, Toms, Leisa-Maree, Kirk, Martyn D., Mueller, Jochen F. and Fritschi, Lin (2023). Longitudinal measurements of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in archived human serum samples between 1975 and 1995 in Australia. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 443 (Part B) 130307, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130307
Nguyen, Hong T.M., Nilsson, Sandra, Mueller, Ava A.R., Toms, Leisa-Maree, Kennedy, Carl, Langguth, Daman, Hobson, Peter and Mueller, Jochen F. (2023). First indication of perfluoroalkyl substances in human serum of Papua New Guinea population. Science of The Total Environment, 870 161749, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161749
Nilsson, Sandra, Smurthwaite, Kayla, Aylward, Lesa L., Kay, Margaret, Toms, Leisa-Maree, King, Leisa, Marrington, Shelby, Kirk, Martyn D., Mueller, Jochen F. and Bräunig, Jennifer (2022). Associations between serum perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) concentrations and health related biomarkers in firefighters. Environmental Research, 215 (Pt 3) 114370, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114370
Nilsson, Sandra, Thompson, Jack, Mueller, Jochen F. and Bräunig, Jennifer (2022). Apparent half-lives of chlorinated-perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctane sulfonate isomers in aviation firefighters. Environmental Science and Technology, 56 (23), 17052-17060. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04637
Beale, David J., Bissett, Andrew, Nilsson, Sandra, Bose, Utpal, Nelis, Joost Laurus Dinant, Nahar, Akhikun, Smith, Matthew, Gonzalez-Astudillo, Viviana, Braun, Christoph, Baddiley, Brenda and Vardy, Suzanne (2022). Perturbation of the gut microbiome in wild-caught freshwater turtles (Emydura macquarii macquarii) exposed to elevated PFAS levels. Science of the Total Environment, 838 (Pt 3) 156324, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156324
Nilsson, S., Smurthwaite, K., Aylward, L. L., Kay, M., Toms, L. M., King, L., Marrington, S., Barnes, C., Kirk, M. D., Mueller, J. F. and Bräunig, J. (2022). Serum concentration trends and apparent half-lives of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australian firefighters. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 246 114040, 114040. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114040
Nilsson, Sandra, Smurthwaite, Kayla, Aylward, Lesa L., Kay, Margaret, Toms, Leisa-Maree, King, Leisa, Marrington, Shelby, Hobson, Peter, Barnes, Craig, Rotander, Anna, Kirk, Martyn D., Mueller, Jochen F. and Braeunig, Jennifer (2022). Biomonitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in firefighters: study design and lessons learned from stakeholder and participant engagement. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 242 113966, 113966. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113966
Beale, David J., Nilsson, Sandra, Bose, Utpal, Bourne, Nicholas, Stockwell, Sally, Broadbent, James A., Gonzalez-Astudillo, Viviana, Braun, Christoph, Baddiley, Brenda, Limpus, Duncan, Walsh, Tom and Vardy, Suzanne (2022). Bioaccumulation and impact of maternal PFAS offloading on egg biochemistry from wild-caught freshwater turtles (Emydura macquarii macquarii). Science of the Total Environment, 817 153019, 153019. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153019
Beale, David J., Hillyer, Katie, Nilsson, Sandra, Limpus, Duncan, Bose, Utpal, Broadbent, James A. and Vardy, Suzanne (2022). Bioaccumulation and metabolic response of PFAS mixtures in wild-caught freshwater turtles (Emydura macquarii macquarii) using omics-based ecosurveillance techniques. Science of the Total Environment, 806 (Pt 3) 151264, 151264. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151264
Nilsson, Sandra, Mueller, Jochen F., Rotander, Anna and Bräunig, Jennifer (2021). Analytical uncertainties in a longitudinal study – a case study assessing serum levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 238 113860, 113860. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113860
Taylor, Matthew D., Gillanders, Bronwyn M., Nilsson, Sandra, Bräunig, Jennifer, Barnes, Thomas C. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2021). Migration histories and perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) loads in an estuarine fish: a novel union of analyses to understand variation in contaminant concentrations. Environmental Pollution, 276 116686, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116686
Taylor, Matthew D., Johnson, Daniel D., Nilsson, Sandra, Lin, Chun-Yin, Braeunig, Jennifer, Mueller, Jochen and Bowles, Karl C. (2020). Trial of a novel experimental design to test depuration of PFASs from the edible tissues of Giant Mud Crab following exposure under natural conditions in the wild. Science of The Total Environment, 758 143650, 143650. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143650
Taylor, Matthew D., Bräunig, Jennifer, Mueller, Jochen F., Crompton, Marcus, Dunstan, R. Hugh and Nilsson, Sandra (2019). Metabolomic profiles associated with exposure to per- And polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aquatic environments. Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts, 21 (11), 1980-1990. doi: 10.1039/c9em00394k
Taylor, Matthew D., Nilsson, Sandra, Bräunig, Jennifer, Bowles, Karl C., Cole, Victoria, Moltschaniwskyj, Natalie A. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2019). Do conventional cooking methods alter concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in seafood?. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 127, 280-287. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.03.032
Conference Papers
Smurthwaite, Kayla S., Lazarevic, Nina, Nilsson, Sandra, Trevenar, Susan, Banwell, Cathy, Korda, Rosemary and Kirk, Martyn D. (2023). Perceptions and experiences of PFAS biomonitoring in Australian communities affected by environmental contamination. ISEE 2023: 35th Annual Conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi: 10.1289/isee.2023.op-132
Vardy, Suzanne, Baddiley, Brenda, Braun, Christoph, Beale, David, Gonzalez-Astudillo, Viviana, Nilsson, Sandra, Limpus, Duncan and Limpus, Col (2023). Bioaccumulation, partitioning in tissues and offloading of PFAS to hatchlings of female wild-caught freshwater turtles. SETAC Australasia 2023 Conference: Source to sink: engaging with stakeholders to protect our environment, Townsville, QLD, Australia, 7 – 11 August 2023. Fitzroy, VIC, Australia: ASN Events.
Nilsson, Sandra, Smurthwaite, Kayla, Aylward, Lesa L., Kay, Margaret, Toms, Leisa-Maree, King, Leisa, Marrington, Shelby, Kirk, Martyn D., Mueller, Jochen F. and Braeunig, Jennifer (2022). Associations between serum Perfluoroalkyl Acid (PFAA) concentrations and health related biomarkers in firefighters. ISEE Annual Conference - Strengthening the Global Role of Environmental Epidemiology, Athens, Greece, 18-21 September 2022. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. doi: 10.1289/isee.2022.p-1167
Lazarevic, Nina, Smurthwaite, Kayla, D'Este, Catherine, Armstrong, Bruce, Lucas, Robyn, Clements, Archie, Trevenar, Susan, Gad, Imogen, Hosking, Rose, Joshy, Amelia, Law, Hsei Di, Mueller, Jochen, Braunig, Jennifer, Nilsson, Sandra, Batterham, Philip, Lane, Jo, Lal, Aparna, Randall, Deborah, Banwell, Catherine, Miller, Adrian, Korda, Rosemary and Kirk, Martyn (2022). Cardiometabolic, kidney, and thyroid markers and conditions in three Australian communities living with environmental per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination. ISEE 2022: 34th Annual Conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology, Athens, Greece, 18-21 September 2022. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi: 10.1289/isee.2022.p-1091
Smurthwaite, Kayla, Lazarevic, Nina, Bräunig, Jennifer, Nilsson, Sandra, Mueller, Jochen, D’Este, Catherine, Lucas, Robyn, Armstrong, Bruce, Lal, Aparna, Trevenar, Susan, Law, Hsei-Di, Hosking, Rose, Gad, Imogen, Clements, Archie, Lane, Jo, Batterham, Philip, Banwell, Cathy, Miller, Adrian, Randall, Deborah, Korda, Rosemary and Kirk, Martyn (2022). Exposure to PFAS in Australian communities impacted by environmental contamination; the PFAS Health Study, 2016-2020. ISEE 2022: 34th Annual Conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology, Athens, Greece, 18-21 September 2022. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi: 10.1289/isee.2022.p-0384
Nilsson, Sandra, Smurthwaite, Kayla, Aylward, Lesa L., Kay, Margaret, Toms, Leisa-Maree, King, Leisa, Marrington, Shelby, Barnes, Craig, Kirk, Martyn D, Mueller, Jochen F and Braeunig, Jennifer (2022). Exposure trends and half-lives of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Australian firefighters. ISEE Annual Conference - Strengthening the Global Role of Environmental Epidemiology, Athens, Greece, 18-21 September 2022. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. doi: 10.1289/isee.2022.o-op-187
Research Report
Braeunig, Jennifer, Nilsson, Sandra, Aylward, Lesa, Kay, Margaret, King, Leisa, Kirk, Martyn, Marrington, Shelby, Rotander, Anna, Smurthwaite, Kayla, Toms, Leisa-Maree and Mueller, Jochen (2020). Evaluation of per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Airservices Australia’s Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS) Staff - 2018/2019. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.