Human impact assessment
Toxicology
In EMRGent, to study the influence of anthropogenic compounds on human health, several new assays based on different levels of action of endocrine disruptors are being developed using cultures of several cell types involved in human reproduction. Since endocrine disruption is a highly complex phenomenon, a battery of toxicity end-points is being developed in order to investigate endocrine disruption in the broadest possible way.
Epidemiological research
By means of population survey studies we try to link the observed differences in time and place of sperm quality and of fertility on the one hand with differential exposure to environmental agents with endocrine disrupting effects on the other hand.

Environmental impact assessment
Environmental effects
At EMRGent technology is available to quantify the endocrine disrupting potential of chemicals using specific eco-toxicological end-points. The main criteria which are presently used to evaluate the pseudo-estrogen activity of xenobiotics are vitellogenesis in male organisms (measure of feminization) and histopathology of gonad development in different test organisms. Currently, research is conducted towards alternative methodologies quantifying endocrine disturbance in representative vertebrate and invertebrate species of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Environmental fate and remediation studies
Development of remediation technologies at EMRGent focuses on enhanced removal of endocrine disruptors during waste water treatment, development of a filter system for drinking water and selection of food supplements adsorbing these lipophilic compounds in the human intestinal tract. At EMRGent the knowledge and expertise is present to quantify the major classes of endocrine disruptors (alkylphenols, pesticides, phthalates, PAHs,...) in water, sludge and foodstuff samples.