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At VU University Amsterdam, ESR2 will establish approaches for screening "new" chemicals in abiotic matrices (e.g. air, indoor dust, hand wipes) and human biofluids (e.g. urine and serum) using chromatographic techniques coupled state-of-the-art mass spectrometry. The objective is to generate a "profile" of those chemicals to which people are exposed and their metabolic products. Complementary to the target approach followed elsewhere in A-TEAM, this horizon-scanning profiling approach is envisaged as a "safety net" to maximise the identification of potentially important contaminants. "Metabolite" profiles in humans of such newly identified chemicals will be investigated by in vitro assays using i) relevant chemical standards where available, and ii) solvent extracts of matrices such as air, dust, food, and hand wipes, where these contaminants are present. ESR2 will generate detailed exposure characterisation for "new" chemicals and their metabolites. It links to ESR1's modelling approach, and complements the projects of ESRs 3-6, where samples from these projects may be analysed by ESR2. The in vitro metabolism work complements that of ER3.

Contact: Dr. Pim Leonards, VU University Amsterdam

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