New VUB test reveals hidden risks of environmental pollution

Innovative method measures the full biological impact of contaminant mixtures

Researchers at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) have developed a smart and efficient way to detect hard-to-trace pollutants and to measure their effects on human health and the environment. In her PhD within the AMGC research group, Yiqi Su focused on polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and xeno-oestrogens (XEs), substances that accumulate in water, soil, and even microplastics, yet often fall outside existing regulations.

Using cell-based bioassays, and especially the optimized CALUX test, Su demonstrates how harmful chemicals in a mixture interact and what biological activity they trigger. Genetically engineered cells emit light when exposed to pollutants, a direct and highly sensitive way to measure their impact.

Su developed new extraction methods for water and soil and applied them in two realistic case studies: the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture, and the role of microplastics in transporting PACs in the Zenne river. The key advantage of this approach is clear: researchers no longer need to identify every individual compound, they can assess the total biological impact of a mixture at once.

The result is a validated, applicable method that can significantly strengthen future monitoring and regulation of emerging environmental contaminants.

Read more (only in dutch)