Our work in collaboration with the HESI Botanical Safety Consortium was recently published in Pharmaceutical Biology! The HESI Botanical Safety Consortium collaborates to develop screening strategies to efficiently identify botanical-induced toxicity. Our study aimed at establishing the neuroactive potential of 13 botanical extracts using microelectrode array (MEA) recordings in rat primary cortical cultures.Our results show…

Our latest review on antioxidant by-products (ABPs) has been published in Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology! This work summarizes the current state of toxicological, ecotoxicological, exposure, and mechanistic data on ABPs—also known as Arvin substances, which are degradation products of antioxidants formed under heat or pressure. Toxicological data were identified for ABP 1 (4-ethylphenol),…

Our latest study from the ENDpoiNTs project has been published in NeuroToxicology! In this study, we examined the effects of acute (30 minutes), prolonged (up to 48 h), and chronic (21 days) exposure to DDT, its metabolite DDE, endosulfan, dieldrin, and lindane on neuronal activity and network development in sex-separated rat primary cortical cultures using micro-electrode array…

In our latest study, we investigated the neurotoxic effects of acute and chronic exposure to bisphenols and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on neuronal activity and network development. Specifically, we assessed the effects of bisphenol-A (BPA), bisphenol-F (BPF), bisphenol-S (BPS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) in rat primary cortical cultures using micro-electrode array recordings. Our…

In our latest article, we studied the neurotoxic effects of acute and chronic exposure to organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and phthalates on neuronal activity and network development. Specifically, we studied the effects of triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBzP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and their metabolites using micro-electrode array…

In our recent study, we investigated the neurotoxicity of ultrafine particles (< 100 nm; UFP) emitted from diesel engines, comparing different fuel types and particle fractions. Specifically, we studied the effect of solid and semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) UFP derived from petroleum diesel and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil-type fuel on neuronal function after direct exposure and…

In this article, we present sex-specific in vitro data on the chronic neurotoxic effects of different classes of insecticides. Specifically, we studied the sex-specific effects of different carbamates, organophosphates, and pyrethroids on neuronal network development in sex-separated primary rat cortical cultures using micro-electrode array (MEA) recordings. Our findings indicate that exposure for 1 week to…

In our recent article, we present sex-specific in vitro data on the acute neurotoxicity of different classes of insecticides. Specifically, we studied the sex-specific effects of different carbamates, organophosphates, organochlorines, and pyrethroids on neuronal network function in sex-separated rat primary cortical cultures using micro-electrode array (MEA) recordings. Our findings indicate that exposure to the organophosphates…

In our recent article, we present in vitro data on the neurotoxicity of combustion-derived particulate matter (PM). Specifically, we studied and compared the effects and potency of PM generated using diesel and biodiesel fuel on neuronal function. Moreover, we applied a novel approach to investigate the indirect effects of particles on neuronal function and health…

Our work in collaboration with the HESI Botanical Safety Consortium was recently published! The HESI Botanical Safety Consortium collaborates to develop screening strategies to efficiently identify botanical-induced toxicity. We presented in vitro data that evaluates the applicability of multi-well microelectrode array (MEA) recordings for screening and prioritizing botanical extracts for their neuroactive potential. Most botanical…

Plastics zijn overal. In de bodem, de lucht, water en voedsel. Plastic valt uit elkaar in kleine en nog kleinere deeltjes – micro- en nanoplastics – die we met het blote oog niet kunnen zien. Ze komen terecht in onze organen en ons bloed. Hoe schadelijk is dat? Een gesprek met drie experts. Lees het…

In our recent article, we present in vitro data on the neurotoxic effects and potency of possible aircraft cabin air contamination deriving from engine oils and hydraulic fluids. For this work, we exposed rat primary cortical cells cultured on micro-electrode arrays to the fumes derived from selected engine oils and hydraulic fluids and monitored changes…

Emma Kasteel en Annemijne van den Berg waren te gast bij ”De Nacht van…” op Radio 1! Er is een onderzoek dat zegt dat we een creditcard aan microplastics binnenkrijgen. We weten alleen niet precies hoeveel microplastics we als mens binnenkrijgen. Het is in elk geval wel meer dan we denken. Wat we in elk…

Great news, a few weeks ago our new paper “Acute, sub-chronic and chronic exposures to TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles differentially affects neuronal function in vitro” has been published in NeuroToxicology. In this work, we studied the neurotoxicity of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles using calcium imaging, micro-electrode array recordings and immunocytochemistry. While titanium dioxide nanoparticles…

Emma Kasteel, Jack Thornton, and Lora Gerber enjoyed presenting their data at the Annual Society of Toxicology (SOT) meeting! Lots of attention for their work on the neurotoxic effects of respectively micro- and nanoplastics, designer drugs, and air pollution. Job well done!

In collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (Maastricht University) and the Office for Risk Assessment and Research (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) we investigated the interaction of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) with pharmaceutical drugs known to also inhibit voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels. We provide concentration-effect curves for inhibition of neuronal activity by TTX…

Join us in congratulating Axion Travel Award recipient Emma Kasteel!​ We are pleased to offer this award to support the important work being done by Emma and her team at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences at Utrecht University. Their study utilizing mice and rat primary cortical cultures showed that some types, sizes, and shapes of micro and…

Het EU-verbod op microplastics in make-up laat nog jaren op zich wachten. Maar studies wijzen op het gevaar van de deeltjes, zegt toxicoloog Emma Kasteel. “De eerste aanwijzing is dat ze ontstekingen veroorzaken en effect hebben op de hormoonhuishouding.”