Effect monitoring is focused on the development and use of sensitive and specific methods for the detection of early biological effects after exposure to hazardous substances as well as the detection of disease-specific biomarkers in body fluids, cells and tissues of humans.
In the area of early biological effects, a particular focus is on the use of different test systems (“battery tests”) to assess the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of hazardous substances, including in cells of blood or urine of exposed persons (in vivo). This includes the detection of DNA adducts, DNA strand breaks, micronuclei, chromosome instabilities or other direct or indirect damage to genetic material. A further focus is on the use of these methods in cell experimental systems (in vitro), i.e. cell lines and primary cells, for example to investigate combination effects of mutagens and carcinogens. The spectrum of methods also includes biochemical approaches to detect cytotoxicity, programmed or spontaneous cell death (apoptosis, necrosis), and the induction and activity of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes.
Focus is on the use of epigenetic and biochemical methods to identify suitable cancer-specific biomarkers. For this purpose, biological samples from cancer patients and healthy individuals are analyzed at both the genetic and protein level. The overall aim is to develop noninvasive biomarker-based assays for the diagnosis of primary and recurrent cancer, cancer prognosis and health surveillance. Additional interests include the role of the biomarkers in intracellular signaling pathways and inter-cell communication in order to contribute to the understanding of the tumorigenic process and to identify potential targets for drugs. The spectrum of analyses includes the quantitative determination of DNA methylation, mRNA and protein expression. In addition, cytogenetic analyses are conducted.
The focus of the inquiries is on the health risks for humans associated with exposure to a hazardous substance, for which only limited data is available, and the derivation of health-based limit values for hazardous substances in the workplace. Toxicological advice and expertise are important for the substantiation and initiation of prevention measures and for consideration in the regulatory frameworks. They enable the accident insurance providers to assess possible health hazards at different workplaces in a future-oriented and practical manner.
By means of literature research, expert opinions and risk assessments of existing data on the exposure and strain of employees to hazardous substances at the workplace, the IPA supports all professional associations and accident insurance companies in the primary and secondary prevention of diseases caused by hazardous substances, as well as in the consideration of current scientific results in legislation. The IPA provides support in the design and specification of studies in close cooperation with the responsible german social accident insurance institutions, the initiation of interdisciplinary projects and the mediation of cooperation partners for the BGen and accident insurance companies in solving specific issues in occupational health practice. As an institute of the Ruhr University Bochum, the IPA also provides the results of toxicological advice and expertise to other institutions at federal and state level.
Please note that the Center of Toxicology does not fulfil tasks within the regular medical care system. Requests for toxicological analyses or data interpretation by individuals should be addressed to the relevant public authorities (e.g., German Environment Agency, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment).
