The proposal aims to integrate environmental chemical analyses, epidemiological and developmental neurotoxicological studies and to establish sound data for environmental risk assessment of metal species. This will be achieved by following these specific objectives:

• To develop and/or to improve novel protocols of metal speciation for environmental and physiological monitoring, and to improve the understanding of the transport, distribution and final target of metal species.


• To investigate neurobehavioral changes in alternative animal models (eg. embryos and larvae of Danio rerio, Caenorhabditis elegans and primary cell cultures) exposed chronically to various metal species and their mixtures and follow developmental trajectories of these changes.


• To reveal changes in neurochemistry (neurotransmitters and their metabolites), motor function, social behavior and learning and memory functions induced by exposure to metal species in alternative animal models.


• To use “omic” approaches (genomic, proteomic, metabollomic, and other) to investigate biomarkers as early signs of neurodegenerative processes. We will also investigate mechanisms of the observed changes induced by selected metal species, other substances, and their potential mixtures.


• To clarify of the causal relationship between environmental exposure to metal species and the development of neurodegenerative diseases, through neuroepidemiological studies that include biomarker analysis with precise characterization of concomitant metal species, other substances, and its potential mixtures.


• To contribute for a better understanding of rare metabolic diseases associated with metals.


• To develop new therapeutic approaches against metal toxicity.