Background and activities
My research focuses on how environmental pollutants affects animals. The focus is particularly on the effects of environmental pollutans on endocrine systems (hormone systems and vitamin balance). How do endocrine disrupting pollutants affect the animals ability to survive, reproduce, and to adapt to natural or antropogenic changes in the environment (such as climate change)? My research group has research activity both in the field in Norway and in the Arctic (Svalbard), and in the lab. We have effects in a range of species that are naturally exposed to environmental pollutants: zooplankton, cod, frogs, birds such as ptarmigan, house sparrow, european shag, eider duck, kittiwake, Brünnich's guillemot, glaucous gull and ivory gull, and mammals such as harbour seal, grey seal, hooded seal, ringed seal, bearded seal, walrus, white whale and polar bear. Through a comparative approach to environmental toxicology we obtain knowledge on sensitive species and functional effects of endocrine disrupters on wildlife and ecosystems.
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Scientific, academic and artistic work
A selection of recent journal publications, artistic productions, books, including book and report excerpts. See all publications in the database
2019
- (2019) Using an apex predator for large-scale monitoring of trace element contamination: Associations with environmental, anthropogenic and dietary proxies. Science of the Total Environment. vol. 676.
- (2019) Mandibular shape in farmed Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) exposed to persistent organic pollutants. Science of the Total Environment. vol. 646.
- (2019) Temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants in Barents Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in relation to changes in feeding habits and body condition. Environmental Science and Technology. vol. 53 (2).
- (2019) State of knowledge on current exposure, fate and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic. Science of the Total Environment. vol. 664.
- (2019) Snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivealis) as bio-indicators for exposure differences to legacy and emerging persistent organic pollutants from the Arctic terrestrial environment on Svalbard. Science of the Total Environment. vol. 667.
2018
- (2018) On the integration of ecological and physiological variables in polar bear toxicology research: a systematic review. Environmental Reviews. vol. 26 (1).
- (2018) Effects of biometrics, location and persistent organic pollutants on blood clinical-chemical parameters in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard, Norway. Environmental Research. vol. 165.
- (2018) Anthropogenic impact on marine ecosystem health: A comparative multi-proxy investigation of recent sediments in coastal waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin. vol. 133.
- (2018) Dispersibility and dispersion stability of carbon nanotubes in synthetic aquatic growth media and natural freshwater. Chemosphere. vol. 201.
- (2018) Effects of a complex contaminant mixture on thyroid hormones in breeding hooded seal mothers and their pups. Environmental Pollution. vol. 240.
- (2018) In Vitro and in Silico Competitive Binding of Brominated Polyphenyl Ether Contaminants with Human and Gull Thyroid Hormone Transport Proteins. Environmental Science and Technology. vol. 52 (3).
- (2018) Hepatic Phase I and II Biotransformation Responses and Contaminant Exposure in Long-Finned Pilot Whale from the Northeastern Atlantic. Marine Environmental Research. vol. 134.
- (2018) Plasma concentrations of organohalogenated contaminants in white-tailed eagle nestlings – The role of age and diet. Environmental Pollution. vol. 246.
- (2018) White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) feathers from Norway are suitable for monitoring of legacy, but not emerging contaminants. Science of the Total Environment. vol. 647.
- (2018) Prevalence of antibodies against Brucella spp. in West Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and East Greenland muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). Polar Biology. vol. 41 (9).
- (2018) Seroprevalence for Brucella spp. in Baltic ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and East Greenland harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus) and hooded (Cystophora cristata) seals. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. vol. 198.
- (2018) Choose your poison – Space-use strategy influences pollutant exposure in Barents Sea polar bears. Environmental Science and Technology. vol. 52 (5).
2017
- (2017) Potentiation of ecological factors on the disruption of thyroid hormones by organo-halogenated contaminants in female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the Barents Sea. Environmental Research. vol. 158.
- (2017) Relationships between POPs, biometrics and circulating steroids in male polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard. Environmental Pollution. vol. 230.
- (2017) Persistent organic pollutants, skull size and bone density of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from East Greenland 1892-2015 and Svalbard 1964-2004. Environmental Research. vol. 162.