Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity,
Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology - Prof. Dr. Jörg Oehlmann

Expertise

Development of new (eco)toxicological test methods
Effect assessment of environmental chemicals at low doses/concentrations with representatives of most species-rich phyla in European aquatic ecosystems
Prediction of impacts on populations and higher levels of biological integration
Hazard and risk assessment for emerging environmental pollutants with special emphasis on pharmaceuticals, personal care products and endocrine active substances
Development of assessment criteria
Biological effect monitoring in the aquatic environment
Impacts on biodiversity by pollutants at environmentally relevant doses/concentrations

Resources and Abilities

Complete instrumentation for biotest development to be used for the characterisation of water-borne or sediment-associated contaminants in aquatic ecosystems
Fully climatised exposure rooms for tests according to OECD guidelines
Measuring stations for the assessment of pollutant-induced pathomorphoses, including histopathology and image analysis
In vitro tests for endocrine activity, mutagenicity and cytotoxicity

Publications

Jobling S, Casey D, Rodgers-Gray T, Oehlmann J, Schulte-Oehlmann U, Pawlowski S, Braunbeck T, Turner AP, Tyler CR: Comparative responses of molluscs and fish to en-vironmental estrogens and an estrogenic effluent. Aquat Toxicol 66: 207-222, 2004.
Liebig M, Egeler P, Oehlmann J, Knacker T: Bioaccumulation of 14C-17α-ethinylestradiol by the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus in artificial sediment. Chemosphere 59: 271-280, 2004.
Nentwig G, Oetken M, Oehlmann J: Effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic invertebrates – the example of carbamazepine and clofibric acid. In: Kümmerer K (ed.): Pharmaceuticals in the environment. Sources, fate, effects and risks. 2nd edition. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: 195-209, 2004.
Schulte-Oehlmann U, Oetken M, Bachmann J, Oehlmann J: Effects of ethinyloestradiol and methyltestosterone in prosobranch snails. In: Kümmerer K (ed.): Pharmaceuticals in the environment. Sources, fate, effects and risks. 2nd edition. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: 233-247, 2004.
Oetken M, Nentwig G, Löffler D, Ternes T, Oehlmann J: Effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic invertebrates. Part I. The antiepileptic drug carbamazepine. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 49: 353-361, 2005.
Opitz R, Braunbeck T, Bögi C, Pickford DB, Nentwig G, Oehlmann J, Tooi O, Lutz, Kloas W: Description and initial evaluation of a Xenopus metamorphosis assay for detection of thyroid system-disrupting activities of environmental compounds. Environ Toxicol Chem 24: 653-664, 2005.
Weltje L, vom Saal FS, Oehlmann J: Reproductive stimulation by low doses of xeno-estrogens contrasts with the view of hormesis as an adaptive response. Hum Exp Toxicol 24: 431-437, 2005.
Hagger JA, Depledge MH, Oehlmann J, Jobling S, Galloway TS: Is there a causal association between genotoxicity and the imposex effect? Environ Health Persp 114: 20-26, 2006.
Janer G, Bachmann J, Oehlmann J, Schulte-Oehlmann U, Porte C: The effect of organotin compounds on gender specific androstenedione metabolism in the freshwater ramshorn snail Marisa cornuarietis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 99: 147-156, 2006.
Janer G, Lyssimachou A, Bachmann J, Oehlmann J, Schulte-Oehlmann U, Porte C: Sexual dimorphism in esterified steroid levels in the gastropod Marisa cornuarietis: The effect of xenoandrogenic compounds. Steroids 71: 435-444, 2006.
Oehlmann J, Schulte-Oehlmann U, Bachmann J, Oetken M, Lutz I, Kloas W, Ternes TA: Bisphenol A induces superfeminization in the ramshorn snail Marisa cornuarietis (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) at environmentally relevant concentrations. Environ Health Persp 114: 127-133, 2006.

Staff:

Dr. Martina Duft ( Sediment toxicology )
Dr. Ulrike Schulte-Oehlmann ( Endocrine mimicking chemicals )
Dr. Matthias Oetken (Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, b iodiversity )
Patrizia Di Benedetto (Evaluation of mobile xenobiotics in the Hessian Ried)
Christian Vogt (Genetic impoverishment under pollutant stress)
Martin Wagner (Leaching of endocrine active chemicals from food packaging material)
Gertraud Wirzinger (Gen array development)