Chemicals and environment

Natural chemicals and the interaction of numerous of these substances is the basis of life on earth. Among the elements and biogenic chemicals, we find those that are harmless to those that are highly toxic. In addition to the natural (endogenous) chemicals there is huge number of anthropogenic (exogenous) chemicals, including polymers. The latter have been/are created by mankind which also include chemicals refined from natural sources (e.g. coal, oil, the bedrock as well as from plants and animals).

Chemical environmental contaminants refers to anthropogenic chemicals, substances produced by human activities, for use in society (such as metals and their various compounds, alloys, pesticides, chemicals for use in technical processes and as additives in materials (including plastics), e.g. as dyes, plasticizers, flame retardants, preservation, etc.). The list can be made very long. It is the production of anthropogenic substances, their use and mobility that have led to, and will lead to their spread in the environment and thus to their presence in air and water (abiotic environments). Plants, animals and people are exposed to them intentionally or unintentionally. It is now that we can call them chemical environmental contaminants, or simply as "chemicals" as we understand that they are, at least potentially, environmentally hazardous chemical substances.

The research on chemical environmental pollution is about detecting, identifying and characterizing environmental contaminants in both abiotic and biogenic environments. Further, by studying and understanding the environment's exposure to and toxicity (acute and chronic toxicity) for humans and all biota (plants and wildlife). The research is crucial for society's decisions regarding management of chemicals. The research is conducted with advanced chemical methods for exposure and through a range of different toxicological and ecotoxicological methods to assess the danger of the chemicals and the risk to the environment and health these substances pose.

At Örebro University, research is conducted in the area of Chemicals and Environment" (for individual projects please consult the actual website):

The Man-Technology-Environment research centre, MTM, studies environmental toxicants and their effects on humans and the environment.

Occupational and environmental medicine conducts applied research on the significance of various environmental factors for human health.

Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Center, iRiSC, focuses on disease mechanisms and signaling systems in our immune system.

The Center for Life Sciences conducts research in biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology and toxicology.