Our lab works on exposure assessment and environmental occurrence of xenobiotics that are considered worldwide concerns to Environment and Public Health. We study the toxicants and drugs’ mode of action to identify new biomarkers to support Human and Environmental Risk Assessment processes and develop innovative technologies and therapies.

We have been involved in Environmental and Human Risk Assessment resulting from exposure to xenobiotics that are considered worldwide issues. Development of mitigation strategies, Regulation and Risk communication accrue from the probability and severity of adverse effects.

Based on the xenobiotics and drugs’ mode of action, we also quantify and identify new biomarkers of the predictive effect of toxicity. Additionally, new technologies are being implemented and optimized to screen new contaminants, followed by two approaches: pre-treatment or quantifying methods. Regarding this last issue, the focus is the analysis of microplastics in environmental and biota matrices.

Our objectives include the study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of toxicity involving redox systems with an emphasis on the thioredoxin system. In this context, the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase appears as a central target to electrophilic agents. Our group first discovered its involvement on the mercury’s Neurotoxicity. Now we are using that knowledge to evaluate the repurposing of thimerosal (ethylmercury thiosalicilate) and derivatives as a therapeutic option in Oncology. Different approaches are being tested to specifically target cancer cells and these include Innovative technologies.