Research aims of the Institute of Ecological Chemistry (IEC), as a part of GSF, can be summarized under the topics: occurrence, fate and effects of chemicals in the environment, their remediation and the avoidance of hazardous effects. Five research groups work in areas of environmental organic and inorganic analysis, humic substances, ecotoxicology, decontamination, aerosols and environmental fate and impact assessment. The group “Ecotoxicology and Environmental Trace Analysis”, directed by Schramm use international standard test procedures, HRGC/HRMS, cell lines etc. to characterize and assess chemicals in human and environmental samples and samples from industrial processes. Furthermore the group deals with the development of new analytical techniques especially for sample preparation for early recognition of environmental chemical impact at trace levels. They will provide all their expertise in the field of environmental trace analysis and biomonitoring, as well as molecular ecotoxicology focusing on the development of novel biomonitoring and assessment methods. This will contribute to the training and exchange of knowledge about powerful, sustainable and sound monitoring approaches, including quality assurance and accreditation according to EN 17025.

Joachim Heinrich, PhD, is Head of the Unit of Environmental Epidemiology at the GSF-Institute of Epidemiology. His key research interest is related to the effect of air pollution exposure on human health and determinants of asthma and allergies, with authorship of more than 200 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. He has a long experience in the research field on measurements of ambient air pollutants and modelling of exposure to ambient pollutants and other environmental pollutants. He has extensive experience in the co-ordination of and participation in multi-centre and multi-disciplinary studies (EU funded projects: PEACE, TRAPCA, AIRALLERG, ULTRA, APHEA, ECRHS, PINCHE, PATY, EARNEST).

Prof. H.-Erich Wichmann,MD, PhD(GSF) has been director of the GSF-Institute of Epidemiology, since it was founded in 1990. Since 1995 he has been Professor of Epidemiology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich. He has long experience in several research areas of epidemiology and the co-ordination of multi-centre projects. He studied Physics and Medicine and led many studies in the field of environmental epidemiology, air pollution and respiratory effects, most of them interdisciplinary and multi-centre. He is author of more than 400 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals.

Prof. Dr , Karl-Werner Schramm, Institute of Ecological Chemistry (IEC). The IEC has strong expertise in environmental sciences, green and ecological chemistry as well as risk assessment of chemical hazards.

GSF will contribute to WP1.2 (Source-exposure), WP1.3 (Exposure-health effect) and WP2.2 (Biomonitoring).