Environmental chemicals an unknown threat – she wants to solve the triple crisis

Alongside climate change and biodiversity loss, thousands of chemicals are released into the environment every year. Joëlle Rüegg, professor at the Department of Organismal Biology, Physiology and Environmental Toxicology at Uppsala University, talks about a triple crisis.

“Studies show that chemical emissions are at least as big a risk to the environment and health as climate change, but we don't talk about it as much,” she says.

The focus of Joëlle Rüegg's research is how the genome is affected by environmental chemicals. These are not mutations, but changes in the larger structure of DNA. But like mutations, these can be inherited.

“We have seen in studies of fish that chemicals have effects several generations down the line. Even in fish that have not been directly exposed, the genome is altered,” says Joëlle Rüegg.

Much is unknown

Much is currently unknown about the long-term effects of chemicals, so an important aspect of Joëlle Rüegg's research is to develop evaluation methods to enable more extensive testing before new chemicals are introduced to the market.

“In Europe, we still have the best legislation for controlling chemicals, but here too there is much room for improvement,” says Joëlle Rüegg.

One of the best-known, current examples is the PFAS group of substances. These non-biodegradable chemicals are used in the manufacture of many everyday products, such as functional clothing, Teflon pans and medicine capsules.

“It has been found, for example, that exposure to certain PFASs during pregnancy can be linked to lower IQ in children,” says Joëlle Rüegg.

Production of batteries

In connection with what is known as the green transition, substances are also released that we don't really know much about, she says, for example in the production of more climate-friendly batteries.

“This is a conflict. We have to do something about the climate, but when new technologies are developed at record speed, it's easy to create new problems,” says Joëlle Rüegg.

She therefore welcomes the collaboration that is possible within the wider area of strength, Evolution and biodiversity in a changing world.

“My research mainly looks at the effects of chemical emissions. But there are other aspects of how humans contribute to rapid change, and we want to understand how these aspects affect each other,” says Joëlle Rüegg.

Sigrid Asker