Dr. Hanna Dusza

Biography

Hanna Dusza focuses on methodological development and characterization of prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and environmental pollutants, including micro-and nanoplastics. Her research emphasizes the effects of pollutants in the placenta and the developing fetus, underscoring the public health concerns related to early life human exposures to contaminants. With thousands of man-made chemicals introduced into the environment, many have the potential to pass through the placenta and affect the vulnerable fetus during a critical phase of development. However, the extent of fetal exposure to these pollutants and the mechanisms of toxicity remain largely unknown. Dusza's work addresses these issues through the development of novel methods for detecting and characterizing a wide range of potentially harmful chemical substances, particularly EDCs, present in human amniotic fluid. This fluid is an ideal medium for studying prenatal exposure as it can be collected non-invasively during delivery. Current research focuses on in vitro placental models to investigate the toxicokinetics and toxicity of micro- and nanoplastic particles associated with EDCs through the ZonMW program, which is administered by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development. This pioneering work aims at unraveling the exposure effects of microplastics within the human fetal environment.

Research Interests

Experience