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Publications
Publications (18)
At a pilot scale wastewater treatment plant ozonation and powdered activated carbon filtration were assessed for their efficacy to remove trace organic contaminants from secondary treated effluents. A chemical analysis of 16 organic compounds was accompanied by a comprehensive suite of in vitro and in vivo bioassays with the focus on genotoxicity t...
Since the 1980s, advances in wastewater treatment technology have led to considerably improved surface water quality in the urban areas of many high income countries. However, trace concentrations of organic wastewater-associated contaminants may still pose a key environmental hazard impairing the ecological quality of surface waters. To identify k...
Bio-equivalents (bio-EQs, e.g., 17β-estradiol or dioxin equivalents) are commonly employed to quantify the in vitro effects of complex human or environmental samples. However, there is no generally accepted data analysis strategy for estimating and reporting bio-EQs. Therefore, the aims of the present study are to (I) identify common mathematical m...
Driven by globalization, urbanization and climate change, the distribution range of invasive vector species has expanded to previously colder ecoregions. To reduce health‐threatening impacts on humans, insect vectors are extensively studied. Population genomics can reveal the genomic basis of adaptation and help to identify emerging trends of vecto...
Background
Since 2006, Nepal has experienced frequent Dengue fever (DF) outbreaks. Up to now, there have been no knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies carried out on DF in Nepal that have included qualitative in-depth and quantitative data. Thus, we aimed to explore and compare the KAP of people residing in the lowland (< 1500 m) and highl...
Background
Vector-borne diseases are on the rise on a global scale, which is anticipated to further accelerate because of anthropogenic climate change. Resource-limited regions are especially hard hit by this increment with the currently implemented surveillance programs being inadequate for the observed expansion of potential vector species. Cost-...
Background
Driven by globalization, urbanization and climate change, the distribution range of invasive vector species has expanded to previously colder ecoregions. To reduce health-threatening impacts on humans, insect vectors are extensively studied. Population genomics can reveal the genomic basis of adaptation and help to identify emerging tren...
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus transmit diseases such as dengue, and are of major public health concern. Driven by climate change and global trade/travel both species have recently spread to new tropic/subtropic regions and Ae. albopictus also to temperate ecoregions. The capacity of both species to adapt to new environments depends on their ec...
Container‐breeding Aedes spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes can be surveilled at low cost using ovitraps. Hence, this method is a preferred monitoring approach of dengue vectors in low‐resource settings. The ovitraps consist of a cup filled with water and an oviposition substrate for female mosquitoes. The attractiveness of the substrates for fem...
Mosquito-borne diseases are a continuous challenge to public health. To prevent transmission, Integrated Vector Management (IVM) applies preventive, control, and communicational strategies that should be feasible, environmentally benign, and sustainable. IVM shows higher efficiency when being supported by local communities. Accordingly, we applied...
An international round-robin study on the Ames fluctuation test [ISO 11350, 2012], a microplate version of the classic plate-incorporation method for the detection of mutagenicity in water, wastewater and chemicals was performed by 18 laboratories from seven countries. Such a round-robin study is a precondition for both the finalization of the ISO...
IntheframeoftheEuropeanFP6projectNeptune,acombinationofbiologicalactivatedcarbon
withultrafiltration(BioMAC)wasinvestigatedformicropollutant,pathogenandecotoxicity
removal.Onepilotscaleset-upandtwolab-scaleset-ups,ofwhichinoneset-upthegranular
activatedcarbon(GAC)wasreplacedbysand,werefollowedupduringaperiodof11months.
ItwasfoundthatacombinationofGA...
Concerns about endocrine disrupting compounds in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents give rise to the implementation of advanced treatment steps for the elimination of trace organic contaminants. The present study investigated the effects of ozonation (O(3)) and activated carbon treatment (AC) on endocrine activities [estrogenicity, anti-estroge...
Wastewater treatment plants do not eliminate micropollutants completely and are thus important point sources for these substances. Ozonation and activated carbon treatment might be beneficial for ecosystem health as these techniques provide effective barriers to organic contaminants. However, a toxicity evaluation is required to investigate toxicit...
Ozonation as advanced wastewater treatment method is an effective technique for micropollutant removal. However, the application of this method carries the inherent danger to produce toxic oxidation byproducts. For an ecotoxicological assessment conventionally treated wastewater, wastewater after ozonation and ozonated wastewater after sand filtrat...
Projects
Projects (2)
West Nile virus (WNV) infections are on the rise. In Germany, the virus was detected for the first time in 2018 and has spread into the bird, horse and human population during the following years. However, antiviral therapy or authorised vaccination are lacking for humans. Thus, vector control is one preventive tool to counteract disease outbreaks. The mosquito Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) is thought to be the main vector of WNV in Germany.
The project aims to extend the possibilities to control the larval stages by (1) efficiency testing of additional larvicides and biological control agents and (2) user-oriented practicability testing. To enhance the efficiency of prevention measures, we (3) identify and characterise stakeholders and (4) enter into an interdisciplinary dialogue with scientists, authorities and citizens in order to (5) identify suitable approaches for future action regarding WNV in Germany.
This project explores the ecology and lifecycle biology of mosquitoes and studies how to manipulate them to accomplish vector management goals.