Izr. prof. dr. Anita Jemec Kokalj
[ email | bibliography | personal page ]
My main research activity: Anita Jemec Kokalj is an Assistant Professor in the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. She has more than 15 years of experience in the field of ecotoxicology, with the major part of her research focused on nanoecotoxicity, in terms of both fate and environmental hazard. In recent years, she has been actively involved in microplastics and nanoplastics research. Her research is focused on the potential effects of materials using different test systems, from cell lines, to aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, to vertebrate embryos. As well as the classical toxicological endpoints, her interest is to investigate changes at the cellular and subcellular levels, including stress responses, detoxification, and immune responses. She is involved in the development of the assessment criteria for the quality of ecotoxicity data for regulatory purposes.
My main research fields are:
- emerging contaminants of concern: endocrine disruptors, pesticides, nanomaterials and microplastics
- aquatic toxicology,
- terrestrial toxicology,
- environmental risk assessment,
- biology of cave and surface freshwater crustaceans.
I was awarded a PhD in Biological Science (2008) from Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The title of the thesis is: Biochemical biomarkers in invertebrates.
Awards, honors, and grants:
- (2015) Outstanding reviewer certificate (Springer)
- (2014) Grant from Slovenian Academy of Science and Estonian Academy of Science for a 4 days visit at the NICPB, Estonia,
- (2009) Grant from Slovenian Academy of Science and Estonian Academy of Science for a 10 days visit of NICPB, Estonia,
- (2009) The Royal Society travel grant, 3-months visit of University of Exeter, UK,
- (2008) World Federation of Scientists National Scholarship,
- (2005) Young Investigator Award for the presentation at the conference Second Workshop on Comparative Aspects of Oxidative Stress in Biological Systems,
- (2004) Faculty Jesenko’s prize.
- (2003) Faculty Prešeren’s prize.
- (2003) Scholarship for successful students, Student club Domžale.
- (1994-2001) Zois Scholarship.
Editorial board memberships:
Leader of project Impact of environmentally relevant nano- and micro-plastics on soil invertebrates (ARRS J1-2482). Read more about this project.
UL leader in EU Horizon 2020 Papillons project.
2023
Modulation of chlorpyrifos toxicity to soil arthropods by simultaneous exposure to polyester microfibers or tire particle microplastics
Selonen, S, Jemec Kokalj, A, Benguedouar, H, Alavian P., Dolar, A, Drobne, D, Cornelis a. m. van Gestel
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Applied soil ecology
2022
Effects of microplastics from disposable medical masks on terrestrial invertebrates
Jemec Kokalj A, Dolar A, Drobne D, Škrlep Š, Sever Škapin A, Marolt G, Nagode A, A.M. van Gestel Cornelis
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Journal of Hazardous Materials
2022
Environmental hazard of polypropylene microplastics from disposable medical masks : acute toxicity towards Daphnia magna and current knowledge on other polypropylene microplastics
Jemec Kokalj A, Dolar A, Drobne D, Marinšek M, Dolenec M, Škrlep Š, Strmljan G, Mušič, M, Sever Škapin A,
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Microplastics and Nanoplastics
2021
Effects of bioinsecticidal aegerolysin-based cytolytic complexes on non-target organisms
Panevska A, Glavan G, Jemec Kokalj A, Kukuljan V, Trobec T, Žužek MC, Vrecl M, Drobne D, Frangež R, Sepčić K
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Toxins
2021
Stem cells of aquatic invertebrates as an advanced tool for assessing ecotoxicological impacts
Rosner A, Armengaud J, Ballarin L, Barnay-Verdier S, Cima F, Varela Coelho A, Domart-Coulon I, Drobne D, Geneviere A, Jemec Kokalj A, Kotlarska E, Ramšak A
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Science of the total environment
2021
Exploring the impacts of microplastics and associated chemicals in the terrestrial environment : exposure of soil invertebrates to tire particles
Selonen S, Dolar A, Jemec Kokalj A, Sackey LNA, Skalar T, Cruz Fernandes V, Rede D, Delerue-Matos C, Hurley R, Nizzetto L, Gestel CAM
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Environmental research : multidisciplinary journal of environmental sciences, ecology, and public health
2020
Stem cells and innate immunity in aquatic invertebrates : bridging two seemingly disparate disciplines for new discoveries in biology
Ballarin L, Karahan A, Salvetii A, Rossi L, Manni L, Rinkevich B, Rosner A, Voskoboynik A, Rosental B, Canesi L, Anselmi C, Pinsino A, Tohumcu BE, Jemec Kokalj A, Dolar A, Novak S, Sugni M, Corsi I, Drobne D
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Frontiers in immunology
2020
Proteomic investigation of Zn-challenged rice roots reveals adverse effects and root physiological adaptation
Šimon M, Shen ZJ, Ghoto K, Chen J, Liu X, Gao GF, Jemec Kokalj A, Drašler B, Zhang JY, You YP, Drobne D, Zheng HL
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Plant and soil
2020
The quality of Slovenian chestnut honey and its specific properties relevant for medical application and functional nutrition = Kakovost slovenskega kostanjevega medu in njegove poznane lastnosti v prid medicinski uporabi in za funkcionalno prehrano
Božič J, Bertoncelj J, Drobne D, Glavan G, Gunde-Cimerman N, Leonardi A, Kopinč R, Jemec Kokalj A, Novak S, Korošec M, Križaj I, Podrižnik B, Turk M, Zabret A
Acta biologica slovenica
2019
The first comprehensive safety study of Magnéli phase titanium suboxides reveals no acute environmental hazard
Jemec Kokalj A, Novak S, Talaber I, Kononenko V, Bizjak Mali L, Vodovnik M, Žegura B, Eleršek T, Kalčíková G, Žgajnar Gotvajn A, Kralj S, Makovec D, Čaloudova H, Drobne D
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Environmental science Nano
2018
The in vivo effects of silver nanoparticles on terrestrial isopods, Porcellio scaber, depend on a dynamic interplay between shape, size and nanoparticle dissolution properties
Novak S, Romih T, Drašler B, Birarda G, Vaccari L, Ferraris P, Sorieul S, Zieba M, Sebastian V, Arruebo M, Hočevar S.B., Jemec Kokalj A, Drobne D
Analyst
2016
Four decades of multidisciplinary studies on isopods: a tribute to Pavel Ličar
Bogataj U, Drobne D, Jemec A, Kostanjšek R, Mrak P, Novak S, Prevorčnik S, Sket B, Trontelj P, Tušek Žnidarič M, Vittori M, Zidar P, Žnidaršič N, Štrus J
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Acta Biologica Slovenica
2016
Multilaboratory evaluation of 15 bioassays for (eco)toxicity screening and hazard ranking of engineered nanomaterials: FP7 project NANOVALID
Bondarenko OM, Heinlaan M, Sihtmäe M, Ivask A, Kurvet I, Joonas E, Jemec A, Mannerström M, Heinonen T, Rekulapelly R, Singh S, Zou J, Pyykkö I, Drobne D, Kahru A
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Nanotoxicology
2016
An interlaboratory comparison of nanosilver characterisation and hazard identification: Harmonising techniques for high quality data
Jemec A, Kahru A, Potthoff A, Drobne D, Heinlaan M, Böhme S, Geppert M, Novak S, Schirmer K, Rekulapally R, Singh S, Aruoja V, Sihtmäe M, Juganson K, Käkinen A, Kühnel D
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Environment International
2015
FTIR microscopy reveals distinct biomolecular profile of crustacean digestive glands upon subtoxic exposure to ZnO nanoparticles
Romih T, Jemec A, Novak S, Vaccari L, Ferraris P, Šimon M, Kos M, Susič R, Kogej K, Zupanc J, Drobne D
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Nanotoxicology
2015
High surface adsorption properties of carbon-based nanomaterials are responsible for mortality, swimming inhibition, and biochemical responses in Artemia salina larvae
Mesarič T, Gambardella C, Milivojević T, Faimali M, Drobne D, Falugi C, Makovec D, Jemec A, Sepčić K
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Aquatic Toxicology
