Linda Schenk
Research
I study how toxicological data are used in risk assessment of chemicals and setting of exposure guideline values. Mainly I have focused on the kind of chemicals and exposures that occur in the workplace, that is inhalation and dermal, and how such risks are managed by work environment authorities, e.g. by setting occupational exposure limits and skin notations. I am interested in how new approaches to collecting knowledge can improve chemical safety, for instance new methods for deriving toxicological data and improved risk assessment methodology.
Among my current projects are:
-Exposure limit derivation procedures in theory and practice
-Understanding and use of occupational exposure limits
-Uptake and effects due to skin exposure
-Cleaning agents as a chemical risk
Teaching
- Supervises doctoral students and master’s students.
- Teaches in the master’s programs in work and health and in toxicology.
- Lectures at various levels on the assessment and management of chemical risks.
Articles
- Journal article: JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL HEALTH AND SAFETY. 2025Vilela L; Blom A; Runström Eden G; Tinnerberg H; Farbrot A; Julander A; Schenk L
- Article: ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH. 2025;69(7):722-735Schenk L; Engfeldt M; Tinnerberg H; Ricklund N; Tondel M; Wiebert P; Albin M; Broberg K
- Journal article: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2025;163:105916De Luca HP; Boudon S; Odermatt A; Schenk L; Hopf NB
- Article: JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. 2025;488:137367Jiang Z; Pan M; Liu Y; Lundh T; Pineda D; Schenk L; Saber AT; Vogel U; Ljunggren S; Ricklund N; Engfeldt M; Krais AM; Broberg K; SafeChrom Project Team S
- Article: JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE AND TOXICOLOGY. 2024;19(1):44Vilela L; Schenk L; Julander A; Midander K
- Article: REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY. 2024;128:108649Schenk L; Ho M-R; Taxell P; Huuskonen P; Leite M; Martinsone I; Nordby K-C; Paegle L; Strumylaite L
- Journal article: OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE-OXFORD. 2024;74(Supplement_1):0Jiang Z; Schenk L; Assarsson E; Albin M; Bertilsson H; Dock E; Hagberg J; Karlsson LE; Kines P; Krais AM; Ljunggren S; Lundh T; Modig L; Möller R; Pineda D; Ricklund N; Saber AT; Storsjö T; Amir ET; Tinnerberg H; Tondel M; Vogel U; Wiebert P; Engfeldt M; Broberg K
- Article: CONTACT DERMATITIS. 2024;91(1):22-29Vilela L; Lagrelius M; Berglind IA; Midander K; Schenk L; Julander A
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. 2024;256:114298Jiang Z; Schenk L; Assarsson E; Albin M; Bertilsson H; Dock E; Hagberg J; Karlsson LE; Kines P; Krais AM; Ljunggren S; Lundh T; Modig L; Moller R; Pineda D; Ricklund N; Saber AT; Storsjo T; Amir ET; Tinnerberg H; Tondel M; Vogel U; Wiebert P; Broberg K; Engfeldt M
- Article: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2023;142:105447Erfani B; Vilela L; Julander A; Schenk L
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION. 2023;45(1):22-42Hamza K; Wojcik A; Arvanitis L; Haglund K; Lundegard I; Schenk L
- Article: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH. 2022;28(9):1283-1296Lundegard I; Arvanitis L; Hamza K; Schenk L; Wojcik A; Haglund K
- Article: ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH. 2022;66(6):741-753Kathare M; Julander A; Erfani B; Schenk L
- Article: RISK ANALYSIS. 2021;41(12):2209-2219Schenk L; Hamza K; Arvanitis L; Lundegard I; Wojcik A; Haglund K
- Article: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2021;123:104929Schenk L; Johanson G
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. 2021;235:113773Schenk L; Wingfors H; Skoog B; Forsgard N; Nyberg C; Taube F
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. 2020;33(5):611-620Schenk L
- Article: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2020;115:104693Midander K; Schenk L; Julander A
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS. 2020;26(1):140-148Schenk L; Feychting K; Annas A; Oberg M
- Article: ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH. 2019;63(9):1004-1012Schenk L; Visser MJ; Palmen NGM
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION. 2019;41(9):1271-1286Schenk L; Hamza KM; Enghag M; Lundegard I; Arvanitis L; Haglund K; Wojcik A
- Journal article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RISK REGULATION. 2019;10(1):240Hansson SO; Schenk L
- Article: RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS. 2019;58(1):13-20Wojcik A; Hamza K; Lundegard I; Enghag M; Haglund K; Arvanitis L; Schenk L
- Article: PLOS ONE. 2018;13(10):e0205458Schenk L; Rauma M; Fransson MN; Johanson G
- Article: JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION. 2018;95(7):1132-1139Schenk L; Taher IA; Oberg M
- Article: ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH. 2018;62(5):517-529Schenk L; Oberg M
- Article: SAFETY SCIENCE. 2018;104:269-275Schenk L; Feychting K; Annas A; Oberg M
- Article: JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY. 2016;36(11):1379-1391Johansson MKV; Johanson G; Oberg M; Schenk L
- Journal article: NORDINA: NORDIC STUDIES IN SCIENCE EDUCATION. 2016;12(2):218-234Enghag M; Schenk L
- Journal article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RISK REGULATION. 2016;7(2):404-412Hansson SH; Schenk L
- Article: SAFETY SCIENCE. 2015;80:233-242Schenk L; Antonsson A-B
- Article: ANNALS OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE. 2015;59(4):416-438Schenk L; Deng U; Johanson G
- Article: HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT. 2014;20(5):1329-1344Ding Q; Schenk L; Hansson SO
- Journal article: JOURNAL OF NANO EDUCATION. 2014;6(1):50-62Karlsson C; Enghag M; Wester M; Schenk L
- Article: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2014;68(1):51-58Westerholm E; Schenk L
- Journal article: POLICY AND PRACTICE IN HEALTH AND SAFETY. 2014;12(1):91-106Schenk L; Wester M
- Article: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE. 2013;56(12):1423-1432Ding Q; Schenk L; Hansson SO
- Journal article: ISRN DENTISTRY. 2013;2013(1):1-8Schenk L
- Article: ANNALS OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE. 2013;57(5):581-592Schenk L; Palmen NGM
- Article: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2013;65(3):304-310Schenk L
- Article: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2011;61(3):296-309Ding Q; Schenk L; Malkiewicz K; Hansson SO
- Article: TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES. 2011;121(2):408-416Schenk L; Johanson G
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. 2010;16(3):249-262Schenk L
- Article: JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY. 2008;28(7):858-866Schenk L; Hansson SO; Ruden C; Gilek M
- Article: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2008;50(2):261-270Schenk L; Hansson SO; Ruden C; Gilek M
- Article: WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION. 2006;173(1-4):339-354Sundberg J; Karlsson P-E; Schenk L; Pleijel H
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All other publications
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2023;384:S121Vilela L; Midander K; Schenk L; Julander A
- Review: JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY. 2023;43(1):186-194Johanson G; Moto TP; Schenk L
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2021;350:S212Oberg M; Schenk L
- Review: REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY. 2020;117:104752Hopf NB; Champmartin C; Schenk L; Berthet A; Chedik L; Du Plessis JL; Franken A; Frasch F; Gaskin S; Johanson G; Julander A; Kasting G; Kilo S; Filon FL; Marquet F; Midander K; Reale E; Bunge AL
- Review: ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY. 2019;93(5):1187-1200Schenk L; Johanson G
- Review: CRITICAL REVIEWS IN TOXICOLOGY. 2018;48(7):513-521Schenk L; Johanson G
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2017;280:S94-S95Schenk L; Johanson G
- Conference publication: CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY. 2017;55(5):426-427Using Swedish Poisons Information Centre data to identify chemical accident hazards at the workplaceAnnas A; Feychting K; Oberg M; Schenk L
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2015;238(2):S140-S141Schenk L; Antonsson A-B; Johanson G
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2014;229:S120Schenk L; Ding Q; Hansson SO
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2012;211:S129Schenk L
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2011;205:S268Schenk L; Johanson G
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2011;205:S241Ding Q; Schenk L; Malkiewicz K; Hansson SO
- Review: CRITICAL REVIEWS IN TOXICOLOGY. 2010;40(9):791-798Schenk L; Johanson G
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2010;196:S101Schenk L; Ruden C; Hansson SO; Wester M
- Book chapter: REGULATING CHEMICAL RISKS. 2010;p. 133-150Schenk L
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2009;189:S239Schenk L
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2008;180:S74Schenk L; Ruden C; Hansson SO; Gilek M
- Conference publication: TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. 2007;172:S123-S124Schenk L; Ruden C; Gilek M; Hansson SO
Grants
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026Research problem and specific questions: Cleaning and disinfection agents are widely used in various occupational settings and a growing body of evidence from observational studies shows this results in lung function impairments. However, mechanisms a behind these effects are yet unclear. This project aims to clarify the risks of lung disease posed by the mixtures in cleaning agents and evaluate the adequacy of applicable regulations. Specifically:Which biomarkers of cell membrane integrity inflammation, toxicity and cell death are activated in in vitro advanced lung mucosa models by cleaning agent exposure?How do responses compare between alveolar and bronchial mucosa models?How do responses compare between exposures to mixtures and ingredients one by one?What are the implications of potential mixture effects for regulatory hazard assessments?Data and method: We will employ systematic literature search strategies and new approach methodologies (NAMs), including advanced multicellular lung mucosa in vitro models and adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). The AOPs will be used to organise existing knowledge and translate experimental findings, such as molecular mechanisms and cellular reactions in vitro, to a human in vivo setting.Plan for project realisation: The project will start with a scoping review to connect mechanistic data to adverse respiratory tract outcomes and map out a tentative AOP network and identify mechanisms, or key events, of particular relevance to pursue experimentally. Next, experimental work on fully formulated products will be performed in multi-cellular human bronchial and alveolar models. To start untangling the mixture effects the third substudy concerns experimental work on single substance exposures. Finally, we will perform case-studies on mixture risk assessment inhalation exposure to cleaning agents.Relevance: The wide-spread use of cleaning agents makes it a chemical risk factor for a broad part of the workforce. A mechanistic understanding is essential for regulatory risk assessment, as are further studies of cleaning agents’ mixture effects and their role in lung disease. Our project is a step in identifying problematic substances and substance combinations in mixtures and lays the foundation for knowledge that can lead to reformulation of cleaning agents into safer alternatives. Our project also contributes to the field of mixture risk assessment, where inhalation exposure of mixtures is under-researched field.
- Horizon Europe1 September 2022 - 31 August 2027INQUIRE aims to protect citizen health by providing knowledge, tools, and measures to substantially improve indoor air quality (IAQ). We will conduct research and evaluate innovative actions to reduce hazardous chemical and biological determinants in homes, positively impacting the health of residents. INQUIRE will focus particularly on infants and young children (<5 years old) as highly sensitive groups that spend a substantial time in the home environment. INQUIRE will comprehensively advance our understanding of the determinants of IAQ in homes by implementing innovative, low-cost, non-invasive sampling strategies (sensors, indoor/outdoor passive sampling, urine biomonitoring) to characterize determinants of household IAQ and their importance to human exposure. To capture the breath of IAQ determinants across Europe, the study will monitor for one month over 200 homes distributed across 8 countries, covering a gradient of conditions in each country. Tiered high-resolution chemical and biological screening techniques and wide-scope holistic characterisation of hazards will provide a comprehensive assessment of the determinants of IAQ. Multifaceted data analysis techniques (including machine learning, exposure modelling, geospatial analysis), will link chemical, biological and toxicity profiles with drivers of IAQ to identify sources and prioritize pollutants. Source identification will feed directly into the testing of both novel technologies and readily deployable strategies to improve IAQ, resulting in evidence-based recommendations and a draft of policy strategy for developing IAQ standards. INQUIREs Open Science approach and generated FAIR data on hazardous determinants, their effects, risk factors and sources will endorse continuous exploitation of results. Open dissemination of generated knowledge will raise citizen awareness while exploitation by industry and policy makers will endorse a transition towards homes with zero pollution. The project INQUIRE is part of the European cluster on indoor air quality and health, IDEAL.
- European Commission1 May 2022 - 30 April 2029
- Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
- Does increased hand hygiene as a result of Covid-19 affect work-related skin disease and contact allergies? A survey of hand eczema in different occupational groups and in vitro studies of how the damaged barrier affects exposure to allergens.AFA Försäkring1 September 2020 - 31 August 2024
- Chemical risks with occupatioanlly used cleaning agentsAFA Insurance1 March 2020 - 28 February 2025
- Will worker DNELs derived under the European REACH regulation complement occupational exposure limits for data-poor substances?AFA Insurance1 January 2017 - 31 December 2019
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 January 2017 - 31 December 2019
Employments
- Principal Researcher, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-
Degrees and Education
- Docent, Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, 2014