معرفی
Martine Leermakers is a Technical Expert in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Geochemistry at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). She obtained her PhD from VUB in 1998 on mercury biogeochemistry in the Scheldt Estuary and North Sea. Her research focuses on trace metal speciation, development of passive sampling techniques (DGT/DET), and environmental and health impacts of metals in contaminated sites and marine ecosystems. She has led/co-led 13 projects since 2005, including initiatives on volcanic impacts on mass extinctions and nuclear education policy. Her work spans collaborations in Antarctica, mining regions, and coastal zones.
Key research interests include:
- Geochemical cycling of metals/radioisotopes in sediments
- In situ trace metal speciation via diffusive sampling
- Human and ecosystem health effects of contaminants
Recent publications (2023–2025) analyze volcanic history’s role in mass extinctions, mycorrhizal crop improvement, and methylmercury exposure trends in Belgium. She actively supervises PhD/MS students and participates in international field campaigns. Current projects (2022–2028) include X-ray characterization methods and oxyanion toxicity in aquatic ecosystems.
Notable contributions include over 169 peer-reviewed publications, 73 conference activities, and 56 supervised theses. She maintains a VUB-based lab focused on environmental analytical chemistry and collaborates internationally on sediment and health studies.
