Tel: ++32 (0) 11 268331
Fax: ++32 (0) 11 268301

Email: jvangron@luc.ac.be

Jaco Vangronsveld studied Biology at the Limbergs University Centre (L.U.C.) in Diepenbeek and the University of Antwerp. In 1988 he started as a Research Assistant at the L.U.C.. He obtained his Ph.D. in Botany at the University of Antwerp in 1990 and became Research Co-ordinator of the Environmental Biology research group of the multidisciplinary Centre for Environmental Sciences of the L.U.C.. This group started with laboratory and in situ studies on inactivation and phytoremediation (phytostabilization and phytoextraction) of heavy metal contaminated soils in 1985 and is involved in several national and international projects and collaborations in this field. Phytoremediation of soils contaminated with organics also belongs to the research area of this group. Biological tests for the evaluation of soil toxicity were developed. These activities are practical applications based on the fundamental research program of the laboratory. The latter is concentrated on the (eco-)physiolocal and biochemical sequence of events after application of heavy metals and other types of stress (salt, heat, drought, UV-B, ozone, ...) to plants. Studies of tolerance mechanisms against heavy metals and selections of metal tolerant plants are also parts of the fundamental research program. This research program is performed on several plant species, from which certain species are genetically transformed.

Clijsters H., Van Assche F., Vangronsveld J., Gora L. (1990): Plant cell membranes as a common target for pollutants and environmental stress? Environmental Contamination (ed. J. Barcelo),pp. 41-44. CEP Consultants, Edinburgh.

Van Assche F., Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H. (1990): Physiological aspects of metal toxicity in plants. Environmental Contamination (ed. J. Barcelo),pp. 246-250. CEP Consultants, Edinburgh.

Vangronsveld J., Van Assche F., Clijsters H. (1990): Immobilization of heavy metals in polluted soils by application of a modified alumino-silicate: biological evaluation. Environmental Contamination (ed. J. Barcelo),pp. 283-285. CEP Consultants, Edinburgh.

Vangronsveld J., De Schepper L., Van Assche F., Clijsters H. (1990): Study of heavy Metal contamination of leaf surfaces: phytotoxicity reponses and localization of Zinc in primary leaves of bean seedlings. Environmental Contamination (ed. J.Barcelo),pp.534-536. CEP Consultants, Edinburgh.

Vangronsveld J., Cammaer C., Van Assche F., Clijsters H. (1991): Reclamation of a 'desert-like' site in the North East of Belgium: evolution of the metal pollution and experiments in situ. Heavy Metals in the Environment, Vol. 1 (ed. J.G. Farmer), pp. 58-61, CEP Consultants, Edinburgh.

Vangronsveld J., Clijster H. (1992) A biological test system for the evaluation of Metal phytotoxicity and immobilization by additives in metal-contaminated soils. In: Merian, E. and Haerdi, W. (eds.) Metal compounds in environment and life, 4 (Interrelation between chemistry and biology),p. 117-125. Sciences and Technology Letters, Norwood, U.K.

Vangronsveld J., Muller I., Clijsters H. (1992): Leaves of birch (Betula pendula) and Pine (Pinus sylvestris) as biomonitors for atmospheric deposition of heavy metals Around closed and active zinc smelters. Environmental Contamination (ed. J-P Vernet),pp.26. CEP Consultants, Edinburgh.

Weckx J., Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H. (1993): Heavy metal induction of ethylene Production and stress enzymes. I. Kinetics of the responses. Cellular and Molecular aspects of the plant hormone ethylene, pp.238-239. Ed. by J.C. Pech et al. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, NL.

Vangronsveld J., Weckx J., Kubacka-Zebalska M., Clijsters H. (1993): Heavy metal induction of ethylene production and stress enzymes. II. Is ethylene involved in the signal transduction from stress perception to stress responses? Cellular and molecular aspects of the plant hormone ethylene, pp.240-246. Ed. by J.C. Pech et al. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordecht, NL.

Vangronsveld J., Sterckx J., Van Assche F., Clijsters H. (1993): Rehabilitation studies on an old non-ferrous waste dumping ground: effects of metal immobilization and revegetation. Heavy Metals in the Environment. pp. 563-566. CEP Consultant, Edinburgh, GB.

Clijsters H., Vangronsveld J. (1994): Reclamation of contaminated soils by in situ immobilization of heavy metals. Proceedings of the Workshop Soil Remediation (INRA, Paris) 1992,pp.57-62. Ed. by C. Avril and R. Impens. Clijsters H., Vangronsveld J. (1994): Reclamation of industrial sites, contaminated by non-ferrous metals. 'In situ heavy metal immobilization and revegetation. Proceedings of the Symposium Soil Remediation (Koninklijke Academie voor Wetenschappen, Letteren en Schone Kunsten van Belgi' SCOPE Committee. Brussel)pp. 117-122. Ed. by C. Avril and R. Impens.

Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H. (1994): Toxic effects of metals. In: Plants and the Chemical elements. Ed. by M. Farago. pp. 149-177. VCH Verlagsgesellshaft,Weinheim, Germany.

Mench M., Vangronsveld J., Didier V., Clijsters H. (1994): Evaluation of metal Mobility, plant availability and immobilization by chemical agents in a limed-silty soil. Environmental Pollution, 86, 279-286.

Vangronsveld J., Carleer R., and H. Clijsters (1994): Transfer of metals and Metalloids from soil to man through vegetables cultivated in polluted gardens: risk assessment and methods for immobilization of these elements in soils. Environmental Contamination, pp. 142-145 (ed. S.P. Varnavas), CEP Consultants Edinburgh, GB.

Vangronsveld J., Van Assche F., Clijsters H. (1995): Reclamation of a bare industrial area, contaminated by non-ferrous metals: in situ metal immobilization and revegetation. Environmental Pollution, 87, 51-59.

Vangronsveld J., Sterckx J., Van Assche F., Clijsters H. (1995): Rehabilitation studies on an old non-ferrous waste dumping ground: effects of revegetation and metal immobilization by beringite. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 52, 221-229.

Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H. (1995): Reclamation of bare areas contaminated by non-ferrous metals: in situ metal immobilization and revegetation with metal tolerant plants. Abstract Book of the Fourteenth Annual Symposium Current Topics in Plant Biochemistry, Physiology and Molecular Biology. Will Plants have A role in Bioremediation? Ed. by Randall D., The interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, pp. 124-125.

Clijsters H., Vangronsveld H. (1995): Soil remediation by in situ immobilization of Metals and metalloids. Proceedings of the symposium 'L'assainissement des sols Pollues, Ecotop 95, Brussel, Ed. by Dubourguier H.C. and Hofman M,pp.55-59.

Weckx J.E.J., Clijsters H.M.M. (1996) Oxidative damage and defense mechanisms in primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris as a result of root assimilation of toxic amounts of copper. Physiologia Plantarum, 96, 506-512.

Van Tichelen K.K., Vangronsveld J., Colpaert J.V. (1996): Reclamation of a bare Industrial area contaminated by non-ferrous metal: occurence of the AM infection, physico-chemical and biological evaluation of the durability of soil treatment and revegetation. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Mycorrhizae, Berkeley, p. 120-

Mocquot B., Vangronsveld J., Clijster H., Mench M. (1996): Induction of enzyme capacity in maize (Zea mays L.) as a result of copper toxicity: dose-response relationship. Plant and Soil, 182 (2), 287-300.

Vangronsveld J., Colpaert J., Van Tichelen K. (1996): Reclamation of a bare industrial area contaminated by non-ferrous metals: physico-chemical and biological evaluation of the durability of soil treatment and revegetation. Environmental Pollution, 94, 131-140.

Mattioni C., Gabbrielli R., Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H. (1997): Nickel and cadmium Toxicity an enzymatic activity in Ni-tolerant and non-tolerant population ofSilene italica Pers. Journal of plant physiology, 150, 173-177.

Weckx J.E.J., Clijsters H.M.M. (1997): Zn phytotoxicity induces oxidative stress in primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 35(5), 405-410.

Vangronsveld J., Mench M., Mocquot B., Clijster H. (1997): Biomarqueurs DeExposition de vogotaux terrestres aux pollutants. Application la pollution par Les motaux. In: Utilisation de Biomarquers pour la Surveillance de la Quality de la Environment, eds. Lagadic, L., Caquet T., Amiard J-C., Ramade F., Tec & Doc Lavoisier, Paris (F), 165-181.

Vangronsveld J., Mocquot B., Mench M., Clijsters H. (1998): Biomarquers du stress Oxydant chez les vogotaux. In: Biomarquers en Ecotoxicologie-Aspects Fondamentaux, eds. Lagadic, L., Caquet, T., Amiard, J-C., Ramade, F., Masson, Paris(F), 165-183.

Vangronsveld J., Ruttens A., Clijsters H. (1997): The use of Cyclonic Ashes of Fluidized bed burning of coal mines refuse for immobilization of metals in soils. In: Iskander I.K., Hardy S.E., Chang A.C., Pierzynski G.M. (eds.) Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace elements. University of California, Berkeley, pp. 21-22.

Vangronsveld J., Ruttens A., Clijsters H. (1998): Metal immobilization and phyto-stabilization of contaminated soils. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements. University of California, Berkeley, pp. 641-642.

Diels L., Taghavi S., Lodewycks C., Noe L., Corbisier P., Merheay M., Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H., Van der Lelie N. (1997): A comparative study of heavy metal Contaminated site restoration by phyto-stabilization and -extraction. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace elements. University of California, Berkeley, pp. 475.

Mench M., Coussin F., Mocquot B., Bussiere S., Prunet T., Lagriffoul A., Vangronsveld J. (1997): A plant bioassay for determining the chronic phytotoxicity parameters of metal-contaminated soils and wastes. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the biogeochemistry of Trace Elements. University of California, Berkeley, pp. 559-560.

Tremel A., Valcke R., Vangronsveld J., Mench M. (1997): Thallium chronic toxicity on Maize (Zea mays L.): C02 assimilation may be an early marker in progression of Impairment. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements. University of California, Berkeley, pp. 53-54.

Boisson J., Sappin-Didier V., Mench M., Masson P., Vangronsveld J. (1997): Influence of beringite and steel shots on the mobility and bioavailability of cadmium and nickel: a field study. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements. University of California, Berkeley, pp, 309-310.

Adriano D.C., Chlopecka A., Kaplan D.J., Clijsters H., Vangronsveld J., Impens I. (1997): Soil contamination and remediation philosophy, science and technology. Contaminated Soils. Proceedings of the Third international conference on the biogeochemistry of trace elements in soils, Paris (F), May 15-19, 1995, pp 465-504. Ed. INRA, Paris.

Lagriffoul A., Mocquot B., Mench M., Vangronsveld J. (1998): Cadmium toxicity effects on growth, mineral and chlorphyll contents, and activities of stress related enzymes in young maize plants (Zea mays L.). Plant and Soil, 200, 241-250.

Vangronsveld J., Cunningham S., eds. (1998): Metal-Contaminated Soils: In-situ Inactivation and Phytorestoration, Springer Verlag, ISBN: 1-57059-531-3.

Boisson J., Mench M., Sappin-Didier V., Solda P., Vangronsveld J. (1998): In-situ immobilization of Cd and Ni by beringite and steel shots application to long-term sludged plots. Agronomie, in press.

Mench M., Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H., Lepp N.W., Edwards R.(199.) In-situ Metal Immobilization and Phytostabilization of Contaminated Soils. In: Phytoremediation, eds. Terry N., Banuelos G., Vangronsveld J. Ann Arbor Press, in press.

Chlopecka A., Seaman J., Mench M.J., Vangronsveld J. (199.) Remediation of metal- and radionuclide contaminated soils by in-situ stabilization techniques. In: Environmental Restoration of Metals Contaminated Soils, eds. Iskandar I.K., Ann Arbor press. In press.

Smalle J., Haegman M., Mertens J., Vangronsveld J., Van Montagu M., Van Der Straeten D. (199.): The expression of the Arabidopsis ASS synthase 1 gene during rosette development suggest a role in the control of leaf emergence and expansion. Plant Biology, submitted.

Mench M., Manceau A., Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H., Mocquot B. (199.): Capacity of soil ameliorants in lowering the plant availability of sludge-borne zinc. Environmental pollution, submitted.

Boisson J., Ruttens A., Mench M., Vangronsveld J. (199.) Use of hydroxyapatite as a trace metal immobilizing soil additive for the remediation of polluted soils. Environmental Pollution, submitted.

Boisson J., Mench M., Vangronsveld J., Ruttens A., Kopponen P., de Koe T. (199.): Immobilization of metals and arsenic by different soil additives: evaluation by means of chemical extractions. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, submitted.

Cuypers A., Vangronsveld J., Clijsters H. (199.): Copper induced effects on the ascorbate-glutathione pathway in primary leaves on Phaseolus vulgaris L. seedlings during the early stages of metal assimilation. Plant, Cell and Environment, submitted.