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Paola Movalli

Paola Movalli

I am an ecotoxicologist, interested in contaminants in the environment, in particular in wild animals, and the implications for wildlife and human health. I have a degree in pharmacy and a PhD in food and environmental toxicology. I have worked in contaminants in humans and in wildlife. Following two Marie Curie Fellowships, I have worked mostly on raptors and other apex predators (e.g. otters, marine mammals) as sentinels of environmental contamination in several European projects as well as national-level studies in The Netherlands. I use both archive and contemporary samples in my research, favouring non-invasive methods in working with these protected species.

 

Keywords

Ecotoxicology, legacy and emerging contaminants, REACH, biocide, pesticide, raptor, apex predator

Dr Paola Movalli

Correspondent/Ecotoxicologist
Research Group Biesmeijer

paola.movalli@naturalis.nl

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Research
interest

I am interested in exposure of wildlife to legacy and emerging contaminants in the environment, and the application of this knowledge to improve chemicals management in Europe. 

In recent years, my research has largely been in the context of pan-European collaborations on contaminants in top predators, including raptors, marine mammals and otters.  I work with colleagues in labs, collections and the field, across Europe, with a view to bringing contaminant data to bear for better chemicals management. I was previously involved in running the European Networking Programme EURAPMON (www.eurapmon.net). I am currently publishing results from the recent LIFE APEX project which worked to demonstrate novel regulatory applications of chemical monitoring data from apex predators and prey. I led 2018-2022 a pan-European Working Group on Collections for the COST Action European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility.  Ongoing research includes long-term monitoring of emerging contaminants in peregrines in The Netherlands and monitoring of contaminants in the black-tailed godwit in The Netherlands.

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Current
topics

A selection of the topics I am working on currently/recently:

  • demonstration of use of contaminant monitoring data in raptors to assess effectiveness of chemical risk management measures
  • revealing presence of chemical contaminants in apex predators and their prey through targeted and non-target screening analyses (using novel and complementary high resolution mass spectrometry techniques)
  • bringing together collections in Europe for development of a distributed European Raptor Specimen Bank as part of a European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility in support of better chemicals management
  • proof of concept for pan-European contaminant monitoring in raptors under the European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility 
  • long-term contaminant monitoring of the Dutch peregrine population using state of the art methods
  • monitoring of contaminants in the Dutch population of black-tailed godwit

Key
publications

  • Movalli, P., Koschorreck, J., Treu, G., Slobodnik, J., Alygizakis, N., Androulakakis, A., Badry, A., Baltag, E., Barbagli, F., Bauer, K., Biesmeijer, K…. Dekker,R.,... Koureas, D. et al. 2022. The role of natural science collections in the biomonitoring of environmental contaminants in apex predators in support of the EU’s zero pollution ambition. Environmental Sciences Europe, 34(1), pp.1-7.
  • Treu, G., Slobodnik, J., Alygizakis, N., Badry, A., Bunke, D., Cincinelli, A., … Dekker, R., ,... Movalli, P ... & Dulio, V. (2022). Using environmental monitoring data from apex predators for chemicals management: towards better use of monitoring data from apex predators in support of prioritisation and risk assessment of chemicals in Europe. Environmental Sciences Europe, 34(1), 1-9.
  • Badry, A., Rüdel, H., Göckener, B., Nika, M.C., Alygizakis, N., Gkotsis, G., Thomaidis, N.S., Treu, G., Dekker, R.W., Movalli, P., Walker, L.A. et al. 2022. Making use of apex predator sample collections: An integrated workflow for quality assured sample processing, analysis and digital sample freezing of archived samples. Chemosphere, p.136603.
  • Badry, A., Slobodnik, J., Alygizakis, N., Bunke, D., Cincinelli, A., Claßen, D.,… Dekker, R.,...Movalli, P., ... & Koschorreck, J. (2022). Using environmental monitoring data from apex predators for chemicals management: towards harmonised sampling and processing of archived wildlife samples to increase the regulatory uptake of monitoring data in chemicals management. Environmental Sciences Europe, 34(1), 1-8.
  • G. Gkotsis, M-C. Nika, V. Nikolopoulou, N. Alygizakis, E. Bizani, R. Aalizadeh, A. Badry, E. Chadwick, A. Cincinelli, D. Claßen, S. Danielsson, R. Dekker, G. Duke, W. Drost, N. Glowacka, B. Göckener, H. A. H. Jansman, M. Juergens, B. Knopf, J. Koschorreck, O. Krone, T. Martellini, P. Movalli, S. Persson, E.D. Potter, S. Rohner, A. Roos, E. O' Rourke, U. Siebert, G. Treu, N.W. van den Brink, L.A. Walker, R. Williams, J. Slobodnik, N.S. Thomaidis. Assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in European apex predators and their prey by LC-QToF MS wide-scope target analysis, Environment International (2022), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107623
  • Androulakakis, A., Alygizakis, N., Gkotsis, G., Nika, M. C., Nikolopoulou, V., Bizani, E., Movalli, P., ... & Thomaidis, N. S. (2022). Determination of 56 per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in top predators and their prey from Northern Europe by LC-MS/MS. Chemosphere, 287, 131775.
  • Espín, S., Andevski, J., Duke, G., Eulaers, I., Gómez-Ramírez, P., Hallgrimsson, G. T., ... Movalli, P…. et al. (2020). A schematic sampling protocol for contaminant monitoring in raptors. Ambio, 1-6 . DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01341-9
  • Movalli, P., Duke, G., Ramello, G., Dekker, R., Vrezec, A., Shore, R. F., ... & Badry, A. (2019). Progress on bringing together raptor collections in Europe for contaminant research and monitoring in relation to chemicals regulation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1-5.
  • Movalli, P., Bode, P., Dekker, R., Fornasari, L. van der Mije, S. & Yosef, R. (2017) Retrospective biomonitoring of mercury and other elements in museum feathers of common kestrel Falco tinnunculus using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Environ Sci Pollut Res. DOI 10.1007/s11356-017-0157-1
  • Movalli, P., Dekker, R., Koschorreck, J., Treu, G. (2017) Bringing together raptor collections in Europe for contaminant research and monitoring in relation to chemicals regulations. Trend Editorial. Environ Sci Pollut Res. DOI 10.1007/s11356-017-0096-x
  • Espín, S., Movalli, P. et al. (2016) Tracking pan-continental trends in environmental contamination using sentinel raptors—what types of samples should we use? Ecotoxicology 25(4): 777-801.
  • Gómez-Ramírez, P.,  Shore, R.F., van den Brink, N.W., van Hattum,  B., Bustnes, J.O., Duke, G., Fritsch, C., García-Fernández, A.J., Helander, B.O., Jaspers, V., Krone, O., Martínez-López, E., Mateo, R., Movalli, P. & Sonne, C. (2014). An overview of the existing raptor contaminant monitoring activities in Europe. Environment International 67:12-21.
  • Movalli, P., Lo Valvo, M., Gloria Pereira M. & Osborn, D. (2008). Organochlorine pesticides and polychrominated biphenyl congeners in lanner Falco biarmicus feldeggi Schlegel chicks and lanner prey in Sicily, Italy. In: Movalli, P. & Duke, G. (eds). Monitoring for and with raptors in Europe. Ambio 37(6), 445-451.
  • Movalli, P. (2000). Heavy metal and other residues in feathers of laggar falcon Falco biarmicus jugger from six districts of Pakistan. Environmental Pollution 109: 267-275.

For a full list of publications see ResearchGate

PhD
supervision

Naturalis aims to be a breeding ground for international scientific talent. Therefore, PhD's have a special position in our organisation.

    [please add a bullet list of people currently under your supervision, preferably with a url to their profile pages]

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    Teaching
    activities

    Over the last few years I have been involved in setting up and supervising short-term scientific missions within the context of the COST Action European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility. These have involved early stage researchers travelling from one European country to another. Topics have included a review of raptor collections in Europe, development of a  European database on frozen raptor specimens, and addressing constraints to shipping of raptor samples, hosted by Naturalis and the Danish Museum of Natural History. I ran a Summer School on monitoring for and with raptors at Naturalis in 2014 involving 15 early stage researchers.

    In the
    media

    Here is a link to a feature online in The Guardian (originally published in The Observer) on chemicals in birds of prey which refers to work ongoing at Naturalis: 'How Birds of Prey are Exposing a Toxic Timebomb'

    See here a film on the role of collections in contaminant monitoring in Europe

     

    Observer feature on chemicals in birds of prey

     

     

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    Publications

    2021

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Ramello G., Duke G., Dekker R.W.R.J., Mije S. van der, Movalli P. 2021. A novel survey of raptor collections in Europe and their potential to provide samples for pan‑European contaminant monitoring.. Environmental Science and Pollution Research: 14 p. Springer. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16984-8
    Androulakakis A., Alygizakis N., Gkotsis G., Nika M.-C., Nikolopoulou V., Bizani E., Chadwick E., Cincinelli A., Claßen D., Danielsson S., Dekker R.W.R.J., Duke G., Glowacka N., Jansman H.A.H., Krone O., Martellini T., Movalli P., Persson S., Roos A., O’Rourke E., Siebert U., Treu G., Brink N.W. van den, Walker L.A., Deaville R., Slobodnik J., Thomaidis N.S. 2021. Determination of 56 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in top predators and their prey from Northern Europe by LC-MS/MS.. Chemospere 287: 11 p. 131775. Elsevier. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131775
    Dulsat-Masvidal M., Lourenço R., Lacorte S., D'Amico M., Albayrak T., Andevski J., Aradis A., Baltag E., Berger-Tal O., Berny P., Choresh Y., Duke G., Espín, S. García-Fernández A.J., Gómez-Ramírez P., Hallgrimsson G.T., Jaspers V., Johansson U., Kovacs A., Krone O., Leivits M., Martínez-López E., Mateo R., Movalli P., Sánchez-Virosta P., Shore R.F., Valkama J., Vrezec A., Xirouchakis S., Walker L.A., Wernham C. 2021. A review of constraints and solutions for collecting raptor samples and contextual data for a European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility. Science of the Total Environment 793: 11 p. 148599. Elsevier. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148599
    Espín S., Andevski J., Duke G., Eulaers I., Gómez-Ramírez P., Thor Hallgrimsson G., Helander B., Herzke D., Jaspers V.L.B., Krone O., Lourenço R., María-Mojica P., Martínez-López E., Mateo R., Movalli P., Sánchez-Virosta P., Shore R.F., Sonne C., Brink N.W. van den, Hattum B. van, Vrezec A., Wernham C., García-Fernández A.J. 2021. A schematic sampling protocol for contaminant monitoring in raptors. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 50: 95-100. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01341-9
    2020

    Journals non-SCI, peer-reviewed

    Tedesco M.R., Mandalà G., Consentino M.C., Ientile R., Lo Valvo F., Movalli P., Sabella G., Spadola F., Spinnato A., Vicari D., Toscano F., Viglianisi F., Lo Brutto S. 2020. The first inventory of birds of prey in sicilian museum collections (Italy). Museologia Scientifica 14: 67-80.

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    2019

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Movalli P., Duke G., Ramello G., Dekker R., Vrezec A., Shore R.F., Garcia-Fernandez A., Wernham C., Krone O., Alygizakis N.A., Badry A., Barbagli F., Biesmeijer K., Boano G., Bond A.L., Choresh Y., Christensen J.B., Cincinelli A., Danielsson S., Dias A., Dietz R., Eens M., Espin S., Eulaers I., Frahnert S., Fuiz T.I., Gkotsis G., Glowacka N., Gomez-Ramirez P., Grotti M., Guiraud M., Hosner P.A., Johansson U., Jaspers V.L.B., Kamminga P., Koschorreck J., Knopf B., Kubin E., Lo Brutto S., Lourenco R., Martellini T., Martinez-Lopez E., Mateo R., Nika M.-C., Nikolopoulou V., Osborn D., Pauwels O., Pavia M., Pereira M.G., Rüdel H., Sanchez-Virosta P., Slobodnik J., Sonne C., Thomaidis N., Töpfer T., Treu G., Vainola R., Valkama J., Mije S. van der, Vangeluwe D., Warren B.H., Woog F. 2019. Progress on bringing together raptor collections in Europe for contaminant research and monitoring in relation to chemicals regulation.. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26 (28) : 29503-29505. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06137-3
    Movalli P., Duke G., Ramello G., Dekker., Vrezec A., Shore R.F., Garcia-Fernandez A., Wernham C., Krone O., Alygizakis N., Badry A., Barbagli F., Biesmeijer K., Boano G., Bond A.L., Choresh Y., Christensen J.B., Cincinelli A., Danielsson S., Dias A., Dietz R., Eens M., Espin S., Eulaers I., Frahnert S., Fuiz T.I., Gkotsis G., Glowacka N., Gomez-Ramirez P., Grotti M., Guiraud M., Hosner P., Johansson U., Jaspers V.L.B., Kamminga P., Koschorreck J., Knopf B., Kubin E., LoBrutto S., Lourenco R., Martellini T., Martinez-Lopez E., Mateo R., Nika M-C., Nikolopoulou V., Osborn D., Pauwels O., Pavia M., Pereira M. Glória, Ruedel H., Sanchez-Virosta P., Slobodnik J., Sonne C., Thomaidis N., Töpfer T., Treu G., Vainola R., Valkama J., Mije S. van der, Vangeluwe D., Warren B.H., Woog F. 2019. Correction to: Progress on bringing together raptor collections in Europe for contaminant research and monitoring in relation to chemicals regulation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26 (20) : 20132–20136. Springer. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05340-6
    2018

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Derlink M., Wernham C., Bertoncelj I., Kovacs A., Saurola P., Duke G., Movalli P., Vrezec A. 2018. A review of raptor and owl monitoring activity across Europe: its implications for capacity building towards pan-European monitoring. Bird Study: s4-s20. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2018.1447546
    Movalli P., Krone O., Osborn D., Pain D. 2018. Monitoring contaminants, emerging infectious diseases and environmental change with raptors, and links to human health. Bird Study: the Journal of the British Trust for Ornithology DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2018.1506735
    2017

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Movalli P., Bode P., Dekker R., Fornasari L., Mije S. van der, Reuven Y. 2017. Retrospective biomonitoring of mercury and other elements in museum feathers of common kestrel Falco tinnunculus using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24 (33) : 25986-26005. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0157-1
    2016

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Espin S., Garcia-Fernandez A.J., Herzke D., Shore R.F., Hattum B. van, Martinez-Lopez E., Coeurdassier M., Eulaers I., Fritsch C., Gomez-Ramirez P., Jaspers V.L.B., Krone O., Duke G., Helander B., Mateo R., Movalli P., Sonne C., Brink N.W. van den 2016. Tracking pan-continental trends in environmental contamination using sentinel raptors-what types of samples should we use? ECOTOXICOLOGY 25 (4) : 777-801. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1636-8
    2014

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Gomez-Ramirez P., Shore R.F., Brink N.W. van den, Hattum B. van, Bustnes J.O., Duke G., Fritsch C., Garcia-Fernandez A.J., Helander B.O., Jaspers V., Krone O., Martinez-Lopez E., Mateo R., Movalli P., Sonne C. 2014. An overview of existing raptor contaminant monitoring activities in Europe.. Environment International 67: 12-21. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2014.02.004
    2008

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Movalli P., Lo Valvo M., Pereira M.G., Osborn D. 2008. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in lanner Falco biarmicus feldeggii Schlegel chicks and lanner prey in Sicily, Italy.. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 37 (6) : 445-451.
    Movalli P., Duke G., Osborn D. 2008. Introduction to monitoring for and with raptors.. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 37 (6) : 395-396.
    2000

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Movalli P.A. 2000. Heavy metal and other residues in feathers of laggar falcon Falco biarmicus jugger from six districts of Pakistan.. Environmental Pollution 109 (2) : 267-275. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/s0269-7491(99)00258-4
    1998

    Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

    Fasola M., Movalli P.A., Gandini C. 1998. Heavy metal, organochlorine pesticide, and PCB residues in eggs and feathers of herons breeding in northern Italy.. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 34 (1) : 87-93. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s002449900289