Dr. Alison Connolly is an Assistant Professor at the UCD Centre for Safety and Health at Work within the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Sports Science. Her role includes Programme Director of the UCD Higher Diploma in Safety, Health, and Well-Being at Work, where she lectures on occupational safety programmes, and her research interest is in exposure science, which extends to understanding human exposure to various stressors, combining toxicology, epidemiology, and environmental health principles.
Dr. Alison Connolly grew up in Connemara, Ireland, and graduated with first-class honours in Environmental Health & Safety from the University of Galway. She earned a PhD in Physics in 2019, focusing on occupational exposure to glyphosate among horticulturists. Her research was notable for using human biomonitoring to study glyphosate's biological half-life and routes of exposure. Dr. Connolly holds academic positions at the University of Galway and Atlantic Technological University Sligo. After her PhD, she received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND Postdoctoral Fellowship to study glyphosate exposure among Irish families. Collaborating with the German Environment Agency, she developed methods to analyse glyphosate and its metabolite in urine, detecting low-level concentrations in a quarter of those tested.
These study results were timely as glyphosate was the most frequently used weedkiller worldwide, is classed as a 2A probable carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and had bans or restrictions in several countries, and at the time it was under re-evaluation by the European Commission. The study's findings, despite low quantifiable levels, highlighted the necessity of understanding chemical exposures among different groups, especially vulnerable populations like children. These studies were also utilised for the re-evaluation of glyphosate, underscoring the importance of human biomonitoring for robust regulatory risk assessments and public health management.
Dr. Connolly's contributions are pivotal in advancing occupational health and safety protocols, ensuring safer working environments, and promoting best practices in chemical handling and exposure and protecting the general public from pollutants of concern.
Current Research Challenges
A significant aspect of Dr. Connolly's research is centred on human biomonitoring (HBM), a robust method endorsed by the World Health Organisation for assessing chemical exposures through biological samples like blood and urine. HBM allows for the measurement of internal doses of pollutants to evaluate overall chemical exposures from various sources and routes. It also identifies temporal changes, regional differences, and vulnerable population groups. This methodology plays a crucial role in health policy-making by providing precise data on population risk distributions, guiding policy actions, and evaluating the effectiveness of measures aimed at reducing adverse health effects.
Currently, Dr. Connolly is actively involved in two major research projects. As the Principal Investigator for the SFI Pathway project titled '(opens in a new window)EIRE 'nEonicotinoid Insecticide exposuREs'', her team aims to assess exposures to neonicotinoid insecticides among workers and families using these products, and the general population over a four-year period. Examples of NNIs are Imidacloprid and Acetimiprid (found in flea treatments for pets and plant products). The research team, including a postdoctoral researcher and PhD student, is investigating potential chemical exposures among pet owners, veterinary workers, those employed in animal shelters and gardeners. Concurrently, she leads the EPA-funded 'Human Biomonitoring for Ireland (HBM4IRE)' project, which focuses on establishing criteria for a national HBM surveillance program. This initiative aims to develop a framework for monitoring environmental chemical exposures comprehensively across Ireland, contributing to ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and inform environmental policies.
The Researcher
Dr Connolly is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge on occupational and environmental pollutants and their impact on public health. Her work focuses on methodological innovation and aims to influence policy and public health outcomes through cutting-edge research. Additionally, she is deeply involved in teaching, integrating her findings into educational settings to engage and inspire students.
Her collaborative spirit and interdisciplinary approach are central to her work, reflecting her passion for advancing exposure science research. She aspires to contribute to global efforts in environmental health monitoring and policy development, emphasising the importance of international collaborations to enhance the impact of her research. Dr Connolly sits on the board of the European Chapter of The International Society for Exposure Science and is also the Chair of a working group seeking to elevate Exposure Science Education, training and communication. She would like to see formal qualifications similar to those of the United States within Europe as a longer-term goal to support our compliance with legislation.
In a discussion with Alison, she spoke about how she really values the transformative power of mentorship in igniting a passion for research, the importance of enthusiasm and curiosity in scientific pursuits, and the significant role mentors play in providing guidance beyond academic requirements. Her own journey was largely influenced by her mentor, Dr Holger Martin Koch, with whom she worked with in Germany in 2019 and continues to collaborate on research projects. Dr Connolly advocates for promoting women scientists and their science and regularly contributes to outreach activities, such as contributing to ‘Women in Science’ initiatives, speaking at local schools and contributing to (opens in a new window)Soapbox Science - a public outreach platform.
Outside of her research work, she enjoys Taekwon-Do and holds a third-dan black belt.
Future Research Aspirations
One of Dr Connolly’s ambitious goals is to develop a national human biomonitoring program in Ireland inspired by successful models in the US, Germany, and Iceland. This initiative reflects her commitment to preventive measures and early detection of chemical exposures, aiming to position Ireland as a leader in human biomonitoring and public health research. The program will involve the collection of blood and urine samples, alongside questionnaire information, from the general population over several years to contribute to science-based policy-making decisions and improve public health.
This national program would have a significant impact, aiding in identifying trends, assessing their impact on vulnerable groups, detecting regional hotspots, evaluating co-exposures and aggregated chemical exposures and acting as an early warning system for emerging chemicals of concern. Dr. Connolly aims to align her work with her contributions to the (opens in a new window)HBM4EU and PARC initiatives, which are EU-wide. She has been instrumental in establishing a framework, securing funding, and pursuing the building of a national program for Ireland. The goal is to protect public health through monitoring and surveillance, determining the presence of concerning chemicals, and evaluating the need for legislative action.
Related Links
(opens in a new window)UCD Profile
(opens in a new window)Women in Science 2023