Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Marc Elskens

melskens@vub.ac.be

Tel: +32 2 629 3260

R&D Database link



General/Personal Information

Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry
Free University of Brussels
Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels
Belgium

Current position/Project

Current position:

  • Agronomist
  • Associate Prof (Docent) / Quality Assurance in Environmental Chemistry

Promotor and co-promotor of research projects:

  • FWOAL408 (2007-2010): Een multi-proxy benadering voor de studie van biogeochemische cycli van koolstof en stikstof in tropische en gematigde estuaria. Co-Promotor.
  • GOA53 (2007-2011): Proxies and Numerical Tools for Assessing Organic Carbon Export Flux and Deep Ocean Processing. ELSKENS MARC, ANCH, Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Administrative Promotor.
  • FVO28 (2007-2008): Berekening en ontwikkeling van indicatoren voor biociden. Administrative Promotor and coordinator of UVIPEBI network (VUB, UGent, CODA-CERVA, ISP-WIV)
  • FWOAL272 (2004-2007). Koolstofexport en heterotrofe afbraak van planktondetritus in de oceaan. Co-promotor.

Education/Lectures

Education:

  •  Engineer in Agronomy, Free University of Brussels (ULB), Belgium, 1984.
  • Ph.D.: Chemistry, Free University of Brussels (VUB), Belgium, 1999.

Lectures:

  • Dynamique des nutriments en milieu marin, partim. I: aspects chimiques et biogéochimiques - 7h30 + 7h30 + 10h - Master in Oceanography, ULg.
  • Chemische Functionaliteit 15h, 2de jaar licentiat in de Scheikunde. Afstudeerrichting milieu en analytische Chemie, VUB, in collaboration with Prof. L. Goeyens.
  • Environmental Chemistry: measuring and modelling 13h HOC + 26h Zelf, 2de jaar licentiat in de Scheikunde. Afstudeerrichting milieu en analytische Chemie, VUB.
  • Bio-assay en Spectroscopische Screeningstechniek, 2MA. Afstudeerrichting milieu en analytische Chemie, Master in Chemistry, VUB.

Professional Experience

  • Graduate Research Assistant at the Laboratory of Microbiology, Free University of Brussels (ULB) 1984 to 1988.
  • Military service to the Management Unit of the Mathematical Models of the North Sea and the Scheldt Estuary 1988 to 1989.
  • Associate Scientist at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Free University of Brussels (VUB) 1989 to 2000.
  • Program leader at the Section of Food, department of Pharmaco-Bromatology, Scientific Institute of Public Health (IPH), Brussels 2000 to 2002.
  • Senior scientist at the Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Free University of Brussels (VUB) 2002-2007
  • Associate Prof at the Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Free University of Brussels (VUB) present

Research Interest

  • Degradation/detoxification pathways of dithiocarbamate fungicides by micro-organisms.
  • Heavy metals mobilisation/precipitation at the sediment/water interface in aquatic systems. Development of models to extract information from measurements using passive sampling devices (DGT and DET).
  • Development and validation of stable isotope techniques applied to the study of the nitrogen, carbon and silicone cycles in aquatic systems.
  • Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedures applied to Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (ISO/IEC 17025): (i) Uncertainty and variability of impact assessment indicators for pesticides and biocides,  (ii) Guidelines for laboratories carrying measurements where the results will be used to implement the Water Framework Directive and (iii) Proxies and numerical tools for assessing organic carbon flux and deep ocean processing.

Publications

    2010

    •  Agah H, Leermakers M, Gao Y, Fatemi SMR, Mohseni Katal M, Baeyens W, Elskens M. Mercury accumulation in fish species from the Persian Gulf and in human hair from fishermen . Environ Monit Assess, 2010, 169, 203-216.

    2009

    •  Agah H, Leermakers M, Elskens M, Reza Fatemi SM, Baeyens W. Accumulation of trace metals in the muscle and liver tissues of five fish species from the Persian Gulf. Environ. Monit. Assess, 2009, in press.

    •    De Brauwere A, De Ridder F, Gourgue O, Lambrechts J, Comblen R, Pintelon R, Passerat J, Servais P, Elskens M, Baeyens W, Kärnä T, de Brye B, Deleersnijder E. Design of a sampling strategy to optimally calibrate a reactive transport model: exploring the potential for Escherichia coli in the Scheldt Estuary. Environmental Modelling & Software 24, 2009, 969-981.

    •  De Brauwere A, Gao Y, De Galan S, Baeyens W, Elskens M, Leermakers M. Speciation analytics in aquatic ecosystems. Analytical measurements in aquatic Environments (ed. Jacek Namiesnik), Taylor and Francis CRC Press, 2009, Chapter 7, in press.

    •  Agah H, Leermakers M, Elskens M, Reza Fatemi SM, Owfi F, Baeyens W. Mercury speciation in the Persian Gulf sediments. Environ. Monit. Assess, 2009, in press.

    •    Gao Y, Lesven L, Gillan D, Sabbe K, Billon G, De Galan S, Elskens M, Baeyens W, Leermakers M.. Geochemical behavior of trace elements in subtidal marine sediments of the Belgian coast. Mar. Chem., 2009, doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2009.05.002.

    •  de Brauwere A., Baeyens W., De Ridder F. and Elskens M. . An accurate model for the determination of the kinetic coefficients of the copper-catalyzed oxidation of iodide by oxygen in an aqueous acidic medium. Talanta, 2009, in press.

    2008

    •    Brion N, Andersson MGI, Elskens M, Diaconu C, Baeyens W, Dehairs F, Middelburg JJ. Nitrogen cycling, retention and export in a eutrophic temperate macrotidal estuary. . Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 2008, 357: 87-99.

    •    Elskens M, Brion N, Buesseler K,Van Mooy B A S, Boyd p, Dehairs F, Savoye N and Baeyens W. Primary, new and export production in the NW Pacific gyre during the VERTIGO K2 experiments . Deep Sea Research PART II 55, 2008, 1594-1604.

    •  Buesseler, K.O., Trull, T.W., Steinberg, D.K., Silver, M.W.4, Siegel, D.A., Saitoh, S.-I., Lamborg, C.H., Lam, P.J.1, Karl, D.M., Jiao, N.Z.8, Honda, M.C., Elskens, M., Dehairs, F.,Brown, S.L., Boyd, P.W., Bishop, J.K.B., Bidigare, R.R. VERTIGO (VERtical Transport In the Global Ocean): a study of particle sources and flux attenuation in the North Pacific. . Deep Sea Research PART II, 2008, Volume: 55, pp: 1522 - 1539, published by: Elsevie.

    •    Dehairs F, Jacquet S, Savoye N, Van Mooy BAS, Buesseler KO, Bishop JKB, Lamborg CH, Elskens M, Baeyens W, Boyd PW, Casciotti KL and Monnin C. Barium in twilight zone suspended matter as a potential proxy for particulate organic carbon mineralization: Results for the North Pacific. Deep Sea Research PART II 55, 2008, 1673-1683.

    •    Sanctorum H, Elskens M, Goeyens L, Baeyens W, Schroijen C. CALUX calibration in low concentration range. Organohalogen Compounds, 2008, 70: 1426-1429.

    2007

    •    Agah H, M. Leermakers, M. Elskens, S. M. Reza Fatemi, & W. Baeyens. Total Mercury and Methyl Mercury Concentrations in Fish from the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. . Water Air and Soil Pollution, 2007, 181: 95-106..

    •    Baeyens W, M. Leermakers, M. Elskens, N. Van Larebeke, R. De Bont, H. Vanderperren, A. Fontaine, J-M Degroodt, L. Goeyens, V. Hanot, I. Windal. PCBs and PCDD/Fs in fish and fish products and their impact on the body burden in Belgium.. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2007, 52: 563-571..

    •  Buesseler KO, CH Lamborg, PW Boyd,PJ Lam, TW Trull, RR Bidigare,JKB Bishop, KL Casciotti,F Dehairs, M Elskens,M Honda, DM Karl, DA Siegel, MW Silver,DK Steinberg,J Valdes,B Van Mooy, & S Wilson. Revisiting carbon flux through the ocean's twilight zone.. Science, 2007, 316: 567-570.

    •    Elskens M, de Brauwere A, Beucher C, Corvaisier R, Savoye N, Treguer P, & Baeyens W . Statistical process control in assessing production and dissolution rates of biogenic silica in marine environments. Marine Chemistry, 2007, 106: 272-286.

    •    Gao Y, Leermakers M, Elskens M, Billon G, Ouddane B, Fischer J-C, Baeyens W . High resolution profiles of thallium, manganese and iron assessed by DET and DGT techniques in riverine sediment pore waters.. Science of the Total Environment, 2007, 373: 526-533.

    •  Jacquet SHM, Dehairs F, Elskens M, Savoye N, & Cardinal D. Barium cycling along WOCE SR3 line in the Southern Ocean. . Marine Chemistry, 2007, 106: 33-45.

    •    Kopczynska EE, Savoye N, Dehairs F, Cardinal D, Elskens M. . Spring phytoplankton assemblages in the Southern Ocean between Australia and Antarctica.. Polar Biology, 2007, 31 Issue: 1 Pages: 77-88 Published: DEC 2007.

    •  Fripiat F, Corvaisier R, Navez J, Elskens M, Andre L, Cardinal D. New method (HR-SF-ICP-MS) to measure biosilica production and dissolution in ocean surface waters.. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, 2007, 71 Issue: 15 Pages: A297-A297 Supplement: Suppl. S.

    •    Sanctorum H, Elskens M, Baeyens W . Bioassay (CALUX) measurements of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and PCB 126: Interference effects.. Talanta, 2007, 73: 185-188.

    •    De Brabandere L, Brion N, Elskens M, Baeyens W, Dehairs F. d15N dynamics of ammonium and particulate nitrogen in a temperate eutrophic estuary. Biogeochemistry 82 (1), 2007, 1-14.

    2006

    •  Baeyens W, Elskens M, Leermakers M, Dehairs F, Lamborg C, & Buesseler K . Do essential trace elements influence the export production in oceans?. Chinese Journal of Geochemistry, 2006, 25 (Suppl): 276 [abstract].

    •    Savoye N, Benitez-Nelson C, Burd A, Cochran K, Charette M, Buesseler K, Jakson G, Roy-Barman M, Schmidt S, & Elskens M. An overview of techniques used to model 234-Th in the water column.. Marine Chemistry, 2006, 100: 234-249.

    2005

    •    Baeyens W, Leermakers M, De Gieter M, Nguyen HL, Parmentier K, Panatrukal S, & Elskens M. Overview of trace metal contamination in the Scheldt estuary and effect of regulatory measures.. Hydrobiologia, 2005, 540: 141-154.

    •  Corvaisier R, Treguer P, Beucher C, & Elskens M. Determination of the rate of production and dissolution of biosilica in marine waters by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry.. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2005, 534: 149-155.

    •    de Brauwere A, Schoukens J, Pintelon R, De Ridder F, Elskens M, & Baeyens W. Refined parameter and uncertainty estimation when both variables are subject to error. Journal of Marine Systems, 2005, 55: 205-221.

    •    de Brauwere A, De Ridder F, Pintelon R, Elskens M, Schoukens J, & Baeyens W. Model selection through a statistical analysis of minimum of a weighted least squares cost function. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 2005, 76:163-173.

    •    De Gieter M, Elskens M, & Baeyens W. Fluxes and major transport routes of arsenic in the Scheldt estuary.. Marine Chemistry, 2005, 95: 15-30.

    •    Diaconu C, Brion N, Elskens M, & Baeyens W. Validation of a dynamic ammonium extraction technique for the analysis of 15N at enriched abundances. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2005, 554: 113-122.

    •    Elskens M, Baeyens W, Brion N, De Galan S, Goeyens L, & de Brauwere A. Reliability of N flux rates estimated from 15N enrichment and dilution experiments in aquatic systems. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 2005, 19, GB4028, doi:10.1029/2004GB002332.

    •    Gillikin DP, De Ridder F, Ulens H, Elskens M, Keppens E, Baeyens W, & Dehairs F. Environmental and biological controls on oxygen and carbon isotopes in the aragonitic bivalve Saxidomus giganteus: Implications for paleoclimatic studies. Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology Paleoecology, 2005, 228: 70-85.

    •    Nguyen HL, Leermakers M, Elskens M, De Ridder F, Hoa Doan T, & Baeyens W. Correlations, partitioning and bioaccumulation of heavy metals between different compartments of Lake Balaton. Science of the Total Environment, 2005, 341: 211-226.

    2004

    •    Beucher C, Treguer P, Corvaisier R, Hapette AM, & Elskens M . Production and dissolution of biosilica, and changing microphytoplankton dominance in the Bay of Brest (France). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2004, 267: 57-69.

    •    Brion N, Baeyens W, De Galan S, Elskens M, and Laane R . The North Sea: source and sink for nitrogen and phosphorus to the Atlantic Ocean. Biogeochemistry, 2004, 68: 277-296.

    •  De Bont R, Elskens M, Baeyens W, Hens L, & van Larebeke N. A survey of 3 PCB and dioxin contamination episodes. From contamination of food items to body burdens. Annual Reviews in Food and Nutrition, CRC Press, 2004, 301-342.

    •    De Galan S, Elskens M, Goeyens L, Pollentier A, Brion N, & Baeyens W. Spatial and temporal trends in nutrient concentrations in the Belgian Continental area of the North Sea during the period 1993 - 2000. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2004, 61: 517-528.

    •  Savoye N, Dehairs F, Elskens M, Cardinal D, Kopczynska EE, Trull TW, Wright S, Baeyens W, & Griffiths FB. Regional variation of spring N-uptake and new production in the Southern Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 2004, 31 (3) art L03301.Copyright.

    •  Savoye N, Dehairs F, Elskens M, Cardinal D, Kopczynska EE, Trull TW, Wright S, Baeyens W, & Griffiths FB. Regional variation of spring N-uptake and new production in the Southern Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 2004, 31 (3) art L03301.Copyright.

    2003

    •    Baeyens, W., Leermakers, M., Papina, T., Saprykin, A., Brion, N., De Gieter, M., Elskens, M. And Goeyens, L. Bioconcentration and biomagnification of mercury and methylmercury in North Sea and Scheldt estuary fish. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2003, 45: 498-508.

    •  Smet PW, Elskens M, Bolle F, Dierickx PJ. The role of oxidative stress on the effect of 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexathiacyclooctadecane on copper and zinc toxicity in HepG2 cells.. Human & Experimental toxicology, 2003, 22: 89-93.

    •    Van Loco J, Elskens M, Croux C, Beernaert H. Linearity of calibration curves: use and misuse of the correlation coefficient. Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 2003, 7: 281-285.

    •  Van Loco J., Hanot V., Huysmans G., Elskens M., Degroodt JM. and Beernaert H.. Estimation of the minimum detectable value for the determination of PCBs in fatty food samples by GC-ECD: a curvilinear calibration case. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2003, 483: 413-418.

    2002

    •  Alvarez-Salgado XA, Beloso S, Joint I, Nogueira E, Chou L, Perez FF, Groom S, Cabanas JM, Rees AP, Elskens M. New production of the NW Iberian shelf during the upwelling season over the period 1982-1999. Deep-Sea Research part I, 2002, 49: 1725-1739.

    •  Baeyens W, M. Leermakers, M. De Gieter, M. Elskens, J. Noyen, V. Hanot, J-M. Degroodt, L. Goeyens. PCBs in North Sea Fish: Is there a health risk?. Organohalogen Compounds, 2002, 55: 315-318.

    •  Elskens M, Baeyens W, Cattaldo T, Dehairs F, Griffiths B. N uptake conditions during summer in the Subantarctic and Polar Frontal Zones of the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean. Journal of Geophysical Research, 2002, 107(C11), 3182, doi:10.1029/2001JC000897.

    •    Van Loco, J., Elskens, M., Croux, C. and Beernaert, H. Linearity of calibration curves: use and misuse of the correlation coefficient. Accreditation Quality Assurance, 2002, 7: 281-285.

    2001

    •  Hydes, D., Le Gall, A., Miller, A., Brockmann, U., Raabe, T., Holley, S., Alvarez-Salgado, X., Antia, A., Balzer, W., Chou, L., Elskens, M., Helder, W., Joint, I. And Orren, M. Supply and demand of nutrients and dissolved organic matter at and across the NW European shelf break in relation to hydrography and biogeochemical activity. Results from the OMEX I Project (1993-1995). Deep-Sea Research II, 2001, 48: 3023-3047.

    •  Joint I, Wollast R, Chou L, Batten S, Elskens M, Edwards E, Hirst A, Burkill P, Groom S, Gibb S, Miller A, Hydes D, Dehairs F, Antia A, Barlow R, Rees A, Pomroy A, Brockmann U, Cummings D, Lampitt R, Loijens M, Mantoura F, Miller P, Raabe T, Alvarez-Salgado X, Stelfox C, Woolfenden J. Pelagic production at the Celtic Sea shelf break. Deep-Sea Research part II, 2001, 48: 3049-3081.

    •  Kopczynska EE, Dehairs F, Elskens M, Wright S. Phytoplankton and microzooplankton variability between the Subtropical and Polar Fronts south of Australia: Thriving under regenerative and new production in late summer. Journal of Geophysical Research (Oceans), 2001, 106: 31597-31609.

    2000

    •  Dehairs F, Fagel N, Antia AN, Peinert R, Elskens M, Goeyens L. Export production in the Bay of Biscay as estimated from barium - barite in settling material: a comparison with new production. Deep-Sea Research I, 2000, 47: 583-601.

    •  Goeyens, L., Elskens, M., Catalano, G., Lipizer, M., Hecq, H. and Goffart, A. Nutrient depletions in the Ross Sea and their relation with pigment stocks. Journal of Marine Systems, 2000, 27: 195-208.

    1999

    •  Elskens M, Goeyens L, Dehairs F, Rees A, Joint I, Baeyens W. Improved estimation of f-ratio in natural phytoplankton assemblages. Deep-Sea Research part I, 1999, 46 1793-1808.

    •  Mengesha S., F. Dehairs, M. Elskens and L. Goeyens. Phytoplankton nitrogen nutrition in the Western Indian Ocean: Ecophysiological adaptations of neritic and oceanic assemblages to ammonium supply. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 1999, 48, 589-898.

    •  Semeneh, M., F. Dehairs, M. Elskens and L. Goeyens. Phytoplankton nitrogen uptake in the tropical western Indian Ocean: Monsoonal and spatial variability. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Research, 1999, 48, 589-598.

    •  Peter A., Tourwe D , Baumann MEM., Elskens M. and Goeyens L. High performance liquid chromatographic determination of free amino acids in algae. Journal of Liquid Chromatography and Related Technology, 1999, 22: 1077-1093.

    1998

    •  Baeyens W., Elskens M, Gillain M, Goeyens L. Biogeochemical behaviour of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the Scheldt Estuary during the period 1981-1983. Hydrobiologia, 1998, 366, 15-43.

    •  Baeyens W, Elskens M, Van Ryssen R, Leermakers M. The impact of the Scheldt input on the trace metal distribution in the Belgian coastal area (1981-1983 and 1995-1996). Hydrobiologia, 1998, 366, 91-108.

    •  Baeyens W, Goeyens L, Monteny F, Elskens M. Effect of organic complexation on the behaviour of dissolved Cd, Cu and Zn in the Scheldt Estuary. Hydrobiologia, 1998, 366, 81-90.

    •  Goeyens L., Kindermans N., Abu Yusuf M. and Elskens M. A room temperature procedure for the manual determination of urea in seawater. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 1998, 47, 415.

    •  Goeyens L., Semeneh M. , Elskens M. , Shopova D. , Baumann M.E.M. and Dehairs F. . Phytoplankton nutrient utilisation and nutrient signature in the Southern Ocean. ournal of Marine Systems, 1998, 17, 143-157.

    •  Semeneh M., Dehairs F. , Elskens M. , Baumann M.E.M. , Kopczynska E.E. , Lancelot C. , Goeyens L. . Nitrogen uptake regime and phytoplankton community structure in the Atlantic and Indian sectors of the Southern Ocean. Journal of Marine Systems, 1998, 17, 159-177.

    •  Semeneh M., Dehairs F. , Fiala M. , Elskens M. and Goeyens L. . Seasonal variation of phytoplankton community structure and nitrogen uptake regime in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. Polar Biology, 1998, 0, 259-272.

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