Home › Colleges & Schools▻College of Science and Engineering▻Staff Profiles

Staff Profiles

Dr Alison Connolly

B.Sc. PhD

 
researcher
 

Biography

Alison Connolly (PhD, NUI Galway) is an recipient of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Pathway programme, a project an interdisciplinary research project in exposure science, which aims to investigate human exposures to a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids (NNIs).

Prior to this project, Alison was a recipient of the Irish Research Council Marie Sk¿odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral research fellow conducting the IMAGE project: Ireland's bioMonitoring Assessment of Glyphosate Exposures with the National University of Ireland Galway and the Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine (IPA) of the German Social Accident Insurance Bochum, Germany. This project involved the development of an analytical method to analyse urine samples for glyphosate and its main metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and samples were collected from farm and non-farm families from across the country. 

Alison's PhD research project involved investigating occupational pesticide exposures among amenity horticulturists. Alison has a keen interest in exposure science and occupational hygiene and is a member of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), a committee member of the Occupational Hygiene Society of Ireland (OHSI) and a member of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and the student representative and webmaster of the European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe). Research topics include research in the area of exposure science, occupational hygiene and health and safety of the workforce, as well as environmental exposures to current and emerging hazards. Teaching aspirations include using a range of diverse teaching methodologies to assist in advancing the students ability to learn.  

Research Interests

Dr Alison Connolly is a postdoctoral research fellow in the NUI Galway. After completing her BSc (Health and Safety Systems), she pursued a PhD in Exposure Science. In 2019, she was awarded an Irish Research Council Marie Sk¿odowska-Curie Actions COFUND fellowship to investigate glyphosate exposures among Irish families. Alison is now establishing a successful research career with her multidisciplinary project involving international and inter-sectoral collaborators, including the German Environment Agency and the Institute of Preventative and Occupational Medicine.

Dr Connolly¿s research is motivated by the protection of human health by evaluating and understanding human exposures from new and emerging pollutants. Alison predominantly works on the development of human biomonitoring (HBM) approaches for exposure assessments. HBM involves estimating human¿s total human burdens by measuring pollutant concentrations in biological matrices such as blood, urine or human milk.

Dr Connolly¿s research has made substantial and novel contributions to science regarding human exposures to most widely used herbicide worldwide, glyphosate (commonly known as Roundup® products), classed as a `probable carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and a chemical of international concern. Her research has produced human exposure data and toxicokinetic data (i.e. human biological half-life of glyphosate), which has advanced the interpretation and our understanding of human biomonitoring (HBM) data. She is also a leading scientific figure for exposure science and HBM in Europe, contributing to the founding of the European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science, a member of numerous society, committees and chairing a working group and contributed to the development of the `European Exposure Science Strategy¿ 2020¿2030. Alison has had acknowledgement of her achievements through numerous research grants and accolades. 

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
IMAGE project: ‘Ireland’s bioMonitoring Assessment of Glyphosate Exposure’ 01-JUN-19 31-JAN-22

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2020) 'Human Biomonitoring of Glyphosate Exposures: State-of-the-Art and Future Research Challenges'
Connolly A;Coggins MA;Koch HM; (2020) 'Human Biomonitoring of Glyphosate Exposures: State-of-the-Art and Future Research Challenges'. Toxics, 8 (3) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Sensitive and selective quantification of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in urine of the general population by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry'
Alison Connolly, Stephan Koslitz, Daniel Bury, Thomas Brüning, André Conrad, Marike Kolossa-Gehring, Marie A.Coggins, Holger M.Koch (2020) 'Sensitive and selective quantification of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in urine of the general population by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry'. Journal of Chromatography B, 1158 (122348) [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Evaluating glyphosate exposure routes and their contribution to total body burden: A study among amenity horticulturalists'
Connolly, A., Coggins, M. A., Galea, K. S., Jones, K., Kenny, L., McGowan, P. and Basinas, I. (2019) 'Evaluating glyphosate exposure routes and their contribution to total body burden: A study among amenity horticulturalists'. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 63 (2):133-147 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Building a European exposure science strategy'
Fantke, P; von Goetz, N; Schlüter, U; Bessems, J; Connolly, A; Dudzina, T; Ahrens, A; Bridges, J; Coggins, M.A; Conrad, A.; Hänninen, O; Heinemeyer, G; Kephalopoulos, S; McLachlan, M; Meijster, T; Poulsen, V; Rother, D; Vermeire, T; Viegas, S; Vlaanderen, J; Zare Jeddi, M; Bruinen de Bruin, Y (2019) 'Building a European exposure science strategy'. Journal Of Exposure Analysis And Environmental Epidemiology, 30 (6):917-924 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2019) 'Occupational Exposures in an Equestrian Centre to Respirable Dust and Respirable Crystalline Silica'
Bulfin, K; Cowie, H; Galea, K.S; Connolly, A; Coggins, M.A (2019) 'Occupational Exposures in an Equestrian Centre to Respirable Dust and Respirable Crystalline Silica'. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 16 (17) [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Glyphosate in Irish adults - A pilot study in 2017'
Connolly, A., Leahy, M., Jones, K., Kenny, L. & Coggins, M.A., (2018) 'Glyphosate in Irish adults - A pilot study in 2017'. Environmental research, 165 :235-236 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Characterising glyphosate exposures among amenity horticulturists using multiple spot urine samples'
Connolly, A., Basinas, I., Jones, K., Galea, K. S., Kenny, L., McGowan, P. & Coggins, M. A. (2018) 'Characterising glyphosate exposures among amenity horticulturists using multiple spot urine samples'. International Journal Of Hygiene And Environmental Health, 221 (7):1012-1022 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Exploring the half-life of glyphosate in human urine samples'
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Basinas, I., Galea, K. S., Kenny, L., McGowan, P. & Coggins, M. A. (2019) 'Exploring the half-life of glyphosate in human urine samples'. International Journal Of Hygiene And Environmental Health, 222 (2):205-210 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Exposure assessment using human biomonitoring for glyphosate and fluroxypyr users in amenity horticulture'
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Galea, K.S., Basinas, I., Kenny, L., McGowan, P. & Coggins, M. (2017) 'Exposure assessment using human biomonitoring for glyphosate and fluroxypyr users in amenity horticulture'. International Journal Of Hygiene And Environmental Health, 220 (6):1064-1073 [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2018) The Triennial World Congresses on Occupational Health
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Galea, K.S., Basinas, I., Kenny, L., McGowan, P., Coggins, M.A. (2018) 452 A pesticide exposure study using 24-hour biomonitoring and dermal sampling to determine total uptake and the routes of exposure The Triennial World Congresses on Occupational Health Dublin, , 29-APR-18 - 04-MAY-18 , pp.A467-A467 [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2019) Assessment of Needs for a European Strategy on Exposure Science Summary Report of the first European Exposure Science Strategy Workshop: Building a Roadmap 2020-2030.
Y. Bruinen de Bruin, N. von Goetz, U. Schlüter, J. Bessems, A. Connolly, T. Dudzina, A. Ahrens, J. Bridges, M. Coggins, A. Conrad, A. Crépet, G. Heinemeyer, O. Hänninen, S. Kephalopoulos, M. McLachlan, T. Meijster, V. Poulsen, D. Rother, T. Vermeire, S. Viegas, J. Vlaanderen, M. Zare Jeddi, P. Fantke (2019) Assessment of Needs for a European Strategy on Exposure Science Summary Report of the first European Exposure Science Strategy Workshop: Building a Roadmap 2020-2030. ISES Europe, Denmark. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2019) The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) joint conference,
Alison Connolly, Holger M. Koch, Marike Kolossa-Gehring, André Conrad, Marie Coggins (2019) The IMAGE project: A human biomonitoring assessment to evaluate glyphosate exposures among families in the Irish population. [Oral Presentation], The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) joint conference, Kaunas, Lithuania , 18-AUG-19 - 22-AUG-19. [Details]
(2019) Centre for One Health Conference 2019 - ONE HEALTH - Toxic Organic Contaminants in our Environment,
Connolly, A; Koch, H.M; Kolossa-Gehring, M; Conrad, A; Coggins, M.A; (2019) The IMAGE project: evaluating Ireland’s environmental exposure to glyphosate. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Centre for One Health Conference 2019 - ONE HEALTH - Toxic Organic Contaminants in our Environment, Galway, Ireland , 20-SEP-19 - 20-SEP-19. [Details]
(2019) 11th International Symposium on Biological Monitoring in Occupational and Environmental Health (ISBM-11),
Connolly, A; Jones, K; Basinas, I; Galea, K.S; Kenny, L; McGowan, P; Coggins, M.A; (2019) Exploring the half-life of glyphosate in human urine samples. [Poster Presentation], 11th International Symposium on Biological Monitoring in Occupational and Environmental Health (ISBM-11), Leuven, Belgium , 28-AUG-19 - 30-AUG-19. [Details]
(2019) Ryan Institute Annual Research Day 2019,
McGrath, J; Connolly, A; Byrne, M.A; (2019) Evaluating the Indoor Environment Quality and Ventilation System Effectiveness in Energy Efficient Irish Dwellings: The VALIDate Project. [Poster Presentation], Ryan Institute Annual Research Day 2019, Galway, Ireland , 31-MAY-19 - 31-MAY-19. [Details]
(2019) The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) joint conference,
Connolly, A; Von Goetz, N; Schlueter, U; Bessems, J; Bruinen de Bruin, Y; Dudzina, T; Fantke, P (2019) Establishing exposure science in education. [Oral Presentation], The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) joint conference, Kaunas, Lithuania , 18-AUG-19 - 22-AUG-19. [Details]
(2019) ISES Europe 2019,
Alison Connolly, Holger M. Koch, André Conrad, Marike Kolossa-Gehring, Marie Coggins (2019) A glyphosate exposure assessment among families in the Irish population – The IMAGE project. [Poster Presentation], ISES Europe 2019, Bilthoven, The Netherlands , 03-JUL-19 - 05-JUL-19. [Details]
(2019) ISES Europe 2019,
Bruinen de Bruin, Y., von Goetz, N., Schlüter, U., Bessems, J., Connolly, A., Dudzina., Fantke, P. (2019) 2nd European Exposure Science Strategy Workshop. [Conference Organising Committee Member], ISES Europe 2019, Bilthoven, The Netherlands , 03-JUL-19 - 05-JUL-19. [Details]
(2019) The 7th Occupational & Environmental Exposure Science meeting,
Connolly, A., Coggins, M. A., Galea, K. S., Jones, K., Kenny, L., McGowan, P. and Basinas, I. (2019) Occupational exposures to glyphosate among amenity horticultural workers. [Oral Presentation], The 7th Occupational & Environmental Exposure Science meeting, Edinburgh, UK , 02-APR-19 - 02-APR-19. [Details]
(2019) The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) joint conference,
McGrath, J; Connolly, A; Odonnell, J; Byrne, M; (2019) A Pilot Study Evaluating Indoor Environment Quality in Energy. [Poster Presentation], The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) joint conference, Kaunas, Lithuania , 18-AUG-19 - 22-AUG-19. [Details]
(2019) 27th Annual Conference: Occupational Hygiene – playing its part,
Alison Connolly (2019) ‘Human Biomonitoring sampling methods for evaluating occupational. [Oral Presentation], 27th Annual Conference: Occupational Hygiene – playing its part, Cork, Ireland , 07-MAR-19 - 07-MAR-19. [Details]
(2019) 27th Annual Conference: Occupational Hygiene – playing its part,
Alison Connolly (2019) The society aims to provide a discussion forum for those interested in occupational hygiene and encourage and facilitate greater contact amongst such people through the various events that we run and though our social media outlets. [Conference Organising Committee Member], 27th Annual Conference: Occupational Hygiene – playing its part, Cork, Ireland , 06-MAR-19 - 07-MAR-19. [Details]
(2018) Our Environment, Our Health: One Health,
Connolly, A., Basinas, I., Jones, K., Galea, K.S., Kenny, L., McGowan, P., Coggins, M.A. (2018) A human biomonitoring exposure assessment study among amenity horticulturists using glyphosate based pesticide products. [Poster Presentation], Our Environment, Our Health: One Health, Galway:Ireland , 28-SEP-18 - 28-SEP-18. [Details]
(2018) 1st European Exposure Science Strategy Workshop,
Connolly, A., Basinas, I., Jones, K., Galea, K.S., Kenny, L., McGowan, P., Coggins, M.A (2018) An exposure assessment study among amenity horticulturists using glyphosate based pesticide products. [Conference Organising Committee Member], 1st European Exposure Science Strategy Workshop, Dortmund: Germany , 19-JUN-18 - 20-JUN-17. [Details]
(2018) Ryan Institute Research & Open Day,
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Galea, K.S., Basinas, I., Kenny, L., McGowan, P., Coggins, M.A. (2018) Characterising occupational exposures to glyphosate among in amenity horticulturalists. [Poster Presentation], Ryan Institute Research & Open Day, Galway: Ireland , 23-FEB-18. [Details]
(2017) 10th International Symposium on Biological Monitoring in Occupational and Environmental Health (ISBM-10) - Biomonitoring for Chemical Risk Assessment and Control,
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Galea, K.S., Basinas, I., Kenny, L., McGowan, P., Coggins, M.A (2017) A biomonitoring, dermal and inadvertent ingestion exposure assessment study of pesticide users among horticultural and amenity gardeners. [Poster Presentation], 10th International Symposium on Biological Monitoring in Occupational and Environmental Health (ISBM-10) - Biomonitoring for Chemical Risk Assessment and Control, Naples; Italy , 01-OCT-17 - 04-OCT-17. [Details]
(2017) International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) - 'Integrating Exposure Science across Diverse Communities',
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Galea, K.S., Basinas, I., Kenny, L., McGowan, P., Coggins, M.A. (2017) An exposure assessment of occupational exposures among small quantity pesticides users in amenity horticulture. [Oral Presentation], International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) - 'Integrating Exposure Science across Diverse Communities', NC; USA , 15-OCT-17 - 19-OCT-17. [Details]
(2017) Annual Aerosol Science Conference,
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Galea, K.S., Basinas, I., Kenny, L., McGowan, P., Coggins, M.A (2017) Occupational exposures to pesticide products among amenity horticulturists. [Invited Oral Presentation], Annual Aerosol Science Conference, Birmingham; UK , 09-OCT-17 - 09-OCT-17. [Details]
(2016) International Society for Exposure Science (ISES) - Interdisciplinary Approaches for Health and the Environment,
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Galea, K., Kenny, L., Coggins, M., (2016) Exposure assessment using biological monitoring for pesticide users in amenity horticulture. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], International Society for Exposure Science (ISES) - Interdisciplinary Approaches for Health and the Environment, Utrecht: Netherlands , 09-OCT-16 - 13-OCT-16. [Details]

ANET/COS

  Year Publication
(2019) New Study will reveal our exposure to glyphosate.
Irish Examiner (2019) New Study will reveal our exposure to glyphosate. Newspaper articles: Irish Examiner ANET/COS [Details]

Article

  Year Publication
(2019) What a pesticide like glyphosate is doing to your health.
Connolly, A. (2019) What a pesticide like glyphosate is doing to your health. RTE Dublin: RTE Brainstorm Article [Details]

Field Guide

  Year Publication
(2017) Guidance for the Office of Public Works (OPW) workers who use plant protection products.
Connolly, A., McGowan, P. & Coggins, M. A. (2017) Guidance for the Office of Public Works (OPW) workers who use plant protection products. Field Guide [Details]

Newspaper Articles

  Year Publication
(2019) Low exposure among Irish garden workers to cancer herbicide.
Tina Weadick (2019) Low exposure among Irish garden workers to cancer herbicide. Newspaper Articles [Details]
(2018) Pesticide exposure found among professional horticultural workers.
Growtrade.ie (2018) Pesticide exposure found among professional horticultural workers. Newspaper Articles [Details]
(2018) First Irish study of adult exposure to pesticide glyphosate’.
Irish Examiner (2018) First Irish study of adult exposure to pesticide glyphosate’. Newspaper Articles [Details]
(2018) NUI Galway study on exposure to pesticides among the Irish adult population.
Engineers Journal (2018) NUI Galway study on exposure to pesticides among the Irish adult population. Newspaper Articles [Details]
(2018) NUI Galway study of exposure to pesticides.
Mulligan, H. (2018) NUI Galway study of exposure to pesticides. Health & Safety Review Newspaper Articles [Details]
(2018) ‘First Irish study of adult exposure to pesticide glyphosate’.
O’Sullivan, K. (2018) ‘First Irish study of adult exposure to pesticide glyphosate’. Ireland: The Irish Times Newspaper Articles [Details]
(2018) Irish adults have low exposure to glyphosate – NUIG.
Irish Farmers Journal (2018) Irish adults have low exposure to glyphosate – NUIG. Newspaper Articles [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2022 Editors Choice Toxics
2019 Editors Choice Annals of Work Exposure and Health
2017 Outstanding Junior Scientist Award UK Ireland Aerosol Society
2017 Ryan Institute’s Travel Support Scheme The Ryan Institute, NUI Galway
2014 Merit Medical award NUI Galway
2014 CN Davies UK Irish Aerosol Society
2013 Safety in Construction’ national competition Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA)
2013 NUI Galway University Scholarship NUI Galway
2012 NUI Galway University Scholarship NUI Galway

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Occupational Hygiene Society of Ireland (OHSI) OHSI encourages and facilitates greater contact amongst occupational hygienists in Ireland /
International Society of Exposure Science objective to foster and advance exposure science /
Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) BOHS encourages and promotes occupational hygiene /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Research Committee Post-doctoral researcher 01-JAN-19 /
European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe) Student representative and webmaster 04-SEP-17 /
Occupational Hygiene Society of Ireland (OHSI) General committee member 01-MAR-16 /
Equality & Diversity Postgraduate student representative 01-OCT-14 / 17-DEC-18

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
National University of Ireland Galway Part-time guest lecturer 01-SEP-14 / 20-FEB-19
National University of Ireland Galway Principal Investigator 01-FEB-22 / 30-JAN-26
National University of Ireland Galway Marie Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellow 01-JUN-19 / 31-MAY-21
National University of Ireland Galway Post-doctoral researcher 01-JAN-19 / 31-MAY-19
National University of Ireland Galway. Health & Safety Assistant in the Safety Office 01-APR-13 / 29-AUG-13

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2014 National University of Ireland Galway BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Environmental Health & Safety Degree (Level 8)
2018 National University of Ireland Galway PhD Characterising occupational exposure to glyphosate among amenity horticulturists.

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Outreach Galway Soapbox Science 02-JUN-18 / 02-JUN-18
Outreach University Open Days /
Outreach Science and Technology Festival 04-NOV-17 / 04-NOV-17

Reviews

  Journal Role
Annals of Work Exposures and Health Reviewer
International Journal Of Hygiene And Environmental Health Reviewer
Environmental research Reviewer

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Postgraduate EP505 Occupational Hygiene Taught seminars, lectures and tutorials as part of this module. This course outlines the general approach for the assessment of hte health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances in a workplace environment. It addresses the theory and practice of sampling many of the chemical and biological workplace hazards.
Year 3 PH317 Occupational Hygiene Taught guest seminars, lectures and tutorials on the Occupational Hygiene module. This course outlines the general approach for the assessment of the health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances in a workplace environment. It addresses the theory and practice of sampling many of the chemical and biological workplace hazards.