Research Interests

Dr. He is interested in characterizing occurrences, distributions, and transformations of emerging contaminants in the aquatic environments, and how aquatic organisms respond when exposed to these contaminants. In particular, his research combines a variety of chemical and toxicological tools to understand the exposure and toxic mechanisms that lead to maladaptive responses in exposed aquatic organisms at molecular, cellular and organism levels. He has keen interests in studying the emerging organic contaminants in the estuarian and marine environments (e.g., Liquid Crystal Monomers (LCMs), Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs), Brominated Flame Retardants, etc.). The areas of his expertise in environmental chemistry and aquatic toxicology include target and non-target chemical analysis, endocrine disrupting effects, oxidative stress, developmental toxicology, and reproductive behavior, particularly in analyzing complex environmental mixture and designing toxicity assessment experiments using in vitro cell lines, aquatic invertebrates, and small model fishes.

Positions Available

There are several openings for research assistants, Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows with background of environmental chemistry and toxicology. Effective writing and oral communication skills in English are essential. Postdoctoral fellow candidates must have a Ph.D. degree in Analytical Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Toxicology, Environmental Science, or a related field. Candidates for graduate studentships positions must have a B.Sc. in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field. Successful candidates will conduct research in toxicological and environmental assessment on emerging contaminants, preferably using target/non-target analytical tools and small model fish/invertebrate. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit their CV and research statement to Dr. Henry He, henryhe@cityu.edu.hk. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled. The next intake of graduate student will be for the academic year starting from September 2024.

City University of Hong Kong is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to the principle of diversity. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, especially applicants who will enhance the diversity of our staff.

Selected Publications

• Lin H, Li X, Qin X, Cao Y, Ruan Y, Leung MKH, Leung KMY, Lam PKS, He Y*. Particle size-dependent and route-specific exposure to liquid crystal monomers in indoor air: Implications for human health risk estimations. Sci Total Environ. 2024, 908, 168328. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168328.
• Sun J, Lin H, Lu Y, Ruan Y, Lam JCH, Lam PKS, Wang T, Khim JS, He Y*. Estimation of the riverine input of organic ultraviolet filters (OUVFs) from the Pearl River Estuary to the South China Sea during the early Covid-19 pandemic. Sci Total Environ. 2024, 907, 168147. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168147.
• Zhan Y, Jin Q, Lin H, Tao D, Law LY, Sun J, He Y*. Occurrence, behavior and fate of liquid crystal monomers in municipal wastewater. Water Res. 2023, 247, 120784. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120784.
• Sun J, Rene ER, Tao D, Lu Y, Jin Q, Lam JC, Leung KMY, He Y*. Degradation of organic UV filters in the water environment: A concise review on the mechanism, toxicity, and technologies. J Hazard Mater. 2023, 463, 132822. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132822.
• Lu Y, Chow MK, Sun J, Tao D, Jin Q, Ren Y, Wang WX, He Y*. Identification of Transformation Products of Organic UV Filters by Photooxidation and Their Differential Estrogenicity Assessment. Environ Sci Technol. 2023, 57(44), 17110-17112. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05015.
• Jin Q, Fan Y, Lu Y, Zhan Y, Sun J, Tao D, He Y*. Liquid crystal monomers in ventilation and air conditioning dust: Indoor characteristics, sources analysis and toxicity assessment. Environ Int. 2023, 180, 108212. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108212.
• Jin Q, Yu J, Fan Y, Zhan Y, Tao D, Tang J, He Y*. Release Behavior of Liquid Crystal Monomers from Waste Smartphone Screens: Occurrence, Distribution, and Mechanistic Modeling. Environ Sci Technol. 2023, 57(28), 10319-10330. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09602. (Supplementary cover).
  
• Jin Q, Zhan Y, Tao D, Wang T, Khim JS, He Y*. Removing emerging e-waste pollutant DTFPB by synchronized oxidation-adsorption Fenton technology. J Hazard Mater. 2023, 445, 130587. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130587.
• Tao D, Jin Q, Ruan Y, Zhang K, Jin L, Zhan Y, Su G, Wu J, Leung KMY, Lam PKS, He Y*. Widespread occurrence of emerging E-waste contaminants - Liquid crystal monomers in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, China. J Hazard Mater. 2022, 437, 129377. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129377.
• Jin Q, Tao D, Lu Y, Sun J, Lam CH, Su G, He Y*. New insight on occurrence of liquid crystal monomers: A class of emerging e-waste pollutants in municipal landfill leachate. J Hazard Mater. 2022, 423(Pt B), 127146. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127146.
• Sun J, Yang S, Zhou G, Zhang K, Lu Y, Jin Q, Leung KMY, Lam PKS, He Y*. Release of microplastics from discarded surgical masks and their adverse impacts on the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus. Environ Sci Technol Lett. 2021, 8(12), 1065-1070. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00748. (Supplementary cover).
  
• He Y*, Patterson-Fortin L, Boutros J, Smith R, Goss GG. Removal of biological effects of organic pollutants in municipal wastewater by a novel advanced oxidation system. J Environ Manage. 2021, 280, 111855. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111855.
• He Y*, Zhang Y, Martin JW, Alessi DS, Giesy JP, Goss GG*. In vitro assessment of endocrine disrupting potential of organic fractions extracted from hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water (HF-FPW). Environ Int. 2018, 121(Pt 1), 824-831. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.014.
• He Y*, Sun C, Zhang Y, Folkerts EJ, Martin JW, Goss GG*. Developmental Toxicity of the Organic Fraction from Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback and Produced Waters to Early Life Stages of Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Environ Sci Technol. 2018, 52(6), 3820-3830. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06557. (Cover).
  
• He Y, Flynn SL, Folkerts EJ, Zhang Y, Ruan D, Alessi DS, Martin JW, Goss GG. Chemical and toxicological characterizations of hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water. Water Res. 2017, 114, 78-87. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.02.027.
• He Y, Folkerts EJ, Zhang Y, Martin JW, Alessi DS, Goss GG. Effects on Biotransformation, Oxidative Stress, and Endocrine Disruption in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Exposed to Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback and Produced Water. Environ Sci Technol. 2017, 51(2), 940-947. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04695.
• He Y, Patterson S, Wang N, Hecker M, Martin JW, El-Din MG, Giesy JP, Wiseman SB. Toxicity of untreated and ozone-treated oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) to early life stages of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Water Res. 2012, 46(19), 6359-68. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.09.004.
• He Y, Wiseman SB, Wang N, Perez-Estrada LA, El-Din MG, Martin JW, Giesy JP. Transcriptional responses of the brain-gonad-liver axis of fathead minnows exposed to untreated and ozone-treated oil sands process-affected water. Environ Sci Technol. 2012, 46(17), 9701-9708. doi: 10.1021/es3019258.
• He Y, Wiseman SB, Hecker M, Zhang X, Wang N, Perez LA, Jones PD, El-Din MG, Martin JW, Giesy JP. Effect of ozonation on the estrogenicity and androgenicity of oil sands process-affected water. Environ Sci Technol. 2011, 45(15), 6268-6274. doi: 10.1021/es2008215.