News
February 2026
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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is difficult to detect early because patients often show no obvious symptoms until advanced stages and plasma EBV DNA can be undetectable in some cases. Our group revealed significant differences in 14 blood plasma metals between NPC patients and healthy controls, enabling a machine learning bagging model to accurately classify early-stage NPC—even with undetectable EBV DNA—and distinguish it from other cancers, positioning trace metal profiling as a promising complementary biomarker for routine clinical use.
Early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on machine learning modelling and blood plasma metallomics analysis. Scientific Reports, 2025, 16, 3646.
Featured in HKBU Faculty of Science Research Spotlight. (Link)
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January 2026​
Prof. Kelvin Leung was recently spotlighted in an interview by the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC) to mark its 15th anniversary celebration!
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In the special feature, Prof. Leung discusses his enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research and highlights the vital role that testing and certification play in addressing societal challenges and enhancing global well-being.
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If you want to know more about the highlights of the interview, please do not hesitate to visit HKCTC'S YouTube channel (link) and view the the HKCTC's 15th Anniversary Commemorative e-Publication from page 56-63 (link).
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​Credit: HKCTC (link)
@hkctcgovhk
January 2026
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Recent research led by Prof. Kelvin Leung (HKBU) and Prof. Zhang Yunhui (Fudan University) has introduced an innovative approach using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to analyse trace elements in hair samples of pregnant woman.
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The method identifies distinct patterns and temporal changes in levels of endocrine-disputing metals and nutritional trace metals that are linked gestational hypothyroidism. Notably, these shifts can be detected up to two months before a clinical diagnosis is made.
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The breakthrough highlights the potential of non-invasive hair analysis for early monitoring of trace element exposure during pregnancy, enabling better prenatal care and helping to reduce the risks associated with thyroid dysfunction in expectant mothers.
Time-varying relationship between maternal trace element exposure and gestational hypothyroidism, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2025, 12, 390 - 396.
This research is featured in Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre (link) and HKBU research office website. (Link)
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January 2026
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Happy New 2026 from KL group!
Welcome Mr. Mingyi Du from the College of Natural Resources and Environment of South China Agricultural University
for joining our group as an exchange Research Postgraduate Student!
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September - December 2025
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Vivian visited the laboratories of Prof. Maria Rosario Pereiro Garcia and Prof. Beatriz Fernandez Garcia, which is the group of Bionanoanalytical Spectrometry and Electrochemistry (E2BNA) of the Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry of University of Oviedo (UNIOVI), as a visiting scholar for three months.
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August - December 2025
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Angel joined laboratory of Professor Caroline WEE at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, as a visiting scholar for four months
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December 2025
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Meeting Professor Taicheng AN from the Institue of Environmental Health and Pollution Control of China Guangdong University of Technology and Professor Jing LI from the College of Natural Resources and Environment of South China Agricultural University!
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November 2025
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A new study led by Prof. Kelvin Leung (HKBU) and Prof. Zhang Yunhui (Fudan University) reveals that elevated arsenic, strontium, and barium, along with lower zinc levels in maternal hair, can predict gestational hypothyroidism up to two months before clinical diagnosis. The findings higlight these metals as potential early biomarers, paving the way for ealier screening and intervention in pregnant women.
Time-varying relationship between maternal trace element exposure and gestational hypothyroidism, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2025, 12, 390 - 396.
Featured in HKBU Faculty of Science Research Spotlight. (Link)
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October 2025
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Vivian participated the "10th International Symposium on Metallomics" in Paris. She shared her study about the early diagnosis of cancer based on machine learning modelling and blood plasma metallomics analysis in the poster presentation session.
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Photo retrieved from: https://www.hubertraguetphotographie.com/-/galleries/ism10/
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September 2025
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Meeting Prof. Damia Barceló (University of Almería) and
Dra. Montserrat Carrascal (Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona, CSIC)!
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September 2025
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The widespread use of electronic devices generates significant e-waste, with liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in LCD screens leaching into the environment. Our group shows that chlorination in water treatment transforms LCMs into toxic products resmbling harmful pollutants, raising environmental and health concerns.
Formation of PCB-like and PCDF-like transformation products from liquid crystal monomers in aqueous chlorination: Degradation, transformation and toxicity evaluation, Science of Hazardous Materials, 2025, 495, 139091
Featured in HKBU Faculty of Science Research Spotlight. (Link)
July 2025
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Meeting Professor Caroline WEE from A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (A*STAR IMCB)!
July 2025
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Nancy participated in the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings in chemistry, held from June 29 to July 4 in Lindau, Germany. As one of the nice young researchers from Hong Kong funded by the croucher Foundation, she is glad to have the opportunity to meet and engage with Nobel laureates, fostering her scientific collaboration and innovation.
June 2025
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Vivian received the Outstanding Laboratory Demonstrator Award at the RPG research day. Congratulation!
January 2025
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Meeting Professor Xin YANG (School of Environmental Science and Engineering) from Sun Yat-Sen University!
December 2024
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Our work on revealing the effects of chlorination on microplastics and their toxicity was featured on the HKBU interdisciplinary research website. (Link)
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Quantifying the effects of chlorine disinfection on microplastics by time-resolved inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, Science of The Total Environment, 2024, 954, 176132
December 2024
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​Welcome Dr. Zhi MEI and Dr. Yangjian ZHOU for joining our group as postdoctoral fellows!
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August 2024
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Our work on revealing hazardous chemicals formed during water treatment was featured in the HKBU interdisciplinary research website. (Link)
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Fate of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Upon the UV/Monochloramine Process: Kinetics, Transformation Pathways and the Formation of N-nitroso-N-methyl-N-alkylamines, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2024, 478, 135396
June - August 2024
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Nancy visited the laboratories of Professor Diana AGA (Department of Chemistry) and Dr. Ning DAI (Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering) at the University at Buffalo (UB) as a visiting scholar for three months this summer.
May - July 2024
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Japhet visited the laboratory of Dra. Montserrat Carrascal, the Head of the Biological and Environmental Proteomics Group, at the Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona - CSIC as a visiting scientist for three months this summer.
June 2024
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Our group has collaborated with Professor Sijie LIN from the College of Environmental Science and Engineering at Tongji University to study the synergistic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper pollutants on zebrafish and human intestinal cell functions.
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Co-exposure of polystyrene and copper indices development toxicity and intestinal mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo and in vitro, Science of The Toal Environment, 2024, 930, 17268
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Featured in HKBU interdisciplinary research website. (Link)
June 2024
Judy joined the "9th International Symposium on Metallomics" in London. She shared her current study about the ICP-MS-based approach in the study of fate of CeO2 Nanoparticles in the presentation session.
April 2024
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Meeting Professor Jie HAN (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences) from Xi'an Jiaotong University.
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March 2024
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Our work on revealing the formation of hazardous radical-coupled transformation products under MnO2-mediated treatment of micropollutants in water was featured in the HKBU interdisciplinary research website (Link)
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Hybrid radical coupling during MnO2-mediated transformation of a mixture of organic UV filters: Chemistry and toxicity assessment, Science of The Total Environment, 2024, 915, 170121
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December 2023
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Meeting and having dinner with Professor Haibo ZHANG (College of Environmental and Resources Sciences at Zhejiang Agricultural and Forestry University), Professor Fang WANG (Institute of Soil Science at Chinese Academy of Sciences),Dr. Defu HE (School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences at East China Normal University) and Dr Yue JIANG (the College of Environmental Science and Engineering at Tongji University).
September 2023
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Our work on the formation of emerging disinfection byproducts upon chlorination disinfection of water was featured in the HKBU interdisciplinary research website. (Link)
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Chlorination of bisphenols in water: Understanding the kinetics and formation mechanism of 2-butene-1,4-dial and analogues, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2023, 459, 132128
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October 2023
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Our group visited Professor Sijie LIN from the College of Environmental Science and Engineering at Tongji University and Professor Yunhui ZHANG from the School of Public Health at Fudan University.​​​
August 2023
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Meeting Professor Jing LI and her students from the College of Natural Resources and Environment of South China Agricultural University!
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June 2023
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Meeting Professor Damià Barceló, the Honorary Adjunct Professor, from Chemistry and Physics Department of University of Almeria.
December 2022
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Our work on microplastics was featured in local news and overseas.
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Sorption Behavior, Speciation, and Toxicity of Microplastic-Bound Chromium in Multisolute Systems, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2023, 10, 1, 27-32
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Featured in HKBU interdisciplinary research website. (Link)
Selected news:
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August 2018
Our work on UV filters was featured in local news and overseas.
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Joint Effects of Multiple UV Filters on Zebrafish Embryo Development, Environmental Science & Technology, 2018, 52 (16), 9460–9467
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Selected news:
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