News
24. November 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Info sheet on pyrethroides
Pyrethroids are among the most frequently used pesticides in the world. For this reason, the Ecotox Centre has published a new info sheet on the emissions, mechanism of action, toxicity and risk of the substances.
Read more23. November 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
How long to collect water samples?
If the measured concentration of a substance in surface waters exceeds its quality criterion, the water quality is assessed as poor. But over which time period should the water sample be collected and the concentration be averaged?
Read more21. November 2017, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Progress in the assessment of sediment quality
Together with eight cantons, the Ecotox Centre has conducted extensive field testing to investigate the comparability of different methods for sampling and sample preparation of sediments.
Read more31. October 2017, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
A focus on communities in freshwater sediments
In April 2017, the first French-Swiss conference on communities in freshwater sediments was held in Villié-Morgon (F). A new publication summarizes the findings from the workshop.
Read more26. September 2017, Topic: Soil Ecotoxicology
Video tutorials on springtail and earthworm assays
New video tutorials show the preparation and execution of the reproduction test with springtails and the avoidance test with earthworms.
Read more01. June 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Ecosystem stress caused by micropollutants
Micropollutants enter rivers and streams in effluents discharged from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). As well as having adverse impacts on individual species, these substances appear to alter aquatic ecosystem functions, such as litter decomposition.
Read more30. May 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Ecotoxicological risks in small streams are high
A comprehensive monitoring study in small Swiss streams shows that these are often heavily contaminated with plant protection products. The ecotoxicological risk due to the pollutant mixtures was high at four of the five examined sites and the water quality therefore considered to be bad. Due to the long-term exposure, there were no time for recovery for the water organisms.
Read more30. May 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Priorisation of pollutants for sediment monitoring in Switzerland
The Ecotox Centre has prioritised organic pollutants for sediment monitoring. The resulting list provides a basis for the sediment module of the Modular Stepwise Procedure.
Read more23. May 2017, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Do stormwater overflows in Lake Geneva contribute to sediment pollution?
Trough the discharge of untreated rainwater, surface waters can be contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants. A combination of chemical and biological studies has shown that these substances in Lake Geneva reach the sediments and lead to a shift towards more resistant species.
Read more23. May 2017, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Aquatic Ecotoxicology
A new system for the biomonitoring of surface waters
Biotests with whole organisms that can be used in the field provide a direct link between environmental pollution and biological effects. The Ecotox Centre has developed a new system with chironomids that measures the contamination of suspended matter.
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