News

30. May 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Ecotoxicological risks in small streams are high

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.

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30. May 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Priorisation of pollutants for sediment monitoring in Switzerland

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.

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23. May 2017, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Aquatic Ecotoxicology

Do stormwater overflows in Lake Geneva contribute to sediment pollution?

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.

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23. May 2017, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Aquatic Ecotoxicology

A new system for the biomonitoring of surface waters

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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23. May 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Aquatic fungi - a neglected class

Aquatic fungi - a neglected class

Aquatic fungi degrade organic material and thereby play a key role in the food web of freshwater ecosystems. However, the organisms are not considered in the risk assessment of fungicides. This should change, the ecotoxic center feels.

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19. May 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology

New project combines thin-layer chromatography and bioassays

New project combines thin-layer chromatography and bioassays

Water and food may contain mixtures of chemicals whose toxicity is difficult to assess with conventional analysis. Effect-based methods coupled with thin-layer chromatography and LC-MS/MS are a promising new method that could help.

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18. May 2017, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Visitors at the Ecotox Centre

Visitors at the Ecotox Centre

In the last months, we have been able to welcome two visitors to the Ecotox Centre in Lausanne: Dr. Leire Méndez-Fernández of the University of the Basque Country in Spain and Stéphane Pesce of the National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture (irstea) in France.

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04. April 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Persistently high pesticide levels found in small streams

Persistently high pesticide levels found in small streams

Small watercourses are contaminated with large numbers of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. A new study shows that the legal requirements specified for water quality are not met in any of the five Swiss streams investigated. Indeed, thresholds for acute toxicity to aquatic organisms were also exceeded.

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20. March 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Info sheet on the evaluation of glyphosate

Info sheet on the evaluation of glyphosate

A new info sheet provides information on the (eco)toxicological evaluation of glyphosate and explains how the differences in the evaluation by various organisations come about.

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10. February 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology

New report on measuring PCBs and dioxins in surface waters

New report on measuring PCBs and dioxins in surface waters

This report evaluates the suitability of sediment analyses and of measurements with passive samplers in the water phase for localising PCB and dioxin sources. It is shown that PDMS passive samplers are well suited for this purpose.

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