News

17. May 2023, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Assessment of water quality with a bioassay battery

Assessment of water quality with a bioassay battery

A comprehensive study on the assessment of water quality in Switzerland shows that chemical measurements and bioassays complement each other. While risks to fish were detected more sensitively with bioassays, chemical analysis was the more sensitive method for risks to invertebrates from pyrethroid insecticides. The Ecotox Centre proposes a bioassay battery for routine testing.

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17. May 2023, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Assessment of sediment quality with a bioassay battery

Assessment of sediment quality with a bioassay battery

The Ecotox Centre proposes a battery of three bioassays to determine the quality of sediments and to complement chemical analysis. The test with ostracods reacts particularly sensitively and is suitable as a screening method for biological effects.

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17. May 2023, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment , Sediment Ecotoxicology

Assessment of water quality with biomarkers in brown trout

Assessment of water quality with biomarkers in brown trout

Biomarkers detect effects of pollutants on wildlife early and sensitively and complement chemical measurements. Further studies on the natural variability of the method are needed.

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10. May 2023, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Ecotox Centre gets to the bottom of the fish decline in the Suze

Ecotox Centre gets to the bottom of the fish decline in the Suze

The fish population and the number of small animals in the Suze have declined sharply. In order to estimate the pollution of the Suze, the Ecotox Centre examines water and sediment using various bioassays.

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20. April 2023, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Ecotox Centre webinar with Thomas Backhaus, 24 May 2023, 16:00-17:00

Ecotox Centre webinar with Thomas Backhaus, 24 May 2023, 16:00-17:00

The Ecotox Centre would like to invite you to a webinar with Prof. Thomas Backhaus (University of Göteborg, Sweden) on "Regulatory risk assessment of substance mixtures with the Mixture Assessment Factor" on 24 May 2023 at 16:00.

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07. February 2023, Topic: Soil Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

New report on determining ecotoxicological reference values for soils

New report on determining ecotoxicological reference values for soils

Monitoring of PPP residues in soils is currently being developed within the framework of the Federal Action Plan on Plant Protection Products. The Ecotox Centre provides an overview of possible methods for determining risk-based reference values for PPPs in soils.

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24. January 2023, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

The Ecotox Centre visits the Canton of Vaud

The Ecotox Centre visits the Canton of Vaud

With tailor-made courses, the Ecotox Centre passes on its expertise to cantons that request it - as was the case last week with the canton of Vaud.

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20. December 2022, Topic: Risk Assessment , Aquatic Ecotoxicology

Federal Council adopts revised Water Protection Ordinance

Federal Council adopts revised Water Protection Ordinance

On 16 December 2022, the Federal Council approved the revised Water Protection Ordinance defining the criteria for when the authorisation of a pesticide must be reviewed. In this way, drinking water and surface waters will be better protected from pesticides.

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06. December 2022, Topic: Risk Assessment

Protecting surface waters and groundwater from new pollutants

Protecting surface waters and groundwater from new pollutants

The European Commission has proposed to increase the number of water pollutants that have to be strictly controlled in water bodies and groundwater. Numerous pesticides, including glyphosate, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, some pharmaceuticals and hormones as well as PFAS are to be added to the list.

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25. November 2022, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology

How bioavailable are pollutants in tire abrasion?

How bioavailable are pollutants in tire abrasion?

Tire abrasion contains numerous organic pollutants. A new study has investigated the bioavailability of these substances to aquatic organisms.

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