News

13. November 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology

Genetic barcodes for sediment assessment

Genetic barcodes for sediment assessment

The sediment quality in lakes and rivers can be assessed by studying the composition of oligochaete communities present in situ. The use of high-throughput sequencing allows the reliable identification of oligochaetes and makes this bioindication method accessible.

Read more

13. November 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology

All results of the SYNAQUA project are now available online!

All results of the SYNAQUA project are now available online!

In the Interreg project SYNAQUA researchers from Switzerland and France have established genetic methods for the biomonitoring of surface waters. All results of the project are now available online.

Read more

27. October 2020, Topic: Soil Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Ecotoxicological effects of  polyacrylamides and polyacrylates in agriculture

Ecotoxicological effects of polyacrylamides and polyacrylates in agriculture

Polyacrylamides and polyacrylates can be used as soil conditioners. But since most chemical regulations do not apply to polymers, little is known about their ecotoxicological effects. A report summarises the current state of knowledge.

Read more

02. September 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

New faces at the Ecotox Centre

New faces at the Ecotox Centre

We welcome our new colleagues Alena Tierbach and Carolin Riegraf.

Read more

09. July 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

Info sheet on PFAS in the environment

Info sheet on PFAS in the environment

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are very stable and accumulate worldwide in the environment and in organisms. A new info sheet gives information on their occurrence, their toxicity and the regulatory context.

Read more

18. May 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology

Ecotoxicity of tire wear particles

Ecotoxicity of tire wear particles

Every year, several thousand tonnes of tire wear particles, consisting of a complex mixture of rubber particles and road material, are released into the environment and are contaminated with numerous pollutants. In a new project, the Ecotox Centre is working to improve our understanding of the bioavailability and toxicity of tire wear particles.

Read more

18. May 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology

Detection of pollutants in food packaging

Detection of pollutants in food packaging

Food packaging contains complex mixtures of chemicals. A new method can sensitively measure their toxicity and help to find out which substances are responsible for the toxicity.

Read more

15. May 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment

TKTD-modelling for dummies

TKTD-modelling for dummies

A milestone has been reached by processing one of the TKTD models for the use of practitioners without modelling experience. With the GUTs model, the mortality can be predicted for a given concentration curve of a chemical.

Read more

14. May 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology

Invertebrate and microbial communities in contaminated river sediments

Invertebrate and microbial communities in contaminated river sediments

The river sediments of Ardières and Tillet are both polluted with complex substance mixtures. The effect of the contamination with PCB on the oligochaete communities was clearly visible. The effect of the contamination on microbial communities was harder to assess because microbes are influenced by a multitude of environmental factors.

Read more

14. May 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology

Guest form Japan

Guest form Japan

Dr. Kazushi Noro from the Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries in Osaka, Japan, spent five weeks at the Ecotox centre in February and March 2020.

Read more