News
14. May 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology
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 more14. May 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology
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 more11. May 2020, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment , Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Assessment of sediment quality in artificial canals in Valais
Ecotoxicological bioassays and the assessment of invertebrate benthic communities complement physico-chemical analyses when assessing sediment quality. The sediment quality in three artificial channels in the Valais was severely affected.
Read more08. May 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Fungicidal azoles cause concern
In Switzerland, these substances are detected in most samples from water, sediment, soil and organisms. However, a lack of toxicity data for many azoles makes it difficult to assess the risk they pose.
Read more23. April 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Effect-based limits come into force - milestone for a long-term project
With the amendment to the Water Protection Ordinance of 1 April 2020, an important goal was achieved: For 19 pesticides and three pharmaceuticals, the quality criteria developed by the Ecotox Centre now apply as limit values for surface waters.
Read more17. March 2020, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
COVID-19 Information
Due to the current situation regarding the coronavirus / COVID-19, all Ecotox Centre offices and labs are closed starting 17 March 2020. Employees work from home and can be contacted via e-mail.
Read more22. November 2019, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
"Ecotoxicology will continue to gain in importance" - in conversation with Inge Werner
The longtime former head of the Ecotox Centre, Inge Werner, handed over management to Benoit Ferrari on 1 September. Here she reflects on the past and future of practical ecotoxicology in Switzerland.
Read more22. November 2019, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Few estrogens in Europe's rivers
Studies with biotests have shown it: Most European watercourses do not contain estrogenic substances in critical concentrations. Switzerland has also participated in the huge monitoring project initiated by the Ecotox Centre. All Swiss samples were harmless.
Read more21. November 2019, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Ecotoxicological effects of pesticides in stream sediments
Pesticides in sediments cause adverse effects on benthic organisms. This was shown by a monitoring study conducted by the Ecotox Centre and Eawag on five streams in agricultural areas. Crustaceans were particularly affected. Concentrations of several insecticides, including chlorpyrifos and the pyrethroid cypermethrin, exceeded effect thresholds, indicating impaired sediment quality.
Read more19. November 2019, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Video tutorial on the L-YES
A video tutorial shows the preparation and execution of the yeast estrogen screen with lyticase for the detection of estrogenic substances.
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