News
31. 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.
Read more23. May 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
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.
Read more19. May 2017, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology
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.
Read more18. May 2017, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
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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