News
22. November 2016, Topic: Soil Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Neonicotinoids - harmful to soil organisms?
The neonicotinoids imidacloprid and clothianidin were detected in soil of sugar beet, wheat and corn fields as well as in soil of ecological compensation areas. The toxicity of the substances to the beneficial springtail was determined. It was shown that the measured concentrations represent a potential risk for springtail health.
Read more22. November 2016, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Risk assessment of transformation products of pharmaceuticals
Not only pharmaceuticals but also their transformation products may pollute our surface waters. However, the assessment of their ecotoxicological risk is difficult because data on their ecotoxicity are often missing. In a case study, the Ecotox Centre compares the existing assessment methods.
Read more20. November 2016, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Legally binding effect-based quality criteria for Switzerland
The Ecotox Centre is currently adapting numerous proposals for quality criteria before they become legally binding in 2018.
Read more18. November 2016, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Estrogens from agriculture
A joint project by Agroscope and the Ecotox Centre investigates the discharge and fate of natural estrogens from agriculture. The aim is to quantitatively assess the occurrence, the behaviour and the importance of estrogens from agriculture for surface waters in Switzerland. The project is financed by the Federal Office for the Environment.
Read more27. October 2016, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology
Sediment storage conditions influence biotest results
New results from the Ecotox Centre show that freezing has a pronounced influence on sediment toxicity.
Read more21. July 2016, Topic: Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment , Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Metals in Swiss sediments
A new report summarizes the available data on metals in Swiss sediments and enables a prioritization of these important contaminants.
Read more27. May 2016, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Soil Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Successful evaluation of the Ecotox Centre
In 2015, the Ecotox Centre was evaluated by external experts. The evaluation report has now been published: Overall, the development of the Ecotox Centre and its services and impacts were rated very positively.
Read more18. May 2016, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Sediment Ecotoxicology
Passive samplers as investigators find PCB source in the Birs
Several years ago fish in the river Birs were polluted with PCBs way beyond the legal threshold but the pollutant source remained unknown. With the help of passive samplers the source in a manufacturing plant could be revealed.
Read more18. May 2016, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology , Risk Assessment
Ecotoxicity of corrosion inhibitors
Corrosion inhibitors protect steel structures from oxidative degradation but ingredients may be washed out that are harmful to water organisms. Two of the four corrosion inhibitors investigated by the Ecotox Centre released ecotoxic and estrogenic compounds.
Read more17. May 2016, Topic: Soil Ecotoxicology
Development of a new earthworm assay
The Ecotox Centre has adapted the bait lamina test to measure the feeding activity of earthworms in the laboratory. The test gives functional answers that are relevant for the ecosystem and in the future could improve the risk assessment of chemicals.
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