Ecotoxicological analysis of samples from watercourses near roads in the city of Zurich

Urban streams can be contaminated by pollutants that are washed out from paved roads. Little is known about the condition of such streams in the city of Zurich. The Ecotox Centre therefore analyses several samples from streams close to roads and from road runoff for chemicals from tires and for biological effects. Several bioassays coupled with high-performance thin-layer chromatography are used for this purpose.

Applied bioassays

• HPTLC-coupled bioassays for general toxicity, dioxin-like effects and estrogenic effects