Ecotoxicology

Ecological Fundamentals, Chemical Exposure, and Biological Effects

Schüürmann, Gerrit / Markert, Bernd

Environmental Science and Technology: A Wiley-Interscience Series of Texts and Monographs

1. Edition December 1997
XXXIV, 902 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd

ISBN: 978-0-471-17644-2

John Wiley & Sons

Short Description

This thoroughly up-to-date book focuses on toxic substances and how they effect the ecosystem worldwide. It covers ecological fundamentals, chemicals in the environment and their effects on aquatic and terrestrial systems, and assessing the risks of toxicity.

A fresh and comprehensive overview of ecotoxicology today

This book provides comprehensive single-source coverage of the entire field of ecotoxicology, from the ecological basics to the effects of chemicals on the environment and the latest test strategies.

Contributions by leading figures in ecotoxicology from around the world reflect the broad scope of current thinking and research, making this volume essential reading for informed professionals and students. Areas covered include:
* Ecosystem sensitivity, principles for analysis, and other fundamentals
* Fate, distribution, and speciation of chemicals in the environment
* Bioaccumulation and effects of chemicals
* Ecotoxicological test systems
* Concepts of ecological risk assessment

Incorporating numerous examples and case studies, this cutting-edge reference is an invaluable resource for those working in environmental toxicology, chemistry, ecology, medicine, engineering, and other related disciplines.

Partial table of contents:

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION AND ECOLOGICAL FUNDAMENTALS.

Ecotoxicological Research-Historical Development and Perspectives (S. Jørgensen).

Sensitivity of Ecosystems and Ecotones (O. Fränzle).

Community Ecology and Population Interactions in Freshwater Systems (B. Streit).

CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

Speciation of Chemical Elements in the Environment (R. Wilken).

Abiotic Transformation Reactions (E. Weber).

Ecochemistry of Toxaphene (M Coelhan & H. Parlar).

BIOACCUMULATION AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CHEMICALS.

Bioaccumulation of Chemicals by Aquatic Organisms (D. Connell).

Process-Oriented Descriptions of Toxic Effects (S. Kooijman).

Effects of Pollutants on Soil Invertebrates: Links between Levels (J. Weeks).

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT.

Current and Future Test Strategies in Terrestrial Ecotoxicology (R. Debus).

Legislative Perspective in Ecological Risk Assessment (J. Ahlers & R. Diderich).

Index.

GERRIT SCHÜÜRMANN, PhD, is Head of the Department of Chemical Ecotoxicology at the UFZ Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig and Honorary Professor at the University of Leipzig, Germany. His research interests include the exposure, transformation, bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological profile of xenobiotics in aquatic and terrestrial environments, prediction of physicochemical properties and molecular reactivity of compounds, structure-activity relationships and modes of chemical toxicity, and methods for the hazard and risk assessment of chemicals.

BERND A. MARKERT, PhD, is Professor of Environmental High Technology and Director of the International Graduate School (IHI) in Zittau, Germany. His professional interests include the biochemistry of trace substances in the water/soil/plant system, instrumental analysis of chemical elements, eco- and human-toxicological aspects of hazardous substances, pollution control by use of bioindicators and technologies for waste management, environmental restoration, and remedial action on soils.