Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
3. How can we better assess ecotoxicity? It is possible that current standard
ecotoxicity tests are not appropriate for assessing the impacts of many
emerging contaminants (e.g., engineered nanoparticles and pharmaceut-
icals). The use of more subtle endpoints such as impacts on behaviour,
physiology and biochemistry appear to show some merit. Further work
should be performed to identify these subtle impacts.
4. What do the ecotoxicity data mean? A number of subtle effects have been
demonstrated following exposure to selected emerging contaminants at
environmentally realistic concentrations. We need to establish what these
data mean in terms of effects on ecosystem functioning.
5. What are the mechanisms determining and fate and behaviour of
emerging contaminants? For many traditional contaminants, our under-
standing of those factors and processes affecting fate and behaviour in the
environment is well-developed and models are available for predicting
a range of important fate parameters (e.g., sorption, bioaccumulation).
However, for many emerging chemical contaminant classes, other fate
mechanisms appear to be important. In the future, we need to try and
further understand these mechanisms in order to develop improved
models for use in environmental risk assessment.
6. How can we mitigate against any identified risks? In the event that a risk of
an emerging contaminant to the environment is identified, it may be
necessary to introduce treatment and mitigation options. By better under-
standing those factors controlling the fate and behaviour or different
classes of emerging contaminant (see recommendation 5), we should be
better placed to optimise existing remediation technologies or develop new
approaches to reduce risks.
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