Ecotoxicology
Our ecotoxicology team has more than 30 years' experience and
operates at the forefront of freshwater research, studying the
impact of chemicals in the environment. Many government, industry
and commercial customers already benefit from our services, which
range from routine toxicity checks to substantial bespoke
multi-disciplinary projects.
It's a service that appeals to customers looking for anything
from the toxicity testing of a single substance through to a
complete assessment of complex effluents and environmental
matrices.
We also offer enhanced services identifying unknown causes of
toxicity on aquatic organisms and assessing risks of various
spills, discharges or other changing chemical influences. This
research can include full environmental surveys.
We regularly use a wide variety of scientific techniques,
including:
- single-species standard acute toxicity tests
- sub-lethal toxicity assessments (e.g. on growth, reproduction,
etc)
- cell-based screening assays (e.g. yeast assays, DR-CALUX)
- toxicity identification evaluation
- chemical fate studies (including bioaccumulation and
biodegradation)
- biomarker analysis in a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate
species
- environmental surveys and monitoring
- desk-based chemical risk assessments
- consultancy on testing, regulation and chemical
fate/effects.
Our current research work includes:
- identification of key toxicants in European river basins using
effect directed analysis as part of the EU MODELKEY project
- the assessment of treatment options to allow sewage effluent
recycling
- risk assessment of various industrial discharges
- the use of passive samplers as a monitoring tool
- assessment of contaminant risk during flood events
- biological assessment of emerging contaminants and surveying
human habits as contributors to chemical exposure.
Many of these projects are using a multi-disciplinary approach,
linking our chemistry, modelling and risk
assessment teams, and using emerging techniques such as passive
sampling.
For more information, email ecotox@cefas.co.uk.