Shemical speciation dynamics and toxicity assessment in aquatic systems

摘要

The key to risk assessment of contaminant effects in the environment (water, sediments, soil) is the ability to document cause-and-effect relationships. In ecotoxicological research, bi- otic responses are related to quantified contaminant concentra- tions, which in most cases are still expressed in terms of "total elemental concentration" and not in terms of "elemental spe- cies." However, it becomes evident that the abundance and distribution of pollutants in the environment, their bioavalilabil- ity, and their toxicity to aquatic and terrestrial organisms (in- cluding humans) can often be better understood in terms of "elemental species."