Aquatic Ecotoxicology - Chapter 1: Introduction

The aquatic environment appears as the final destination for most of anthropogenic contaminants released from industry, agriculture, urbanization, transport, tourism, and everyday life. On the other hand, inland, coastal, and marine waters provide many services important for human well-being. The conservation of ecosystems and human health is based on a sound assessment of the risks associated with the presence of contaminants in the aquatic environment. The aim of this book is to use cross-analyses of procedures, biological models, and contaminants to design ecotoxicological tools suitable for better environmental assessments, particularly in the case of emerging contaminants and emerging concern with legacy pollutants.