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Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology pp 127–148Cite as

Using Soil Health to Assess Ecotoxicological Impacts of Pollutants on Soil Microflora

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Part of the book series: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ((RECT,volume 188))

Abstract

The ecotoxicity testing approach allows for an overall evaluation in the measurement of pollutant impacts on soil life. Ecotoxicological evaluation takes into consideration the complexity of the contaminant mixture as well as the multiple interactions that condition bioavailability and the level of exposure to living species.The measurement of ecotoxicity is generally performed using single organisms or species. The observed toxic effects can vary in gravity and extent depending on whether they affect survival, growth, or reproduction. However, this standard method cannot easily be used to evaluate pollutant ecotoxicological impacts on a soil microbial ecosystem. Indeed, soil is a complex living system in which a microbial community is intricately related with the chemical, and physical soil components (Avidano et al. 2005). Moreover, the soil biological content is in itself a relatively unknown elaborate structure. Its ecotoxicological evaluation goes beyond the individuals or species responses to the presence of pollutants (Kools et al. 2005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NSERC Industrial Chair in Site Remediation and Management, Chemical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, succ. Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3C 3A7

    Valérie Bécaert & Louise Deschênes

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  1. Valérie Bécaert
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  2. Louise Deschênes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. 5794 E. Camino del Celador, Tucson, Arizona, 85750, USA

    George W. Ware

  2. Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Lilia A. Albert

  3. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Pim de Voogt

  4. Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Charles P. Gerba

  5. Bayreuth, Germany

    O. Hutzinger

  6. Getzville, New York, USA

    James B. Knaak

  7. Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA

    Foster L. Mayer

  8. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

    D.P. Morgan

  9. Washington DC, USA

    Douglas L. Park

  10. California, USA

    Ronald S. Tjeerdema

  11. Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

    Raymond S. H. Yang

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Bécaert, V., Deschênes, L. (2006). Using Soil Health to Assess Ecotoxicological Impacts of Pollutants on Soil Microflora. In: Ware, G.W., et al. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 188. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-32964-2_4

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