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Developments and present status of terrestrial ecotoxicology

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Ecological responses to environmental stresses

Part of the book series: Tasks for vegetation science ((TAVS,volume 22))

Abstract

Ecotoxicology is a new science, combining expertise from ecology, toxicology and environmental chemistry. Although the roots of these disciplines are very different, there is a growing tendency for an integrated approach; this is stimulated by the need for ecological risk assessment of chemicals in the environment. Research on metal toxicity in soil invertebrates provides an illustration of this development. On the basis of estimated frequency distributions of sensitivity of soil organisms, soil quality criteria have been derived for cadmium, lead, lindane and atrazine. Contaminant levels in soil exceeding these levels may select for increased resistance in soil animal populations. Physiological and genetic research has shown that metal tolerance can be achieved by decreased assimilation (Zn tolerance in Porcellio scaber) and by increased metal excretion (Cd tolerance in Orchesella cincta). Metal concentrations differ greatly between the various species of the soil arthropod community. As to metal accumulation, soil animals can be classified in two or three groups which do not coincide with feeding habits, but follow the gross taxonomic classification. Development of ecotoxicological theory for species variation in accumulation potential and sensitivity will contribute to a strengthening of the basis for risk assessment of chemicals in the environment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    E. N. G. Joosse & N. M. Van Straalen

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  1. E. N. G. Joosse
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  2. N. M. Van Straalen
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Rozema  & J. A. C. Verkleij  & 

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© 1991 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Joosse, E.N.G., Van Straalen, N.M. (1991). Developments and present status of terrestrial ecotoxicology. In: Rozema, J., Verkleij, J.A.C. (eds) Ecological responses to environmental stresses. Tasks for vegetation science, vol 22. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0599-3_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0599-3_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6757-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0599-3

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