Marchini Silvia
Dipartimento di Ambiente e Connessa Prevenzione Primaria, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome.
Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2005;41(3):371-9.
Fundamental concepts of ecotoxicology are presented, making specific reference to the aquatic environment. As far as exposure to contaminants is concerned, the main properties of a substance that determine its presence in the various environmental compartments and matrices are illustrated and discussed. The crucial importance of the bioaccumulation potential is stressed, as it can be responsible for the level of substance reached in the biota, which can be much higher than that present in the external environment. It is also underlined the importance of bioavailability processes, which tune the chemical fraction available for absorption by organisms. The toxic effects on biota are illustrated at the different levels of biological organization they can be observed. Last, the role of the ecotoxicological investigation within an integrated approach to the water quality assessment is discussed along with the specific information provided.
介绍了生态毒理学的基本概念，并特别提及了水生环境。就污染物暴露而言，阐述并讨论了决定物质在各种环境隔室和基质中存在的主要特性。强调了生物累积潜力的至关重要性，因为它可能决定生物群中物质达到的水平，这一水平可能远高于外部环境中的水平。还强调了生物可利用性过程的重要性，这些过程调节生物体可吸收的化学组分。阐述了在生物组织的不同层面上可观察到的对生物群的毒性效应。最后，讨论了生态毒理学调查在水质评估综合方法中的作用以及所提供的具体信息。
