Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

EcoToxicology

Ecotoxicology is a branch of science that deals with the nature, effects, and interactions of substances that are harmful to the environment. It is to be distinguished from toxicology because it focuses on the impacts of chemicals on ecological groupings of organisms rather than on individuals; i.e. on populations, communities and ecosystems. Biomonitoring is a significant tool in ecotoxicology for humans as well as wildlife. Ecotoxicology plays a key part in informing ecological risk assessment and hence in the management of the production, use and disposal of industrial and agricultural chemicals. Pesticides and other industrial chemicals are at the root of many pollution problems. Ecotoxicology plays a key part in informing the assessment of risks from chemicals to ecological systems and hence in managing their impacts.