Analytical chemistry and ecotoxicology--tasks, needs and trends

Thousands of synthetic chemicals are continuously released into the environment, where they have the potential to produce adverse effects on ecosystems, even at low concentrations. To avoid adverse effects induced by environmental pollutants, science and society have developed methods and tools to (1) measure the fate and distribution of the pollutants (analytical chemistry), (2) analyze effects of pollutants on biota in standardized bioassays (ecotoxicology), and (3) combine the data for risk assessment procedures. Though such procedures are well established, new issues in environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology arise and continue to challenge scientists. Furthermore, analytical chemistry has undergone enormous technological progress and new techniques from the life sciences area have been added to the ecotoxicology toolbox. Here our view on the tasks and needs in environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology is presented and the current trends under development in the field are illustrated.