1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif 1212570_28446780.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Ecotoxicology Part 1 - Introduction Ludek Blaha + ecotox colleagues 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Global anthropogenic threats ? A safe operating space for humanity & the nine planetary boundaries Rockstrom et al. 2009 (Ecology and Society 14(2): 32; Nature 461, 472-475) 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif 1996 - Chemicals in the environment Do you believe that chemicals in products sold to consumers have been proven safe? Think again most chemicals in modern use have simply not been tested for their impacts on human, even very basic effects. … what about the effects in nature, then ? OSF%20Hardback%20Large How we stand 20 years later? 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/12/05/article-2243155-165C6117000005DC-311_634x522.jpg 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Environmental pollution Examples and ecological cosequences 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Major anthropogenic threats – example: waters Impacts 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif •Loss of biodiversity – Major impacts 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Changes in biodiversity 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif •Loss of biodiversity Major impacts •Impairment of ecosystem services –Unbalanced water cycles •Water scarcity •Draughts/floods –Impaired water quality •Drinking waters •Bathing waters •Toxicants in food chain –Shrinking of food supplies •Direct à lowering fish amounts •Indirect à crop yield 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Impacts on fish à decreased crop yields C:\Documents and Settings\Ludek\Dokumenty\katedra\vyuka\ObecEkotox\Nature-Ecosystem\nature03962-f1.jpg NATURE (2005) 437: 880 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Impacts on biota à global effects Mixing oceans à cooling the atmosphere [Nature 447, p.522, May 31, 2007] Marine life supplies up to 50% of the mechanical energy required worldwide to mix waters from the surface to deeper cool layers [Dewar, Marine Res 64:541 (2006)] [Katija a Dabiri, Nature 460:624 (2009)] 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Boyles et al. (2011) Science 332 (60251) 41-42 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Ecotoxicology assessment o hazards and risks of chemicals in ecosystems 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Cause à Effect (Causality) Dose à Response Risk assessment Exposure (concentration >> dose) Atmospheric Deposition Erosion & Runoff Untreated discharges Effect (What exposure causes effects?) bosmina FISH Ecotoxicologica bioassays, field studies, biomonitoring… sample56 lab2 faCTORY1 WWTP 2 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif What is hazardous? What is toxic? How to define toxicity? 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Paracelsus (1493 - 1541) ‘What is there which is not a poison? ¡All things are poison and nothing without poison. ¡ ¡Solely the dose determines that a thing is not a poison. ¡ 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif (Eco)toxicology – ultimate goal ? To identify (or predict) safe vs hazardous levels 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Assessment of one of the hazards (i.e. toxicity) to different targets …to… Humans Other organisms (TOXICOLOGY) (ECOtoxicology) https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE7qm7tLqavKV1VUwQpKDwC6XUksMmHXLKvoBzqHIKaqjv q_mACQ https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRorg12adBHNbxSdT8AiWMQmO7b7vltAdBZohD_pqfDehNn re7fkg https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQvHwZACb-TU516T7ZMDFe-QBU598rfeCvHryOWorunBunH oi4zpA 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif •Aim: to maintain the natural structure and function of ecosystems • •Definitions: §ecotoxicology is concerned with the toxic effects of chemical and physical agents on living organisms, especially on populations and communities within defined ecosystems; it includes the transfer pathways and their interactions with the environment §science of contaminants in the biosphere and their effect on constituents of the biosphere, including humans’ (Newman & Unger, 2002) §science that provides critical information on effects of toxic compounds on living organisms which SERVE various practical aims (environmental protection) ECOTOXICOLOGY by definition 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif CHEMICAL ENTERS THE ENVIRONMENT Bioavailable fraction “EXPOSURE” acute chronic Toxicokinetics biotransformation bioactivation excretion / sequestration Target site “EFFECT” toxicodynamics LEVELS, FATE, PROCESSES CHEMICAL ENTERS THE ORGANISM biomonitoring 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Ecotoxicology - from molecules to ecosystems … and backwards 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif From molecules to individuals à to populations http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2010/comptox_001.jpg MECHANISMS OF TOXICITY 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Ecotoxic effects Escher, B. I., Behra, R., Eggen, R. I. L., Fent, K. (1997), "Molecular mechanisms in ecotoxicology: an interplay between environmental chemistry and biology", Chimia, 51, 915-921. 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif From molecules to individuals à to populations ADVERSE OUTCOME PATHWAYS Models for ecotoxicology and risk assessment. Toxicokinetics are "what the organism does with the chemical" and toxicodynamics are "what the chemical does to the organism". 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif From ecosystems à down the mechanisms From mechanisms (molecules) à up to effects and ecosystems OR ? 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif 1962 © Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, MA, USA http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/ 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Bitman et al. Science 1970, 168(3931): 594 Biochemistry bird carbonate dehydratase In vivo: shell thinning In situ: bioaccumulation -> bird population decline 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Ethinylestradiol (EE2) Binds to ESTROGEN RECEPTOR https://www-pls.llnl.gov/data/assets/images/science_and_technology/life_sciences/cancer_diet/kulp1. jpg Target genes - Proliferation/Apoptosis (sexual organs) - Synthesis of egg yolk (fish, amphibia) Effects - Females: reproduction regulation - Males: feminization (+ e.g. cancer promotion, development, immunomodulation) AOP Example: Activation of ER - estrogen receptor (e.g. by EE2) leads to reproductive disorders and population decline in fish 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif Kidd, K.A. et al. 2007. Collapse of a fish population following exposure to a synthetic estrogen. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104(21):8897-8901 Controls +Ethinylestradiol 5 ng/L (!) 7 years 1212569_21823227.jpg logo_mu_cerne.gif trojlogo.gif •Ecotoxicology as a science with close links to practical environmental protection –Understand the importance and links between ECOTOXICITY --- BIODIVERSITY --- ECOSYSTEM SERVICES • •From molecular events to higher levels –Be aware of different biological levels - from molecules to communities –Know example(s) of „Adverse Outcome Pathway(s)“ – • – – – WRAP UP … take home message