ecotoxicology
Quick Summary
Ecotoxicology is a scientific discipline that combines ecology and toxicology to study the effects of toxic substances, particularly pollutants, on the environment. It is concerned with assessing toxic substances within ecosystems, monitoring environments for their presence, and understanding how toxins impact both living and non-living components of ecosystems. This field also investigates the metabolism and environmental fate of these toxins.12
The origins of ecotoxicology can be traced back to the mid-20th century, with a significant increase in awareness following Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring, which highlighted the environmental consequences of pesticide use. The term "ecotoxicology" was coined in 1969. Major environmental disasters like the Bhopal disaster and the Chernobyl accident further underscored the importance of this field. Ecotoxicology draws on principles from various scientific disciplines, including biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics.2
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