Learning from the past and considering the future of chemicals in the environment
Abstract
Knowledge of the hazards and associated risks from chemicals discharged to the environment has grown considerably over the past 40 years. This improving awareness stems from advances in our ability to measure chemicals at low environmental concentrations, recognition of a range of effects on organisms, and a worldwide growth in expertise. Environmental scientists and companies have learned from the experiences of the past; in theory, the next generation of chemicals will cause less acute toxicity and be less environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative. However, researchers still struggle to establish whether the nonlethal effects associated with some modern chemicals and substances will have serious consequences for wildlife. Obtaining the resources to address issues associated with chemicals in the environment remains a challenge.
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Volume 367 | Issue 6476
24 January 2020
24 January 2020
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Acknowledgments
We thank M. Jürgens (CEH) for technical support. Funding: A.C.J. and J.P.S. are grateful to NERC for grant NE/S000100/1 supporting the ChemPop project. Competing interests: A.C.J. and J.P.S. are currently members of the Defra (UK) Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee. No other competing interests are known.
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NERC Environmental Bioinformatics Centre: NE/S000100/1
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