Toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic models in aquatic ecotoxicology for a mechanistic link between bioconcentration and effects

People working on this project in the past

Ivo Caravatti (M.Sc. student)

Start

April 2008

This study aims at a better understanding of toxic effects from anthropogenic pollutants on aquatic organisms and better tools for aquatic risk assessment. Toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic models (TK-TD models) serve both purposes. They can simulate and predict the time-course of toxic effects on aquatic organisms after exposure to xenobiotics. Hence the project consists of mathematical modelling and ecotoxicological experiments with organic xenobiotic compounds.

We investigate the relationships between the toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic parameters on the one hand and compound- and species-specific properties on the other hand. Systematically studying the role of the mechanism of toxic action, the reversibility of effect and the threshold of toxicity will establish a process-based understanding of the toxicodynamics. We chose 15 chemicals of four different mode-of-action classes to cover a range of TD variability. A gradient of TK related properties within these compounds allows one to separate influences of TK and TD on overall toxic effects.