Freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential

Mario Grosso and Stefano Puricelli

Chapter 82 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 307-311 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Freshwater Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential (FAETP) assesses the impact of toxic substances on freshwater ecosystems, measuring potential harm to aquatic organisms. Unlike human toxicity, FAETP focuses on ecological impacts and considers species and population-level effects. Evaluated through Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) and life cycle assessment (LCA), FAETP accounts for a substance's chemical properties, environmental release, and persistence. Various methodologies, including USEtox, calculate FAETP using fate, exposure, and effect factors. Key contributors to ecotoxicity include pesticides, industrial chemicals, and emerging contaminants, which can cause acute and chronic harm to aquatic organisms, disrupt ecosystems, and alter food chains. Managing FAETP involves regulatory frameworks, pollution prevention, and remediation, while challenges include assessing combined pollutant effects and long-term impacts. Continued research, regulatory oversight, and public engagement are essential to mitigating risks and protecting freshwater environments for future generations.

Keywords: Freshwater; Ecotoxicity; Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA); Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Toxic substances; Aquatic organisms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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