| Multiple Stressors: A Challenge for the Future 2007 Edition Contributor(s): Mothersill, Carmel (Editor), Mosse, Irma (Editor), Seymour, Colin (Editor) |
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ISBN: 1402063334 ISBN-13: 9781402063336 Publisher: Springer OUR PRICE: $104.49 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: August 2007 Annotation: This workshop proceedings aims to address the complex issue of multiple stressors (pollutants) in the environment. This is becoming a major issue now that virtually every region of the world is polluted. This is true even of "pristine" arctic environments where there are no humans, because chemicals and radiation circulate globally, do not respect international boundaries and accumulate in animals, plants and soils everywhere. There are huge problems, both scientific and politico-legal in managing multiple pollution. These range from issues with identifying cause in the legal sense, when cause may be multifactorial, to issues with understanding the subtle interplay of pollutants at the biological level. The scope of the workshop was therefore very wide and multiple disciplines were represented, including economists, lawyers, and ethicists in addition to scientists. Among the scientists, there was a careful blend of those dealing with the practical problems on the ground, and the more theoretical people who want to understand the mechanisms of interactions between various pollutants especially when all are by themselves present at sub-toxic concentrations. The aim of the workshop was to try to identify the issues and to propose a way forward which could at least start to address the issues in a logical way. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Science | Environmental Science (see Also Chemistry - Environmental) - Medical | Pharmacology - Law | Environmental |
| Dewey: 551 |
| Series: NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental |
| Physical Information: 1.13" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (1.95 lbs) 484 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Ecotoxiclogical risk from multiple stressors covers any situation where org- isms are exposed to a combination of environmental stressors. These include physical and chemical pollutants as well as other stressors such as parasites and environmental impact (e. g., climate change or habitat loss). The combi- tion of stressors can result in increased risk to organisms (either additive or synergistic effects) or decreased effects (protective or antagonistic effects). The multiple stressor challenge is an international, multi-disciplinary problem requiring an international, multi-disciplinary approach. The c- rent approach to multiple stressors is to examine one stressor at a time and assume additivity. Little work has been done on combinations of stressors such that potential interactions can be determined. The problem is very complex. Multiple stressors pose a whole spectrum of challenges that range from basic science to regulation, policy and gove- ance. The challenges raise fundamental questions about our understanding of the basic biological response to stressors, as well as the implications of those uncertainties in environmental risk assessment and management. In addition to the great breadth, there is also great depth in the research ch- lenges, largely due to the complexity of the issues. From a basic science point of view, many of the mechanisms and processes under investigation are at the cutting edge of science -- involving new paradigms such as genomic ins- bility and bystander effects. |