While toxicity testing procedures and hazard assessment approaches have been published in past decades, many are wanting in detail for users to fully understand or reproduce successfully. Small-scale freshwater toxicity investigations (Volumes 1 and 2) responds to this need by providing comprehensive information on biological testing which is normally scattered and difficult to find.
In Volume 1, 15 chapters on toxicity tests are described in great detail by way of a homogeneous structure that all contributors had to follow. These comprehensive texts allow readers to be informed of relevant information (background, theory, practice) linked to each bioassay. Hence, book contents can be used both for technology transfer purposes (e.g., classroom or workshop courses) and to undertake practical toxicity testing (e.g., in a private, public or university laboratory).
Academia (students, professors), government (environmental managers, scientists, regulators) and consulting professionals (biologists, chemists, engineers) should find this volume of interest. As an example, it should prove useful for conducting (under)graduate courses in aquatic toxicology involving practical laboratory training. In this respect, it can be attractive, owing to some of its contents, as a laboratory manual for learning purposes or for undertaking applied research to assess chemical hazards.
In short, all groups directly or indirectly involved with the protection and conservation of freshwater environments will find Volume 1 appealing, as will those who simply wish to become familiar with the field of toxicity testing.
"The editors and contributors have done an excellent job of covering a wide and rapidly moving field of environmental science in a sound, exciting, and up-to-date way. On the one hand, these volumes are very suitable for well-experienced researchers and, on the other, for students, because they provide clear explanations of small-scale toxicity testing procedures and hazard assessments with special attention being given to freshwater investigations. Excellent, very useful! " Ivan Holoubek, Professor at Masaryk University (Brno, CR) and President of SECOTOX
"Environmental contamination is a worldwide problem, these volumes provide a detailed account of toxicity assessment using biotests for freshwater and sediment which will be of great value to students and practitioners alike". Ian Falconer, Editor Environmental Toxicology, University of Adelaide, Australia
From the contentsIntroduction * Toxicity test methods * Bacteria * Micro-algae and aquatic macrophytes * Protozoans * Micro-invertebrates * Fish cells * Glossary * Index.