Interactions between effects of environmental chemicals and natural stressors: a review.
Holmstrup, Martin; Bindesbøl, Anne-Mette; Oostingh, Gertie Janneke; Duschl, Albert; Scheil, Volker; Köhler, Heinz-R.; Loureiro, Susana; Soares, Amadeu M.V.M.; Ferreira, Abel L.G.; Kienle, Cornelia; Gerhardt, Almut; Laskowski, Ryszard; Kramarz, Paulina E.; Bayley, Mark; Svendsen, Claus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7281-647X; Spurgeon, David J.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-8760.
2010
Interactions between effects of environmental chemicals and natural stressors: a review.
Science of the Total Environment, 408.
3746-3762.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.067
Abstract/Summary
Ecotoxicological effect studies often expose test organisms under optimal environmental conditions. However, organisms in their natural settings rarely experience optimal conditions. On the contrary, during most of their lifetime they are forced to cope with sub-optimal conditions and occasionally with severe environmental stress. Interactions between the effects of a natural stressor and a toxicant can sometimes result in greater effects than expected from either of the stress types alone. The aim of the present review is to provide a synthesis of existing knowledge on the interactions between effects of “natural” and chemical (anthropogenic) stressors. More than 150 studies were evaluated covering stressors including heat, cold, desiccation, oxygen depletion, pathogens and immunomodulatory factors combined with a variety of environmental pollutants. This evaluation revealed that synergistic interactions between the effects of various natural stressors and toxicants are not uncommon phenomena. Thus, synergistic interactions were reported in more than 50% of the available studies on these interactions. Antagonistic interactions were also detected, but in fewer cases. Interestingly, about 70% of the tested chemicals were found to compromise the immune system of humans as judged from studies on human cell lines. The challenge for future studies will therefore be to include aspects of combined stressors in effect and risk assessment of chemicals in the environment
Item Type: | Publication - Article |
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.067 |
Programmes: | CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes |
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: | Hails |
ISSN: | 0048-9697 |
Additional Keywords: | natural stressors, contamination, ecotoxicology, cumulative risk assessment, interaction, combined stressors, immunomodulatory effects |
NORA Subject Terms: | Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment |
Date made live: | 28 Sep 2010 11:16 +0 (UTC) |
URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/11015 |
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