Fachgruppenleiter/Co-ordinator:
Dipl.-Biologe Willi Kopf

Ecotoxicology deals with effects of chemical substances and environmental changes to organisms and/or to the ecosystem. All specialists working on this field are invited to join the expert group.

Research areas in the Danube river basin:

• Toxicity of hazard chemicals, waste water and sediment
  
• water pollution control
  
• Biomonitoring of harmful effects

Major scientific and technological aims and goals are:

• Toxicity tests (laboratory based biotests) with particular emphasis on fish, daphnia, algae, macrpophytes, bacteriae
  
• Online bio-monitoring and early warning systems e.g. continuos toxicity tests with organisms integrated into water quality stations
  
• Bioaccumulation of hazard substances with respect to environmental and human health
  
• Biomarkers and enzym linked effects of environmental pollution

Actual working program:

• Development and standardisation of methods
  
• Implementation of evaluated methods
  
• Improve of data base dealing with pollution of the Danube river basin
  
• Ecotoxicological classification of the river Danube concerning to bioaccumulation

Monitoring station:

Visit the (bio)monitoring station of the Bavarian Government at the upper Danube (Germany) and have a look to the actual data of the water quality:

online-monitoring station