[AVX Seminar] Emerging contaminants in a changing world: current perceptions and future perspectives

Avx Seminar

Title: Emerging contaminants in a changing world: current perceptions and future perspectives

Speaker: Fernanda Cássio

Affiliation: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental da Universidade do Minho

Abstract: Contaminants of emerging concern are chemical compounds that appear in the environment at low concentrations, globally distributed or as new contaminants with the potential of inducing adverse effects on organisms and ecosystems, and still lacking information on their effects, exposure scenarios, environmental fate and behaviour. They are considered of emerging concern, due to the potential risk they pose to humans and to the environment. Microplastics, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PCPs) include chemicals with these characteristics. We will address the current knowledge on the effects of emerging contaminants on biological systems and their consequences to ecological functions under the ongoing climate changes. Questions related to the quantification and characterization of emerging contaminants in natural environments and organisms, and biological and ecological effects will be discussed.  Considering the global changes predictions for the near future, we will try foresee how organisms will deal with these new threats, under extreme environmental conditions.