Influence of Climate Change on Chemicals

At the international workshop “The Influence of Global Climate Change on the Scientific Foundations and Applications of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry” organized by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) on 18 December 2012, experts from academia, government and business discussed the impacts of global climate change on chemical contaminants, organism acclimation, and vulnerable communities. As these are important considerations for future assessments of human and ecological risk, the scientists criticize that environmental toxicologists and chemists have been largely absent from the international debate on Global Climate Change.

Key consensus points include that human actions may have as much influence on the fate and distribution of chemical contaminants as does the global climate change. The climate change can affect the toxicity of chemicals, but chemicals can also affect how organisms acclimate to climate change. Baseline/reference conditions for estimating resource injury and restoration/rehabilitation will continually shift due to global climate change and represent significant challenges to practitioners.

Because of the significance of this topic, the workshop sponsors are providing open access to all of the publications covering the findings of the workshop. The articles are published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (ET&C).

The Influence of Global Climate Change on the Scientific Foundations and Applications of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Introduction to a SETAC International Workshop,
Ralph G. Stahl, Michael J. Hooper, John M. Balbus, William Clements, Alyce Fritz, Todd Gouin, Roger Helm, Christopher Hickey, Wayne Landis, S. Jannicke Moe,
Environm. Sci. Toxicol. 2013.
DOI: 10.1002/etc.2037

Influence of Global Climate Change on Chemical Fate and Bioaccumulation: The Role of Multimedia Models,
Todd Gouin, James M. Armitage, Ian T. Cousins, Derek C. G. Muir, Carla A. Ng, Liisa Reid, Shu Tao,
Environm. Sci. Toxicol. 2013.
DOI: 10.1002/etc.2044

Interactions Between Chemical and Climate Stressors: A Role for Mechanistic Toxicology in Assessing Climate Change Risks,
Michael J. Hooper, Gerald T. Ankley, Daniel A. Cristol, Lindley A. Maryoung, Pamela D. Noyes, Kent E. Pinkerton,
Environm. Sci. Toxicol. 2013.
DOI: 10.1002/etc.2043

Combined and Interactive Effects of Global Climate Change and Toxicants on Populations and Communities,
S. Jannicke Moe, Karel De Schamphelaere, William H. Clements, Mary T. Sorensen, Paul J. Van Den Brink, Matthias Liess,
Environm. Sci. Toxicol. 2013.
DOI: 10.1002/etc.2045

Implications of Global Climate Change for the Assessment and Management of Human Health Risks of Chemicals in the Natural Environment,
John M. Balbus, Alistair B.A. Boxall, Richard A. Fenske, Thomas E. McKone, Lauren Zeise,
Environm. Sci. Toxicol. 2013.
DOI: 10.1002/etc.2046

Ecological Risk Assessment in the Context of Global Climate Change,
Wayne G. Landis, Judi L. Durda, Marjorie L. Brooks, Peter M. Chapman, Charles A. Menzie, Ralph G. Stahl Jr., Jennifer L. Stauber,
Environm. Sci. Toxicol. 2013.
DOI: 10.1002/etc.2047