The field of ecotoxicology is aimed at understanding the ecological effects of pollutants and other stressors on living organisms and the environment. Advances in our understanding of the immune system and its responses to such stressors have brought immunotoxicity to the forefront of ecotoxicology research. A better understanding of immunotoxicology is critical to not only assess the impacts of pollutants on individual organisms but also to assess their impact on the ecosystem as a whole.
This webinar provides an excellent opportunity for the SETAC community to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in immunotoxicology and its relevance for ecotoxicology. It will provide a better understanding of how to assess the impact of pollutants and other stressors on the immune system of fish in the ecosystem, ultimately contributing to a safer and more sustainable environment.
This webinar will discuss what it actually means to include immunotoxicity as a parameter to be considered in the hazard assessment. The outline will be (with a focus on fish):
- Immunotoxicity: Evidence of its relevance in ecotoxicology
- The complexity of the immune system: Emphasizing the network character of the immune system
- Challenges in immunotox assessment: Selecting endpoints/assay, interpreting effects, scaling up, etc.
- A practical way forward in field and lab: Disease incidence as trigger and trigger approach as used in human toxicology
