ecotoxicology
|e-co-tox-i-col-o-gy|
🇺🇸
/ˌiːkoʊˌtɒksɪˈkɒlədʒi/
🇬🇧
/ˌiːkəʊˌtɒksɪˈkɒlədʒi/
study of environmental toxins
Etymology
'ecotoxicology' originates from 'ecology' and 'toxicology', where 'eco-' refers to 'environment' and 'toxicology' refers to the study of poisons.
'ecotoxicology' was coined in the 20th century as a combination of 'ecology' and 'toxicology' to address the growing concern of environmental pollutants.
Initially, it meant the study of toxic substances in the environment, and this meaning has remained consistent.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the study of the effects of toxic chemicals on biological organisms, especially at the population, community, ecosystem level.
Ecotoxicology helps us understand the impact of pollutants on marine life.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/14 08:54