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Stephan Müller answers a
few questions about this month's fast breaking paper in the field of
Environment & Ecology.
From
•>>June 2004
Field:
Environment & Ecology
Article Title: Triclosan: Occurrence and fate of a widely used biocide in the aquatic environment: Field measurements in wastewater treatment plants, surface waters, and lake sediments
Authors: Singer, H;Muller,
S;Tixier, C;Pillonel, L
Journal: ENVIRON SCI TECHNOL
Volume: 36
Page: 4998-5004
Year: DEC 1 2002
* Swiss Fed Inst Environm Sci & Technol EAWAG, Uberland Str 133, CH-8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland.
* Swiss Fed Inst Environm Sci & Technol EAWAG, CH-8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland.
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 Why
do you think your paper is highly cited?
The paper presents a comprehensive study on the occurrence
and fate of the widely used biocide triclosan (e.g., used in
toothpaste). It presents the complete mass flux in the aquatic
environment and
the importance of
evaluating the risk of this compound. Some researchers claim
that the compound will induce bacterial resistance and it is
quite toxic to some species of algae.
Does
it describe a new discovery or a new methodology that's useful to
others?
We present both a new methodology—the trace analytical
method—and the overall results of the mass flux and behavior
study.
How
did you become involved in this research?
We are generally interested in the fate of "biologically
active" compounds such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and
biocides. Therefore we have also chosen triclosan.
Could
you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?
The paper illustrates the occurrence of triclosan, an
anti-bacterial chemical which is used in personal and household
products, e.g., toothpaste and the examination of "what
happens to it" in waste water treatment plants, surface
waters and sediments. This is important in order to evaluate its
risk in the aquatic environment, because it might induce
bacterial resistance and it is quite highly toxic for some
algae.
Dr. Stephan Müller
Head of the division water protection
Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL)
Bern, Switzerland
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ESI Special Topics,
June 2004
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2004/june04-StephanMller.html
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