Springer Pollution of Water Bodies in Latin America: Impact of Contaminants on Species of Ecological Interest

The indiscriminate use of chemical substances in industrial processes and anthropogenic activities, have resulted in the release of these compounds into aquatic ecosystems through municipal, hospital and industrial discharges, producing various undesired effects on the environment and on species of ecological interest. These compounds, such as metals, pesticides, emerging pollutants and other substances are persistent and susceptible to biotic and/or abiotic transformations, yielding metabolites that can be more toxic than the original compounds. In this book, researchers from diverse environmental science disciplines share their experiences in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, and critically examine the problem of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems in Latin America, as well as the risks presented by their presence. From the Back Cover The indiscriminate use of chemical substances in industrial processes and anthropogenic activities, have resulted in the release of these compounds into aquatic ecosystems through municipal, hospital and industrial discharges, producing various undesired effects on the environment and on species of ecological interest. These compounds, such as metals, pesticides, emerging pollutants and other substances are persistent and susceptible to biotic and/or abiotic transformations, yielding metabolites that can be more toxic than the original compounds. In this book, researchers from diverse environmental science disciplines share their experiences in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, and critically examine the problem of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems in Latin America, as well as the risks presented by their presence. About the Author Dr. Leobardo Gómez-Oliván obtained a Ph.D. in Chemical-biological Sciences with specialization in Toxicology from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico in 2005.  He has 20 years of academic experience as a full-time research professor. He has been a Full Research Professor at the Autonomous University of Estado de Mexico, Faculty of Chemistry, Environmental Toxicology Laboratory (Toluca, México) since 2005. His scientific interests include the toxicity of emerging pollutants, with a focus on pharmaceuticals and metals using stress oxidative, genotoxicity, citotoxicity, embryotoxicity and teratogenesis biomarkers on aquatic species such as Cyprinus carpio, Danio rerio, Xenopus laevis, Lithobates catesbeianus, Daphnia magna and Hyalella azteca. His expertise is documented by the number of original publications (87) with 785 citations (index H 17), and the supervision of 15 PhD thesis, 37 Master´s thesis and 60 Bachelor thesis. He is the author of 19 book chapters and has been the editor of four scientific books. Dr. Gómez has been recognized for his research and received numerous distinctions, such as: Honorific mentions in master's and doctorate degrees; winner of the first place research projects 2011, awarded by the Institute of Nutrition and Health Kellogg's; the prize for best research professor in the Chemical area in 2013 by the National Association of Schools and Faculties of Chemistry AC. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal Science of the Total Environment and Heliyon Environment, and has been a reviewer for several respected journals.