Transforming Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology to Meet the Anthropocene Sustainability Challenges Beyond Silent Spring

Abstract

This chapter revisits the development path of environmental chemistry and toxicology since the publication of Silent Spring in 1962. The fifty years have witnessed the transition of the subject from exposure and effect assessments based upon case chemicals in a segregated and phenomenological way toward a more predictive system science with generalized principles and translational evidences that are applicable for management references to tackle global environmental issues. This chapter further discusses the way forward that is fit for the Anthropocene sustainability challenges.