The impact of emerging chemical pollutants, on both status and functionality of aquatic ecosystems is worldwide recognized as a relevant issue of concern that should be assessed and managed by researchers, policymakers, and all relevant stakeholders. In Europe, the Reach Regulation has registered more than 100.000 chemical substances daily released in the environment. Furthermore, the effects related to the mixture of substances present in aquatic ecosystems may not be predictable on the basis of chemical analyses alone. This evidence, coupled with the dramatic effects of climate changes on water resources through water scarcity and flooding, makes urgent the application of innovative, fast and reliable monitoring methods. In this context, Effect-Based Methods (EBMs) have been applied in the urban stretch of the Tiber River (Central Italy) with the aim of understanding if detrimental pressures affect aquatic environmental health. In particular, different eco-genotoxicological assays have been used in order to detect genotoxic activity of chemicals present in the river, concurrently characterized by chemical analysis. Teratogenicity and embryo-toxicity have been studied in order to cover additional endpoints. The EBMs have highlighted the presence of diffuse chemical pollution and ecotoxicological effects in the three sampling stations, genotoxicological effects have been also detected through the use of different tests and organisms. The chemical analyses confirmed that in the aquatic ecosystems there is a diffuse presence, even at low concentrations, of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, not routinely monitored pesticides, personal care products, PFAS. The results of this study can help to identify an appropriate battery of EBMs for future studies and the application of more appropriate measures in order to monitor, mitigate or eliminate chemical contamination and remediate its adverse/detrimental effects on the ecosystem health.

新出现的化学污染物对水生生态系统的状态和功能的影响是全世界公认的一个相关问题，研究人员、政策制定者和所有相关利益相关者都应该对其进行评估和管理。在欧洲，Reach 法规记录了每天释放到环境中的 100.000 多种化学物质。此外，与水生生态系统中存在的物质混合物相关的影响可能无法仅根据化学分析进行预测。这一证据，再加上气候变化通过缺水和洪水对水资源的巨大影响，迫切需要应用创新、快速和可靠的监测方法。在这种情况下，基于效果的方法 (EBM) 已应用于台伯河（意大利中部）的城市段，目的是了解有害压力是否会影响水生环境健康。特别是，不同的生态基因毒理学试验已被用于检测河流中存在的化学物质的基因毒性活性，同时通过化学分析进行表征。已经研究了致畸性和胚胎毒性以涵盖额外的终点。EBM 强调了三个采样站中存在弥散的化学污染和生态毒理学效应，还通过使用不同的测试和生物体检测到了基因毒理学效应。化学分析证实，在水生生态系统中，即使浓度很低，新出现的污染物，例如药物、未进行常规监测的农药、个人护理产品、PFAS。这项研究的结果可以帮助确定合适的 EBM 电池组，用于未来的研究和更合适的措施的应用，以监测、减轻或消除化学污染并补救其对生态系统健康的不利/不利影响。