Borrowing the approaches of population genetics, evolutionary toxicology was particularly useful in assessing the transgenerational effects of a substance at sublethal concentrations, as well as evaluating genetic variation in populations exposed to pollutants. Starting from assays in controlled conditions, in recent years this approach has also found successful applications multi-stressed natural systems. It is also able to exploit the huge amount of data provided by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques. Similarly, the focus has shifted from effects on the overall genetic variability, the so-called “genetic erosion”, to selective effects induced by contaminants at more specific pathways. In the aquatic context, effects are usually assessed on non-model species, preferably native fish or macroinvertebrates. Here we provide a review of current trends in this specific discipline, with a focus on population genetics and genomics approaches. In addition, we demonstrate the potential usefulness of predictive simulation and Bayesian techniques. A focused collection of field and laboratory studies is discussed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, covering a range of molecular markers, different endpoints of genetic variation, and different classes of chemical contaminants. Moreover, guidelines for a future implementation of evolutionary perspective into Ecological Risk Assessment are provided.

According to the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, nonylphenol (NP) has been included in the list of priority hazardous substances and subject to cessation or phasing out of discharges, emissions and losses within an appropriate timetable not exceeding 20 years. The present work analyzed monitoring data on NP and its precursors (mono- and di-ethoxylates, nonylphenol-mono-ethoxylate and nonylphenol-di-ethoxylate) collected in a highly impacted river basin in Northern Italy in order to assess the effectiveness of the adopted measures for NP reduction, during two monitoring campaigns in 2003/04 and 2009/10, respectively, before and after the entry into operation of three new wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Milan. The River Lambro is the main source of pollutants also for the River Po and the Adriatic Sea. Data collected in the present work showed that in the last 7 years the reduction of the different analytes was from 70% to 90%. Most of the reduction can be attributed to the substitution of nonylphenolethoxylates in industrial uses as demonstrated by a survey in the textile industrial district. The entry into operation of the new municipal WWTPs in Milan contributes about 10% of the reduction of the total NP load discharged by the River Lambro.