1. From applied metrology to basic science

The rapid development of analytical techniques in the second half of the twentieth century has advanced the science of measurement (or metrology) in all fields, including environmental science. This growing sophistication of measurement techniques represents the basis of the knowledge we need to acquire in order to understand our environment and its interactions with living organisms. The flowering of new techniques is increasingly enabling us to make forays into the "infinitely small", and while we are far from knowing how to measure everything, advances in analytical chemistry have made it possible to measure thousands of hitherto unknown substances in a multitude of different matrices (atmospheric samples, water, sediments, soils, biological tissues, plants, etc.), enabling us to establish increasingly reliable strategies for environmental risk assessment. These technical advances have...