Application of the Closure Principle Computational Approach Test to Assess Ecotoxicological Field Studies: Comparative Analysis Using Earthworm Field Test Abundance Data

Field studies to determine the effects of chemicals on earthworm communities are generally conducted according to International Organization for Standardization standard 11268-3 (and later comments). However, statistical test procedures suggested in the guideline are frequently criticized, mainly for 2 reasons: 1) Earthworm abundances are count data and often do not fulfill requirements for multiple t tests (normal distribution and homogeneity of variance), and 2) the resulting toxicity metrics of multiple testing procedures (no/lowest-observed-effect concentrations [NOEC/LOEC]) fail to adequately detect the actual level of effects. Recently, a new method to overcome these shortcomings was presented by the introduction of the closure principle computational approach test (CPCAT). We applied this statistical method to assess chemical effects on abundance in a large dataset of 26 earthworm field studies (with up to 3 test chemical application rates) and an additional extended study with 6 application rates. A comparative analysis was provided considering results of well-established multiple testing approaches (Dunnett's test) with particular consideration of the degree of overdispersion found in these data. It was shown that the CPCAT detects substantially more effects in earthworm field tests as statistically significant than standard t test approaches. This lowered the LOEC/NOEC for many chemical treatments to control comparisons. As a consequence, the statistically detected NOECs/LOECs were often set at lower percentage deviations between control and chemical treatment. This is the first time the performance of the CPCAT has been assessed within a comprehensive analysis of earthworm field study data. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1750-1760. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

QSAR-Based Estimation of Species Sensitivity Distribution Parameters: An Exploratory Investigation

Ecological risk assessments are hampered by limited availability of ecotoxicity data. The present study aimed to explore the possibility of deriving species sensitivity distribution (SSD) parameters for nontested compounds, based on simple physicochemical characteristics, known SSDs for data-rich compounds, and a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR)-type approach. The median toxicity of a data-poor chemical for species assemblages significantly varies with values of the physicochemical descriptors, especially when based on high-quality SSD data (from either acute median effect concentrations or chronic no-observed-effect concentrations). Beyond exploratory uses, we discuss how the precision of QSAR-based SSDs can be improved to construct models that accurately predict the SSD parameters of data-poor chemicals. The current models show that the concept of QSAR-based SSDs supports screening-level evaluations of the potential ecotoxicity of compounds for which data are lacking. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2764-2770. © 2019 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Comparison of false-positive rates of 2 hypothesis-test approaches in relation to laboratory toxicity test performance

We compared 2 statistical hypothesis-test approaches (no-observed-effect concentration [NOEC] and test of significant toxicity [TST]) to determine the influence of laboratory test performance on the false-positive error rate using the US Environmental Protection Agency's Ceriodaphnia dubia reproduction whole-effluent toxicity (WET) test endpoint. Simulation and power calculations were used to determine error rates based on observed control coefficients of variation (CV) for 8 laboratories over a range of effect levels. Average C. dubia control reproduction among laboratories was 20 to 40 offspring per female, and the 75th percentile CV was 0.10 to 0.31, reflecting a range in laboratory performance. The 2 approaches behave similarly for CVs of 0.2 to 0.3. At effects <10%, as CV decreases, TST is less likely to declare toxicity and NOEC is more likely to do so. Laboratory performance affects whether a sample is declared toxic and influences the probability of false-positive (and -negative) error rates using either approach. At the 75th percentile control CV observed for each laboratory, 4 laboratories would achieve approximately a 5% false-positive rate using 13 or fewer replicates for this test method. For the remaining 4 laboratories, more replicates would be needed to achieve a 5% false-positive rate. The present analyses demonstrate how false-positive rates are influenced by laboratory performance and WET test design. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:511-523. Published 2019 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

Short-term toxicity of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate to early life stages of the rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus)

Nitrogenous pollutants including ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are a widespread concern in natural waters and aquaculture. In the present study, the toxicity of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate to rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) in the early life stage were evaluated by 2 short-term toxicity tests. In the short-term toxicity test, conducted on embryo and sac-fry stages, 30 fertilized eggs with 3 replicates were randomly exposed to varying levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate until 3 d posthatch (dph). In the 7-d larval subchronic toxicity test, 30 newly hatched larvae with 3 replicates were randomly exposed to varying levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate until 7 dph. The results showed that the 7-d larval subchronic toxicity test was more sensitive than the short-term toxicity test on embryo and sac-fry stages. Both toxicity tests revealed that ammonia was most toxic to rare minnows, followed by nitrite and nitrate. High levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate decreased growth, retarded development, and increased mortality. The no-observed-effect concentrations of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate for larval growth were 2.49 mg L(-1) , 13.33 mg L(-1) , and 19.95 mg L(-1) nitrogen, respectively. The present study's results demonstrate that nitrogenous pollutants pose a threat to wild populations of rare minnows and provide useful information for establishing water quality criteria for this laboratory fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1422-1427. © 2015 SETAC.