Value of Aquatic Model Ecosystem Studies in Ecotoxicology

摘要

The process of risk assessment of substances aims at safeguarding the integrity211u001eof complex environments and ecosystems. In this context, a No-Effect 211u001eConcentration for environmental organisms needs to be predicted (=PNEC) on the 211u001ebasis of a limited amount of ecological and ecotoxicological data available. It 211u001eis the purpose of this report to explore in detail the value of aquatic model 211u001eecosystem studies in predicting the effect of substances in the 'real world' 211u001eecosystem. The relevant scientific literature was thoroughly screened and the 211u001evarious types of studies found were described separately for the three broad 211u001egroups of studies, i.e., static freshwater, flowing freshwater, and marine 211u001esystems. Large differences exist among the reported studies concerning the test 211u001econditions chosen, particularly location, duration, size, and complexity. To 211u001eenable safe concentrations to be forecast by means of assessment factors backed 211u001eup by sound scientific data, a two-step procedure was followed: Prediction from 211u001echronic single-species No-Observed-Effect-Concentrations (NOECs) to model 211u001eecosystems NOECs; and prediction from model ecosystem NOECs to field NOECs 211u001e(=PNECs).