Species sensitivity distributions for use in environmental protection, assessment, and management of aquatic ecosystems for 12 386 chemicals. (25th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Posthuma, Leo; van Gils, Jos; Zijp, Michiel C.; van de Meent, Dik; de Zwart, Dick
• Is Part Of: Environmental toxicology and chemistry. Volume 38:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 905
• Page End: 917
• Publication Date: 2019-03-25
• Subjects: Aquatic ecotoxicity data -- Chronic no‐observed‐effect concentration -- Acute median effective concentration -- Species sensitivity distribution -- Environmental risk assessment -- Life cycle assessment; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 615.902
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.4373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0730-7268

Abstract

Abstract: The present study considers the collection and use of ecotoxicity data for risk assessment with species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) of chemical pollution in surface water, which are used to quantify the likelihood that critical effect levels are exceeded. This fits the European Water Framework Directive, which suggests using models to assess the likelihood that chemicals affect water quality for management prioritization. We derived SSDs based on chronic and acute ecotoxicity test data for 12 386 compounds. The log‐normal SSDs are characterized by the median and the standard deviation of log‐transformed ecotoxicity data and by a quality score. A case study illustrates the utility of SSDs for water quality assessment and management prioritization. We quantified the chronic and acute mixture toxic pressure of mixture exposures for >22 000 water bodies in Europe for 1760 chemicals for which we had both exposure and hazard data. The results show the likelihood of mixture exposures exceeding a negligible effect level and increasing species loss. The SSDs in the present study represent a versatile and comprehensive approach to prevent, assess, and manage chemical pollution problems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:905–917. © 2019 SETAC Abstract : Graph illustrating our contribution to an increased ability to provide environmental decision support with species sensitivity distributions. LCA = life cycle assessment.