Aquatic toxicology databases
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Toxicological databases are large compilations of data derived from aquatic and environmental toxicity studies. Data is aggregated from a large number of individual studies in which toxic effects to aquatic and terrestrial organisms was determined from different chemicals. These databases are then used by toxicologists, chemists, regulatory agencies and scientists to investigate and predict the toxicity of organic and inorganic chemicals to exposed organisms. In aquatic toxicology multiple databases exist and each generally pertains to a single aspect of aquatic toxicology such as a PCBs[1], tissue residues or [2] sediment toxicity for example. A multitude of other informational and regulatory databases are maintained by the U.S. EPA (here), USGS (here), Army Corps of Engineers databases (here) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (here). Databases pertaining specifically to aquatic toxicology are less prolific and the three major U.S. databases are described here.
Available Databases
Toxicity/Residue Database is maintained by the U.S. EPA and is a data base for the prediction of toxicity of organic and inorganic chemicals to aquatic organisms. This data base was developed by the EPA Duluth office and became operational in 1999[3]. The data base is derived from more than 500 peer reviewed references and is a collection of their findings on roughly 200 chemicals and 190 species both marine and fresh water. Data regarding 3,000 effects (or no effect endpoints) may be queried from a small piece of downloaded software to gather survival, growth or reproductive endpoint effect data.
The Environmental Residue Effects Database (ERED) is a database maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that pairs biological effect data with toxicant tissue concentrations or effect concentrations (EC) such as mortality, growth, and physiological and biochemical responses. Additionally the ERED database supplies data on uptake and depuration rates of a number of contaminates. Response data also include low effect detected (LOED) and no effect detected (NOED) concentrations. This database is derived from 2329 peer reviewed references regarding 413 chemicals. The data base covers literature from 1964 to the present and compiles more than 15,000 overall records. This database is updated with 300 or more records every year on average.
The ECOTOX Database
References
- ^ https://archive.epa.gov/med/med_archive_03/web/html/pcbres.html
- ^ Bay, Steven. "Spiked Sediment Database". Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Sediment Advisory Group. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ Elonen, Colleen. "Toxicity Residue Research". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.