A novel approach, based on Species sensitivity distribution (SSD), is proposed for the development of an index for classifying ecotoxicological pesticide risk in surface waters. In this approach, the concept of TER (Toxicity Exposure Ratio), commonly used in traditional risk indices, is substituted by the concept of PAF (Potentially Affected Fraction), which takes into account several species within the biological community of interest, rather than just a small number of indicator species assumed as being representative of the ecosystem. The procedure represents a probabilistic tool to quantitatively assess the ecotoxicological risk on biodiversity considering the distribution of toxicological sensitivity. It can be applied to assess chemical risk on generic aquatic and terrestrial communities as well as on site-specific natural communities. Examples of its application are shown for some pesticides in freshwater ecosystems. In order to overcome the problem of insufficient reliable ecotoxicological data, a methodology and related algorithms are proposed for predicting SSD curves for chemicals that do not have sufficient available data. The methodology is applicable within congeneric classes of chemicals and has been tested and statistically validated on a group of organophosphorus insecticides. Values and limitations of the approach are discussed.

Sala, S., Migliorati, S., Monti, G., Vighi, M. (2012). SSD-based rating system for the classification of pesticide risk on biodiversity. ECOTOXICOLOGY, 21(4), 1050-1062 [10.1007/s10646-012-0858-7].

SSD-based rating system for the classification of pesticide risk on biodiversity

SALA, SERENELLA;MIGLIORATI, SONIA;MONTI, GIANNA SERAFINA;VIGHI, MARCO
2012

Abstract

A novel approach, based on Species sensitivity distribution (SSD), is proposed for the development of an index for classifying ecotoxicological pesticide risk in surface waters. In this approach, the concept of TER (Toxicity Exposure Ratio), commonly used in traditional risk indices, is substituted by the concept of PAF (Potentially Affected Fraction), which takes into account several species within the biological community of interest, rather than just a small number of indicator species assumed as being representative of the ecosystem. The procedure represents a probabilistic tool to quantitatively assess the ecotoxicological risk on biodiversity considering the distribution of toxicological sensitivity. It can be applied to assess chemical risk on generic aquatic and terrestrial communities as well as on site-specific natural communities. Examples of its application are shown for some pesticides in freshwater ecosystems. In order to overcome the problem of insufficient reliable ecotoxicological data, a methodology and related algorithms are proposed for predicting SSD curves for chemicals that do not have sufficient available data. The methodology is applicable within congeneric classes of chemicals and has been tested and statistically validated on a group of organophosphorus insecticides. Values and limitations of the approach are discussed.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Species sensitivity distribution; Pesticide; Aquatic community; Risk index; Biodiversity; Nonparametric tests
English
2012
21
4
1050
1062
none
Sala, S., Migliorati, S., Monti, G., Vighi, M. (2012). SSD-based rating system for the classification of pesticide risk on biodiversity. ECOTOXICOLOGY, 21(4), 1050-1062 [10.1007/s10646-012-0858-7].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/31167
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