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Article
A statistical procedure for modeling continuous toxicity data
Article first published online: 20 OCT 2009
DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620111014
Copyright © 1992 SETAC
1552-8618/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=f358d8623a91e6461314c56d177604eeef179c43 "Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bruce, R. D. and Versteeg, D. J. (1992), A statistical procedure for modeling continuous toxicity data. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 11: 1485–1494. doi: 10.1002/etc.5620111014
Publication History
- Issue published online: 20 OCT 2009
- Article first published online: 20 OCT 2009
- Manuscript Accepted: 7 JAN 1992
- Manuscript Received: 29 APR 1991
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Statistics;
- Toxicity;
- Continuous data;
- Nonlinear regression
Abstract
Chronic aquatic toxicity test results are commonly analyzed with statistical hypothesis tests to generate summary statistics known as the no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) and first-observed-effect concentration (FOEC). These procedures address statistical differences among treatments but suffer several critical limitations. Use of concentration-response statistics to estimate minimal effect concentrations (i.e., EC values) from quantal and continuous data has advantages over a hypothesis-testing approach for generating a biologically relevant end point and an estimate of variability from toxicity tests. Estimation of the concentration-response statistic (EC, effective concentration) for continuous data is not straightforward but is possible with a variety of approaches. A statistical method for estimating EC values described here is based on a nonlinear regression estimation procedure. The usefulness of this method is demonstrated with continuous data from chronic toxicity tests with algae, fish, and invertebrate populations.