Using a biology-based model (DEBtox) to analyse bioassays in ecotoxicology: Opportunities \& recommendations
Péry, A. R. R., Flammarion, P., Vollat, B., Bedaux, J. J. M., Kooijman, S. A. L. M. and Garric, J. B. 2002. Using a biology-based model (DEBtox) to analyse bioassays in ecotoxicology: Opportunities & recommendations. Environ. Tox. & Chem., 21: 459 - 465.
Abstract
The conventional analysis of bioassays does not account for biological
significance. However, mathematical models do exist that are realistic
from a biological point of view and describe toxicokinetics and
effects on test organisms of chemical compounds. Here we studied a
biology-based model (DEBtox) that provides an estimate of a no-effect
concentration, and we demonstrated the ability of such a model to
adapt to different situations. We showed that the basic model can be
extended to deal with problems usually faced during bioassays like
time-varying concentrations or unsuitable choices of initial
concentrations. To reach this goal, we report experimental data from
Daphnia magna exposed to zinc. These data also showed the potential
benefit of the model in understanding the influence of food on
toxicity. We finally make some recommendations about the choice of
initial concentrations, and we propose a test with a depuration period
to check the relevance and the predictive capacity of the DEBtox
model. In our experiments, the model performed well and proved its
usefulness as a tool in risk assessment.