ecotoxicity
Ecosystem poison damage
Ecotoxicity is the potential for a substance to harm ecosystems—plants, animals, soil organisms, or aquatic life.
The term appears in environmental regulations, product safety assessments, and scientific studies measuring how pollutants affect non-human species: The pesticide showed high ecotoxicity to aquatic invertebrates.
Ecotoxicity testing evaluates chemicals before they enter widespread use.
Chemicals destroying harmful organisms
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
- industrial wasteByproducts from manufacturing processes
- oil spillPetroleum released into water
- PCBsBanned synthetic toxins
DDT · runoff · insecticides · herbicides · radionuclides · dioxins · microplastics · sewage
Pollutant concentration in tissues
- biomagnificationToxins accumulating through food chains
- eutrophicationExcess nutrients depleting oxygen
- algae bloomRapid aquatic microorganism proliferation
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
reproductive harm · neurotoxicity · chronic exposure · immunosuppression · behavioral changes · population collapse · food chain disruption · ecosystem collapse
Half-fatal dose measurement
- dose-responseRelationship between amount and effect
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- in vitroIn an artificial environment
- in vivoWithin living tissue
Gilled aquatic vertebrate
- amphibiansVertebrates with aquatic larvae
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
daphnia · earthworms · pollinators · mollusks · crustaceans · birds · mammals · sentinel species
pesticides
Chemicals destroying harmful organisms
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
- industrial wasteByproducts from manufacturing processes
- oil spillPetroleum released into water
PCBs · DDT · runoff · insecticides · herbicides · radionuclides · dioxins · microplastics · sewage · acid rain
bioaccumulation
Pollutant concentration in tissues
- biomagnificationToxins accumulating through food chains
- eutrophicationExcess nutrients depleting oxygen
- algae bloomRapid aquatic microorganism proliferation
biodiversity loss · reproductive harm · neurotoxicity · chronic exposure · immunosuppression · behavioral changes · population collapse · food chain disruption · ecosystem collapse
LD50
Half-fatal dose measurement
- dose-responseRelationship between amount and effect
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- in vitroIn an artificial environment
in vivo · bioassay · biomarkers · antagonism · safety factors
fish
Gilled aquatic vertebrate
- amphibiansVertebrates with aquatic larvae
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
algae · daphnia · earthworms · pollinators · mollusks · crustaceans · birds · mammals · sentinel species · keystone species
ecotoxicityenvironmental safety
Guarding nature from harm
eco-friendliness · biodegradability · biocompatibility · bioremediation · ecological health
toxic, intoxicated, nontoxic, ecology, intoxicating, intoxicate, intoxication, toxicity, detoxify