EcoTox Toolbox: Ecotoxicology Models for Metals
The EcoTox Toolbox provides free, web-based models and supporting resources for environmental toxicology assessments. Version 1.4 includes tools for aluminum, copper, nickel, selenium, and zinc, with support for individual calculations and batch analyses.
The Toolbox is designed to make published toxicological models easier to access, apply, review, and communicate. Each module identifies its scientific basis, required inputs, outputs, and applicability domain.
Developed by Kevin V. Brix, Ph.D., Principal Scientist at EcoTox LLC.
Available Models and Resources
Aluminum
C. dubia Chronic MLR Models
Predict the total aluminum concentration associated with a chronic reproduction EC20 for Ceriodaphnia dubia using dissolved organic carbon, pH, and hardness. Includes the DeForest et al. (2020) and USEPA (2018) models.
P. promelas Chronic MLR
Predicts the total aluminum concentration associated with a chronic growth EC20 for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) using dissolved organic carbon, pH, and hardness.
USEPA 2018 Chronic WQC Calculator
Calculates the freshwater chronic aluminum criterion (CCC, µg/L total aluminum) for a single sample using pH, hardness, and dissolved organic carbon. Includes a genus sensitivity distribution plot and an Excel export.
Copper
D. magna Chronic MLR
Predicts the dissolved copper concentration associated with a chronic reproduction EC20 for Daphnia magna using dissolved organic carbon, pH, and hardness.
O. mykiss Chronic MLR
Predicts the dissolved copper concentration associated with a chronic EC20 for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using dissolved organic carbon, pH, and hardness.
Nickel
C. dubia MLR
Predicts dissolved nickel EC10, EC20, and EC50 values and reproductive effects for Ceriodaphnia dubia using hardness, dissolved organic carbon, and bicarbonate.
BIC MLR
Predicts nickel-related benthic-invertebrate community responses, including percentage Ephemeroptera, percentage EPT, and Ephemeroptera abundance.
Selenium
B-Tool
Supports selenium bioaccumulation modeling in aquatic food webs.
Fish Tissue Translator
Supports translation among selenium concentrations measured in different fish tissues.
Fish Effects Models
Predict selenium effects on juvenile salmonid growth from dietary selenium and Westslope cutthroat trout embryo-larval survival from egg selenium.
Zinc
D. magna Chronic MLR
Predicts the dissolved zinc concentration associated with a chronic reproduction EC20 for Daphnia magna using dissolved organic carbon, pH, and hardness.
O. mykiss Chronic MLR
Predicts the dissolved zinc concentration associated with a chronic survival/growth EC20 for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using dissolved organic carbon, pH, and hardness.
Database
Selenium Fish-Tissue Database
Provides supporting fish-tissue selenium data for analysis and interpretation.
What’s New in Version 1.4
Version 1.4 adds:
- The USEPA (2018) chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia aluminum MLR model and a chronic aluminum WQC calculator.
- Improved Selenium Fish Tissue Translator functionality.
- A chronic zinc MLR model for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
About This Toolbox
The EcoTox Toolbox is being developed to make applied toxicological models easier to access, apply, review, and communicate. Because this effort is self-funded, new modules will take time to bring online. Rather than wait for a larger and more complete application, EcoTox LLC is releasing tools as soon as they become available for public use.
Access to the EcoTox Toolbox is free and will remain free.
This reflects a core philosophy of EcoTox to promote science-based decision making by making tools more accessible and practical to use.
User Guidance
The Toolbox is designed to be relatively intuitive to use, but users are strongly encouraged to review the User’s Manual. At a minimum, users should read the documentation for the specific model they intend to use.
The EcoTox Toolbox is intended to support transparent toxicological analysis and informed professional judgement. Users remain responsible for determining whether a model is appropriate for their specific application.
Feedback and Future Development
EcoTox LLC welcomes feedback on the Toolbox, including bug reports, suggestions for improving features and user experience, and recommendations for models or workflows that would be useful in future versions.
New versions will be released as quickly as practical, including improvements to existing tools and the addition of new modules.
Users who would like to receive notifications when new versions are released can contact Kevin Brix and request to be added to the EcoTox Toolbox update list (you will never be solicited or contacted for any other purpose). Otherwise, please check this page periodically for release updates.
For questions, feedback, or update-list requests, please contact:
Kevin Brix
EcoTox LLC
KevinBrix@ecotoxllc.com