Investigation of Korean Native Organisms for Development of Ecotoxicity Test : (2) Soil Test Species

Abstract

Ecological risk assessment has been introduced and applied based on quantitative ecotoxicity data produced using international standard methods. When conducting ecological risk assessment for soil pollutants in specific countries, it is necessary to use organisms that are native to the countries in question. However, due to their widespread distribution and economic value, it is necessary to perform studies on native test species. In this study, we collected test species used in international and domestic standard methods and selected domestic organisms used. In addition, we surveyed studies on Korean domestic organisms used for ecotoxicity tests. Furthermore, we assessed the possibility of deducing predicted no effect concentrations, as suggested by international methods. Sixty-two out of 106 test species used in four international and three domestic standard methods were determined as domestic organisms in Korea. Five domestic organisms were used as test species in the studies on domestic organism for ecotoxicity tests. Finally, 65 domestic organisms were evaluated as test species for soil toxicity assessment. On the basis of the 65 domestic organisms, we verified the possibility of deducing predicted no effect concentrations suggested by three international methods. This study identified potential soil test species for assessing the characteristics of Korean soil systems.