High Time to Update Statistical Practices in Ecotoxicology

Tamar Schlekat, SETAC Global Scientific Affairs Director

In an editorial in Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, titled “Updating Statistical Practice in Ecotoxicology: Reflections and Recommendations,” Jannicke Moe, David Fox and Raoul Wolf call on ecotoxicologist to methodically use updated statistical tools and approaches. The authors note that while methods for statistical analysis of ecotoxicity data have evolved, this has happened with only intermittent involvement of statisticians. Moreover, Moe et al. add that fragmented, inconsistent and outdated use of statistical methods for ecotoxicology by regulatory authorities and standardization bodies have added to the confusion.

The editorial points out that standardized methods, guidelines and regulatory risk assessments "are still largely based on statistical principles and approaches that can no longer be considered state-of-the-art” and implores ecotoxicologist to optimize their toolbox in closer collaboration with statisticians, like other scientific fields have done, such as ecology, psychology and medicine. As an example, the authors point to the need to revise OECD document No. 54, “Current Approaches in the Statistical Analysis of Ecotoxicity Data: A guidance to application,” a 2006 report published as part of the OECD Series on Testing and Assessment, as it no longer reflects the state of science. They then annotate their wish list for the revision of that standard.

In conclusion, the authors paraphrase SETAC Founder and Fellow Peter Chapman and advise that “In moving forward, progress should integrate learning from the past decades.” They assert that improved statistical practices in ecotoxicology will support better environmental decision-making and management.

Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjaf029

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