http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/authors/read/19598?format=citation Publications by A.N. Edginton en-ca 2008-06-23 00:00:00 MST 2008-06-23 00:00:00 MST webmaster@nofc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=28736 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=28736 http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=28733 Using an amphibian toxicity testing protocol, comparative studies were conducted to assess the predictive precision, degree of similarity of results and efficiency of a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) in relation to a conventional complete 3x3 factorial design. Data were treated with response surface analysis using generalized linear models (glm) and application of profile deviance to generate confidence intervals. Design comparisons were based on studies conducted using the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus (FETAX) protocol to examine the interaction of three toxicants at pH levels ranging from 4.5 to 8.5. Test substances included two commercial herbicide formulations based on glyphosate ([N-phosphonomethyl]glycine) isopropylamine salt (Vision, Rodeo) as well as a polyethoxylated tallow amine surfactant blend (MON 0818), which is a key component of the Vision formulation. The generated models from both the CCRD and the factorial designs produced toxicity estimates similar to each other and to previously published results. Trends were also similar to published results in that the surfactant, MON 0818, was comparatively more toxic than Vision, which was more toxic than Rodeo. Further, all toxicants induced higher mortality under alkaline as opposed to acidic conditions. The CCRD was between 66 and 124% more efficient in the Vision and Rodeo experiments in comparison to the complete 3x3 factorial. Thus, the factorial experiment would have required at least 66% more observations to obtain the same precision. There appeared to be no efficiency gain with the use of the CCRD for MON 0818. The CCRD had tighter confidence intervals in 9 of 12 cases across all test substances. Computer simulations using the experimental data for Vision demonstrated that the LCalpha estimates generated from the 1,000 simulated data sets were very close to the "true" value for both designs. This was based on small bias and mean squared error calculations. Coverage probabilities in both designs were between 91.6 and 95.6%, close to the nominal coverage of 95%. Efficiency comparisons of the simulated Vision data sets demonstrated that the CCRD was more efficient in 93.3% of the comparisons. We suggest that a CCRD using glm and profile deviance for statistical analyses be considered an effective and efficient alternative in toxicity studies where interactive effects are of interest Mon, 23 Jun 2008 http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=28733 http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=24687 Vision®, a glyphosate-based herbicide containing a 15% (weight:weight) polyethoxylated tallow amine surfactant blend, and the concurrent factor of pH were tested to determine their interactive effects on early life-stage anurans. Ninety-six-hour laboratory static renewal studies, using the embryonic and larval life stages (Gosner 25) of Rana clamitans, R. pipiens, Bufo americanus, and Xenopus laevis, were performed under a central composite rotatable design. Mortality and the prevalence of malformations were modeled using generalized linear models with a profile deviance approach for obtaining confidence intervals. There was a significant (p < 0.05) interaction of pH with Vision concentration in all eight models, such that the toxicity of Vision was amplified by elevated pH. The surfactant is the major toxic component of Vision and is hypothesized, in this study, to be the source of the pH interaction. Larvae of B. americanus and R. clamitans were 1.5 to 3.8 times more sensitive than their corresponding embryos, whereas X. laevis and R. pipiens larvae were 6.8 to 8.9 times more sensitive. At pH values above 7.5, the Vision concentrations expected to kill 50% of the test larvae in 96-h (96-h lethal concentration [LC50]) were predicted to be below the expected environmental concentration (EEC) as calculated by Canadian regulatory authorities. The EEC value represents a worst-case scenario for aerial Vision application and is calculated assuming an application of the maximum label rate (2.1 kg acid equivalents [a.e.]/ha) into a pond 15 cm in depth. The EEC of 1.4 mg a.e./L (4.5 mg/L Vision) was not exceeded by 96-h LC50 values for the embryo test. The larvae of the four species were comparable in sensitivity. Field studies should be completed using the more sensitive larval life stage to test for Vision toxicity at actual environmental concentrations. Wed, 30 Jun 2004 http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=24687 http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=24688 Using three native Canadian and one exotic anuran species, the interactive toxicity of pH and the forestry used-herbicide Release® (triclopyr [3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridl-oxyacetic acid]) was assessed. Embryonic and larval (Gosner 25) stages of Rana pipiens, Rana clamitans, Bufo americanus, and Xenopus laevis were exposed to treatments for at least 96 h in a static-renewal system using a central composite rotatable design. Mortality and the prevalence of malformations were modeled using generalized linear models with a profile deviance approach to obtain confidence intervals. Consistent trends of greater toxicity with lower pH were observed, with the majority of models (five of seven models) showing significant (p < 0.05) inverse relations. Larval lethal concentration estimates were eight to twenty-three times less than those observed for embryos, indicating that the larval stages were more sensitive to treatments. Further, the median lethal concentration (LC50) values for the larvae were below the expected environmental concentration (EEC) as calculated by Canadian regulatory authorities for Release. Species sensitivity was similar, with an average larval 96-h LC50 of 0.89 mg acid equivalents (AE)/L at pH 5.5 and 1.6 mg AE/L at pH 7, suggesting that X. laevis is a reasonable surrogate for native amphibians in laboratory toxicity testing. For the embryo tests, R. pipiens were slightly less sensitive in comparison with the other three species. Based on a hazard quotient analysis (EEC/LC50 > 1) for the most sensitive larval life stages, higher tier ecotoxicological testing under more realistic environmental conditions is strongly recommended. Wed, 30 Jun 2004 http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=24688