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Table 1 Internationally accepted invertebrate toxicity test guidelines. OECD CF level refers to the OECD Conceptual Framework [58]

From: Commentary: Assessing the endocrine disrupting effects of chemicals on invertebrates in the European Union

Invertebrate group

Test guideline

OECD CF level

Endpoints

Comment

Annelida

OECD TG 220: Enchytraeid Reproduction Test

4

Mortality

No. juveniles / adult

 

OECD TG 222: Earthworm Reproduction Test (Eisenia fetida; Eisenia andrei)

4

Mortality

Growth (weight)

No. juveniles/adult

OECD TG 225: Sediment–Water Lumbriculus Toxicity Test Using Spiked Sediment

4

Mortality

Biomass

Reproduction (total No. or increase in No.)

Chelicerata

OECD TG 226: Predatory mite (Hypoaspis (Geolaelaps) aculeifer) reproduction test in soil

4

Mortality

Reproduction (total No. of juveniles)

 

Collembola

OECD TG 232: Collembolan Reproduction Test in Soil

4

Mortality

Reproduction (total No. of juveniles)

 

Crustacea

Short-Term Juvenile Hormone Activity Screening Assay using

Daphnia magna (SJHASA) (draft OECD TG)

3

Production of male neonates

Under development

OECD TG 211/OCSPP 850.1300: Daphnia magna Reproduction Test (with potential male induction assessed)

4

Mortality

No. live offspring/parent

Time to first brood

Parental growth (length and body weight; optional)

Presence of ephippia or male neonates

Male production is known in response to juvenile hormone mimics. However, males are also produced under changing environmental and stressful conditions

OPPTS 850.1350: Mysid Chronic Toxicity Test

Not listed

Mortality

Time to appearance of secondary sexual characters

Time to first brood

Growth (length and weight)

Reproduction (No. young/female)

 

Mysid Life Cycle Toxicity Test (when OPPTS 850.1350 is finalised as an OCSPP guideline)

5

Mortality

Time to maturity

Time to 1st & 2nd brood release

Inter-brood duration

Number of young per female

Percentage females reproductively active

Total reproduction days

Growth (length and weight)

OECD declined to validate this assay

OECD GD 201: New Guidance Document on Harpacticoid Copepod Development and Reproduction Test with Amphiascus

5

Mortality

Time to release of first and second clutch Number of necrotic/infertile eggs per clutch Morphological abnormalities

Intersexuality

Population growth rate

Sex ratio

 

Daphnia Multigeneration Assay (when TG is available)

5

Mortality

Age at first reproduction

Clutch size

Intrinsic population growth rate

Number of dead/aborted embryos/neonates

Sex ratio

 

Insecta

OECD TG 218: Sediment–Water Chironomid Toxicity Test Using Spiked Sediment

4

Mortality (including development and emergence)

Time to emergence (males and females)

Growth (weight)

Sex ratio

Chironomus are protandrous so care must be taken when interpreting sex ratio changes

OECD TG 219: Sediment–Water Chironomid Toxicity Test Using Spiked Water

OECD GD 239 Guidance Document on Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Larval Toxicity Test, Repeated Exposure

4

Larval mortalities from day 3 to day 8

Pupal mortalities from day 8 to day 15

Emergence rate on day 22

OECD TG 228: Determination of Developmental Toxicity to Dipteran Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria L

(Scathophagidae), Musca autumnalis De Geer (Muscidae))

4

Mortality

Development

Emergence (males and females)

 

OECD TG 233: Sediment–Water Chironomid Life-Cycle Toxicity Test

Using Spiked Water or Spiked Sediment

5

Mortality

Development

Emergence

Time to emergence (males and females)

Growth (weight)

Reproduction

Fertility

Sex ratio

 

Mollusca

OECD TG 242: Potamopyrgus antipodarum Reproduction Test

4

Mortality

Reproduction (No. of embryos)

 

OECD TG 243: Lymnaea stagnalis Reproduction Test

4

Mortality

Reproduction (No. of egg clutches)

 

Nematoda

ISO 10872:2020: Determination of the toxic effect of sediment and soil samples on growth, fertility and reproduction of Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda)

5

Survival

Growth

Reproduction

 
  1. Endpoints in bold are more indicative of a potential ED mode of action