Example Assessments of the Microcosm N-System

Abstract

In the example assessment, not only chemicals but also metals, radiation, and nonindigenous microorganisms were used as test materials. Estimations of the impacts of 106 examples of test materials (6 of surfactants, 3 of germicides, 14 of herbicides, 12 of pesticides, 2 of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, 1 of an antibiotic, 1 of an algal toxin, 6 of organic matter and solvents, 2 of nutrients, 15 of metals, 2 of radiation, 6 of microbial pesticides, 8 of genetically modified bacteria, 13 incorporating biomanipulation, and 2 involving climate change) are described in this chapter. It was made clear by the results of these tests that it is sufficient to analyze the P/R ratio with a branching-type ANOVA in the microcosm test. However, the characteristics of the constituent organisms were also evaluated, and the analyses are explained here.