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Recent Developments in Species Sensitivity Distribution Modeling
Author(s) -
Fox D.R.,
Dam R.A.,
Fisher R.,
Batley G.E.,
Tillmanns A.R.,
Thorley J.,
Schwarz C.J.,
Spry D.J.,
McTavish K.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.4925
Subject(s) - computer science , harmonization , risk analysis (engineering) , management science , data science , sensitivity (control systems) , biochemical engineering , business , engineering , physics , acoustics , electronic engineering
The species sensitivity distribution (SSD) is a statistical approach that is used to estimate either the concentration of a chemical that is hazardous to no more than x % of all species (the HC x ) or the proportion of species potentially affected by a given concentration of a chemical. Despite a significant body of published research and critical reviews over the past 20 yr aimed at improving the methodology, the fundamentals remain unchanged. Although there have been some recent suggestions for improvements to SSD methods in the literature, in general, few of these suggestions have been formally adopted. Furthermore, critics of the approach can rightly point to the fact that differences in technical implementation can lead to marked differences in results, thereby undermining confidence in SSD approaches. Despite the limitations, SSDs remain a practical tool and, until a demonstrably better inferential framework is available, developments and enhancements to conventional SSD practice will and should continue. We therefore believe the time has come for the scientific community to decide how it wants SSD methods to evolve. The present study summarizes the current status of, and elaborates on several recent developments for, SSD methods, specifically, model averaging, multimodality, and software development. We also consider future directions with respect to the use of SSDs, with the ultimate aim of helping to facilitate greater international collaboration and, potentially, greater harmonization of SSD methods. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:293–308. © 2020 SETAC