Ecotoxicology covers a wide range of disciplines, including genetics, chemistry, physiology, and, of course, mathematics. Math can be found in almost all aspects of ecotoxicology, from equations for populations growth rate to standards set for the benefit of all scientists. One of the most fundamental aspects of the study of environmental toxicology is an understanding of the dose-response relationship on the level of individual organisms. A dose-response relationship is the connection between exposure and a specified endpoint. An endpoint is a physical change in the cells or biochemistry of the organisms being studied.
Endpoints can vary based upon the chemical that is introduced.
This is the most common endpoint to study, as it is the easiest to observe and often has the greatest effect on an ecosystem. A concentration refers to the buildup of chemicals in a system, through many successive doses. These terms are all used in conjunction with a number value between 1 and 100, the most common example being LD 50 . This means that this is the median lethal dose, or one that has a fifty percent chance of causing death. In graphical analysis, the percentage of animals that die in each group following the administration of the dose is plotted.