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About ECOTOX

The ECOTOXicology knowledgebase (ECOTOX) is a comprehensive, publicly available knowledgebase providing single chemical environmental toxicity data on aquatic life, terrestrial plants and wildlife.

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Disclaimer: You should consult the original scientific paper to ensure an understanding of the context of the data retrieved from ECOTOX.

Getting Started

Use Search if you know exact parameters or search terms (chemical, species, etc.)
Use Explore to see what data may be available in ECOTOX (including data plots)

ECOTOX Quick User Guide (2 pp, 141 K)
ECOTOX User Guide (89 pp, 663 K)
ECOTOX Terms Appendix

New Additions!

In addition to chemical data updates, ECOTOX has added new features based on user feedback:

In the SEARCH function, the Tabular Output can now be exported with the correct format for directly importing into EPA's Species Sensitivity Distribution Toolbox. More information on the Toolbox can be found at https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/species-sensitivity-distribution-toolbox-new-tool-identify-and-protect-vulnerable
On the Plot View feature under EXPLORE, you can now choose to display a Custom Plot by using the "Change Plot Parameters" link on the plot. The Y axis can be set to Concentration or Duration, X axis and Legend can be set to Chemical, Species, Effect, Endpoint or group.
The Term Appendix is now in electronic format, under the "What Is..." section of the Help page. You can click on any of the Appendix groups to get the pop-up table of terms and definitions. Each Appendix table can be exported as .CSV. The Term Appendix is updated quarterly.
The ASCII download is now available as a .zip file, as well as .exe.
The Reference list returned for a search can now be exported to .RIS file for ease in use with other bibliographic tools.

Did you know? ECOTOX has over 200 fields of data extracted from many studies. The Default output is simplified for viewing and contains only 25 fields of data commonly extracted for a study, but all other fields may be selected by clicking on the 'Customize Output Fields' button. The pop-up window will allow you to customize the output table to include any relevant data for your research.

Search Tip

Exploring data and sending to Search

The following is an example how you can explore data in the Neonicotinoids chemical group, and then select a specific Chemical and/or Species to send your query filters to Search. You can then customize the Output fields and further refine the data results.

Select "Chemicals", , from the Explore page.
Select "Neonicotinoids" from the list of Chemical Groups.
Select "Explore Data", (upper right of page).
The Output table will have 9 chemicals in this Group Summary, with the list of chemicals and associated records in the table. You can also select "Records" at the top of the screen to view the records.

Explore Group, Records, and Plot buttons with Group Summary selected

If we are interested in just seeing the results for "Imidacloprid" in the Group Summary, we can click on the arrow on the right side of the table.

All the associated Records for this chemical will summarized in Output table. You can refine the output by using the "Query Filters" on the left side of the page, or use the button (upper right of page) to send your selections to the Search function page.
The Search Query Filters will pre-populate. You can further refine your search using the pop-up menus on the left side of the Search page; or directly click on and return expanded data results for Imidacloprid.