Gl. Stephenson et al., Use of nonlinear regression techniques for describing concentration-response relationships of plant species exposed to contaminated site soils, ENV TOX CH, 19(12), 2000, pp. 2968-2981
The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of two contaminate
d site soils on seedling emergence and growth, compare the responses of dif
ferent endpoints and species sensitivity, and develop appropriate statistic
al methods for the analysis of concentration-response curves. Plants were e
xposed to field-collected soils contaminated with amines or condensate. We
reparameterized three nonlinear models (logistic, logistic with hormesis, a
nd exponential) to determine any inhibiting concentration for a specified p
ercent effect and confidence interval using regression analysis. Weighting
procedures were applied, when necessary, to accommodate heteroscedasticity.
This nonlinear regression approach was very satisfactory when used with da
ta sets, each with 11 treatments, and produced an accurate, easily interpre
ted, and quantitative description of the data, which also provided qualitat
ive information. The IC50s ranged from 2 to 96% contamination for condensat
e-contaminated soil and from 3 to 38% contamination for amine-contaminated
soil. The responses were specific to species, endpoint, and soil. Mass meas
urements were generally more sensitive and precise than length measurements
. Definitive tests were more sensitive than acute tests for endpoints other
than emergence.