ABSTRACT
The environmental hazard of any chemical is the result of its accumulation in the environment at specific locations and in various media during manufacture, application, or dissipation. Aquatic toxicity testing is a means of identifying the risk to the nontarget organisms, arising from the continued use of pesticides and other chemicals. Since the risk posed to the majority of aquatic organisms seems to be controlled by the truly dissolved concentration of pesticides, hazard evaluation depends on identifying the sources and sinks of these chemicals in the aquatic environment. Predicting when, where, and to what extent fish in particular, and other organisms in general, accumulate chemicals, has ecological and economic significance. Instead of taking corrective measures after the deterioration of the environment, the emphasis is on preventing the entry of possibly hazardous chemicals into the environment, even by denying registration, thereby preventing the marketing of a chemical.
