Terrestrial ecotoxicity - Can aquatic ecotoxicity data give a clue?

At present, the amount and quality of existing ecotoxicity data is much more comprehensive for the aquatic than for the terrestrial compartment. This is a result of the historical development in environmental management primarily focussing on clean air and water. Soil and sediment protection as well as remediation of contaminated sites were taken into consideration much more recently. Further to this the (relative) ease in aquatic ecotoxicity testing contributed to the comparably comfortable database. The objective of this project was to investigate whether extrapolations from aquatic ecotoxicity data to effects in soil are possible. Results: - large variety in EC50 suitable basis for the following extrapolation procedures; - EC50 for all test systems and soils for B(a)P > 128 mg/kg and DDT > 1000 mg/kg (log Kow B(a)P: 6.13; log Kow 4,4-DDT: 6.91); - differences in toxicity depend on the soil; - sensitivity of the test organisms differs up to two decimal powers; - sensitivity for one group of organisms differs depending on species and activity; - Avena sativa less sensitive than Brassica rapa.