Created in 1999, the ECOTOX database has been developed by the MED-Duluth institute (US-EPA), and includes three components: AQUIRE, concerning the aquatic ecosystems; PHYTOTOX, concerning terrestrial plants; and TERRETOX for the terrestrial animal organisms. ECOTOX is based on the collection of ecotoxicological data from many scientific documents (articles, books, reports). After a detailed review, the results are reported in the database. This electronic database covers different types of chemicals (i.e.: pesticides, organic non pesticides, and inorganic substances). This database is the biggest available, covering nearly 10,258 substances, and 10,470 biological species, with 636,699 test results in December 2012. Data related to a chemical, or a set of chemicals can be obtained via the EPA website, entering the chemical name or its Chemical Abstract Service number (CAS). It is therefore possible to edit the ecotoxicological data as a table of data convertible in an Excel MS format for example. For the present study, we have focused on the AQUIRE database (AQUatic toxicity Information REtrivial). It is the main component of ECOTOX. This database was initiated in 1981 by the US-EPA, and the main part of the data covers tests performed in the last 30 years. The way to provide data has been designed at first for Environmental Risk Assessment and access is provided for individual substances (or for a small group of substances). It is therefore very useful when a limited number of chemicals is under focus, but is time consuming when a large number of substances are considered.

This database has been developed by the European Chemical Bureau, at the Joint Research Center. The IUCLID CD-Rom was first published in 1996. The 2012 version contains data for 2,604 substances, and provides information on the chemicals properties as well as human toxicity and ecotoxicity. The data of the CD-Rom have been submitted by the industries to the European Commission in the frame of the council regulation (EEC) N° 793/93 on the “Evaluation and Control of the Risk of Existing Substances”. For aquatic ecotoxicity, acute toxicity data concern 1,100 to 1,700 substances, while chronic toxicity data are available only for about 400 chemicals (Allanou, Hansen et al. 1999). The IUCLID database is also available in a table format instead of a text format. Nevertheless, some errors have been identified with the comparison between data in the two formats. It is therefore preferable to control the data for the calculation of effect factors.

This database has been developed by the The European Chemicals Agency in 2007. The ECHA Dissemination portal provides electronic public access to information on chemical substances manufactured or imported in Europe. The information originates from the registration dossiers, submitted by companies to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in the framework of the REACH Regulation. This database is the biggest one for Europe and does not provide as many data as AQUIRE. Database contains 7 884 unique substances and contains information from 30 601 dossiers in December 2012. About 30 000 substances are expected to be available in the portal after 2018. For aquatic ecotoxicity data are available for about 2900 substances, and 300 biological species, with 45,000 test results in December 2012. It is therefore possible to search for a substance in the database by its chemical name, EC number or CAS number. If you do not enter any search criteria, a list of all the substances in the database will be given.

This database was published in 1986 by the Columbia Environmental Research Center. ATD is based on acute toxicity data developed by the Columbia National Fisheries Research Laboratory since 1965. The database is provided as a book, but can also be downloaded from the US-Geological Survey website as a text file convertible in MS excel format. The database describes 4,901 ecotoxicity tests concerning 410 chemicals and considers 66 freshwater species, mainly fishes. The electronic database presents nevertheless some errors for the identification of substances, in the assignment of the CAS numbers.

The PED database was initiated in 1991, and is now developed by the Environmental Fate and Effect division of the Office of Pesticide Programs (US-EPA). It concerns only pesticides, and the data comes from three sources: the results of toxicological studies provided by pesticide companies in support to their products; the studies conducted by the US-EPA, and other US administrations over the last 25 years; some published data selected by the OPP. The database provides results for 1000 pesticides (more than 22,000 tests results) for aquatic and terrestrial organisms. This database covers numerous pesticides, with a very small number of errors. In spite of some wrong CAS numbers, the database appears to have a good level of reliability. This is partly due to the 3 level quality insurance procedure that has been followed for the integration of data. Many data in this database are already in AQUIRE.

The first version of the EAT1 database was published in 1993 (ECETOC, 1993). In the new version EAT3, the database proposed by the “European Center for Ecotoxicology and Toxycology of Chemicals”, is based on a selection of 178 publications selected regarding their quality. The database concerns nearly 600 substances, tested through 5,460 tests, using 259 freshwater and marine species. Both acute and chronic exposures are addressed in the database. Nevertheless, the data reliability is affected by the lack of quality control, and numerous input errors would have been avoided with a rigorous control procedure.

The Mid-Continent Ecology Division (US-EPA) published the Fathead Minnow database in 1997. The database has supported the development of a QSAR (Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship) estimating the toxicity of industrial organic compounds on Fathead Minnow on the basis of their mode of action. For this study, Russom and collaborators have analysed 753 acute toxicity tests results concerning 617 substances. Data are mainly from the Center for lakesuperior environmental studies, of the Wisconsin University. A high level of reliability of the database is observed, mainly due to the quality control procedure of the ecotoxicity data.