Data from: Review on the effects of toxicants on freshwater ecosystem functions

We reviewed 122 peer-reviewed studies on the effects of organic toxicants
and heavy metals on three fundamental ecosystem functions in freshwater
ecosystems, i.e. leaf litter breakdown, primary production and community
respiration. From each study meeting the inclusion criteria, the
concentration resulting in a reduction of at least 20% in an ecosystem
function was standardized based on median effect concentrations of
standard test organisms (i.e. algae and daphnids). For pesticides, more
than one third of observations indicated reductions in ecosystem functions
at concentrations that are assumed being protective in regulation.
Moreover, the reduction in leaf litter breakdown was more pronounced in
the presence of invertebrate decomposers compared to studies where only
microorganisms were involved in this function. High variability within and
between studies hampered the derivation of a concentration–effect
relationship. Hence, if ecosystem functions are to be included as
protection goal in chemical risk assessment standardized methods are
required.