More is worse!: Overlooking the ecological risk of chemical pollution‑induced proliferation in aquatic systems

Abstract

Ecotoxicological evaluations focus on lethality and growth inhibition. when no inhibitory effect is observed, particularly for organisms considered “non-target” like algae, the lethality and growth inhibition metrics are often reported as“greater than” the highest tested concentration. However, this approach critically overlooks the phenomenon of growth stimulation, a direct biological effect that can pose an equal or even greater ecological risk than inhibition. This comment argues for a crucial paradigm shift in ecological risk assessment to explicitly acknowledge, quantify, and incorporate growth-promoting effects. Given that protocols already mandate the reporting of such stimulation, it is imperative to treat it with the same quantitative rigor as growth inhibition, thereby ensuring a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of chemical impacts on aquatic ecosystems.