4. Comparison and interface of the microcosm and mesocosm
As described in Chap. 8, the two substances that deviated from the confidence
interval of the correlation between the mean NOEC of the natural ecosystem and
the m-NOEC are characterized by high soil adsorption. Based on the results of
this research, it is necessary for most environmental impact assessments of
chemical substances to show the limits of the microcosm and plan for OECD
international standardization. The outcomes of this investigation are shown on the
next page as a poster presented on August 28, 2014 (study briefing session on
LRI). The need for developing evaluation techniques for the introduction of
chemical substances into model ecosystems has been noted by chemical substance management organizations, including the OECD, and regulatory laws and
model systems are being established. However, international standardization of
the ecosystem impact statement technique using the mesocosm and microcosm
has not yet been completed. The standardization of the microcosm test method for
environmental impact assessment should be promoted strongly and as soon as
possible.
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