Using factorial experiments to study the toxicity of metal mixtures

Abstract

Two-level factorial experiments were employed in this study for understanding and predicting the toxicity of binary and ternary metal mixtures. Toxicity of metal mixtures with concentrations between the respective EC 10 and EC 80 values was experimentally measured. Models were fit to the experimental data and the resultant models were of high quality as reflected by R 2 (coefficient of determination). Interactions between mixture components were indicated by the existence of statistically significant interaction terms in the models. Toxicity predictions based on the models were compared with observed toxicity for binary and ternary metal mixtures. The models developed did not assume additivity between metals, were simple and interpretable, and gave satisfactory predictions of the toxicity of metal mixtures in aqueous solutions without requiring knowledge on synergism or antagonism.