Statistics for Ecotoxicology Studies
For years, Quantics has applied its industry-leading statistical consultancy expertise to the world of agriculture. We’ve performed analyses for projects ranging from the development of new treatments for livestock disease to optimising animal feeds and testing GMO crops for toxicity. Our team’s diverse knowledge base and in-depth experience means we are uniquely placed to take on any challenge which crosses our desk.
Food
Quantics regularly participates in a wide range of statistical consultancy projects looking at the food we eat, from studies looking at the toxicity of artificial sweeteners in baking to performing a meta-analysis which showed the benefits of probiotic fermented milk (Eales et al., 2017). We work closely with regulatory bodies including the FDA and MHRA to ensure strict adherence to the latest guidance.
Project Insight
Quantics was involved in analysing data from a study which examined the toxicity of GMO maize in rats. This was a re-examination of data study to determine whether the proportion of the transgenic maize in the rats’ diet affected the toxicity of that diet. To do this, results for treatment groups receiving 10% GMO maize and 41.5% GMO maize were compared with control groups receiving 10% and 41.5% non-GMO maize respectively. In the previous study, there was no separation of treatment and control groups based on the proportion of maize in the diet.
The effect of the different diets was assessed by measuring endpoints ranging from body and organ weight to motor function. Results ranged across the different endpoints, with, for example, the 10% GMO maize group having gained more weight at the 36-day mark, but with the 41.5% GMO maize group exhibiting reduced x and y motor skills 31-35 minutes after eating.
Farm
With more than 20 years of statistical consultancy behind us, we have extensive experience of bioassay, as well as clinical study design and analysis, which includes a vast array of veterinary studies.
Feed
Alongside our work helping to enhance human diets, we have been involved in studies of livestock feed such as supplement testing and diet optimisation.
Farm: Project Insight
Quantics provided statistical consultancy for a study which assessed the effect of three different diets on the feed conversion ratio of turkeys. This was measured by comparing the total feed intake of a pen of turkeys to the total body weight increase of all the turkeys in the pen, which was recorded at 21 and 42 days of the study.
As well as analysing the effect of the diets on their own, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine whether there was any difference in feed conversion rate between male and female turkeys. The study concluded that the second of the three treatments showed higher feed conversion rates than the other diets studied, while the ANOVA determined that there was no significant effect due to turkey gender on the results.
Feed: Project Insight
Quantics analysed data from a challenge study which aimed to confirm the dose of an anti-worming treatment in sheep. The study assessed whether the treatment was effective after 7 and 14 days post-administration by performing counts of lung and gastrointestinal worms at necropsy. This was performed successfully in spite of numerical convergence issues in certain calculations due to all subjects in the treatment groups returning zero worm counts for certain species at both day 7 and 14.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, the analysis indicated that the treatment was effective at reducing worm count in sheep within 14 days.
Ecotoxicology
The environment is at the heart of all our ecotoxicology studies at Quantics. We are an MHRA accredited GLP test facilty, meaning we provide high quality statistics adhering strictly to OECD guidelines.
Project Insight
Quantics performed a re-analysis on a historical ecotoxicology study using Daphnia Magna reproduction data to update the results to new guidelines. The analysis was conducted according to the OECD guidelines for a 21-day D.Magna reproduction test, and examined both the survival of parents and the number of dead and live offspring produced over the course of the study. This was used to estimate the no effect observed concentration (NOEC), as well as the EC10 and EC20 of the test substance.
| OECD ref | Title | Latest guidance | Link to guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | Algal growth inhibition | 2011 | 201 guidance |
| 202 | Daphnia acute immobilisation | 2004 | 202 guidance |
| 203 | Fish acute toxicity | 1992 | 203 guidance |
| 207 | Earthworm acute toxicity | 1984 | 207 guidance |
| 208 | Seedling Emergence and Seedling Growth | 2006 | 208 guidance |
| 209 | Activated sludge Respiration inhibition | 2010 | 209 guidance |
| 210 | Fish Early life stage toxicity | 2013 | 210 guidance |
| 211 | Daphnia reproduction | 2012 | 211 guidance |
| 212 | Acute Fish Embryo | 1998 | 212 guidance |
| 213 | Acute Honey bee | 1998 | 213 guidance |
| 214 | Acute Honeybee (Contact) | 1998 | 214 guidance |
| 215 | Juvenile Fish Growth | 2000 | 215 guidance |
| 216 | Soil Nitrogen Transformation | 2000 | 216 guidance |
| 217 | Soil Carbon Transformation | 2000 | 217 guidance |
| 218 | Sediment Chironomid toxicity | 2004 | 218 guidance |
| 219 | Water Chironomid toxicity | 2004 | 219 guidance |
| 221 | Lemna growth inhibition | 2006 | 221 guidance |
| 222 | Earthworm reproduction | 2004 | 222 guidance |
| 225 | Sediment water Lumbriculus | 2007 | 225 guidance |
| 228 | Determination of Developmental | 2016 | 228 guidance |
| 232 | Collembolan Reproduction | 2009 | 232 guidance |
| 235 | Chironomus sp | 2011 | 235 guidance |
| 238 | Sediment-Free Myriophyllum Spicatum | 2014 | 238 guidance |
| 239 | Water-Sediment Myriophyllum Spicatum | 2014 | 239 guidance |
| 305 | Bioaccumulation in fish* | 2012 | 305 guidance |
“`