What types of organisms are commonly measured using LC50 values?

LC50 stands for "Lethal Concentration 50," which refers to the concentration of a substance that is expected to cause death in 50% of a test population. This measure is commonly used to assess the acute toxicity of chemicals, including pesticides, particularly in aquatic environments.

Fish and aquatic species are the primary organisms for which LC50 values are typically calculated because these organisms are often directly exposed to pollutants and chemicals in their habitats. Aquatic environments are particularly sensitive to chemical exposures, making the measurement of toxicity in fish and aquatic species critical for environmental assessments.

While other organisms such as birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, plants, and fungi can also be assessed for toxicity using various metrics, they do not typically use LC50 values as a standard practice. For instance, terrestrial organisms such as birds and mammals are more commonly evaluated using different toxicological parameters tailored to their habitats and exposure routes.