Abstract: The acute toxicity of aliphatic and aromatic mono and diesters in two eucaryotic organisms was compared. The test systems were the static 2-d Tetrahymena pyriformis 50% population growth impairment (IGC50(-1)) assay, and the flow-through 4-d Pimephales promelas 50% mortality (LC50(-1)) assay. In ciliates, esters act via the nonpolar narcosis mechanism of toxic ...