DOI:
AUTHOR(S)
Chee Kong Yap, Krishnan Kumar, Rosimah Nulit, Wan Mohd Syazwan, Noraini Abu Bakar, Wan Hee Cheng, Musefiu Adebisi Tiamiyu, Ahmad Dwi Setyawan, and Kennedy Aaron Aguol
ABSTRACT
The discipline of ecotoxicology, traditionally centered on the study of pollutants and their effects on biological systems, also offers a robust framework for evaluating systemic harm beyond environmental chemistry. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the ten principles of ecotoxicology (POE) extend beyond their conventional roles in regulation and scientific assessment to serve as foundational ethical principles that guide responsible environmental stewardship. This paper applies the ten POE: 1) Source–Pathway–Receptor, 2) Dose–Response, 3) Bioavailability, 4) Accumulation, 5) Mode of Action, 6) Ecological Relevance, 7) Mixture Toxicity, 8) Community Effects, 9) Toxicokinetic, and 10) Risk Assessment, to reflect critically on the human and environmental consequences of wartime atrocities during World War II (WWII), specifically the crimes committed by Nazi Germany and Unit 731. These historical events demonstrate the misuse of scientific and toxicological understanding, weaponizing principles of exposure and systemic disruption to inflict widespread sufferings of living humans. By reframing these actions within ecotoxicological principles, the paper emphasizes the enduring importance of ethical science, ecological accountability, and peace-focused scientific education.
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