diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index cff3acf..0d911ea 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 Package: ECOTOXr
 Type: Package
 Title: Download and Extract Data from US EPA's ECOTOX Database
-Version: 1.0.8
-Date: 2024-01-01
+Version: 1.0.9
+Date: 2024-01-07
 Authors@R: c(person("Pepijn", "de Vries", role = c("aut", "cre", "dtc"),
     email = "pepijn.devries@outlook.com",
     comment = c(ORCID = "0000-0002-7961-6646")))
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ Description: The US EPA ECOTOX database is a freely available database
     in R. To this end, all raw tables are downloaded from the EPA website
     and stored in a local SQLite database.
 Depends:
-    R (>= 3.5.0),
+    R (>= 4.1.0),
     RSQLite (>= 2.3.4)
 Imports:
     crayon (>= 1.5.2),
     dbplyr (>= 2.4.0),
     dplyr (>= 1.1.4),
-    httr (>= 1.4.7),
+    httr2 (>= 1.0.0),
     jsonlite (>= 1.8.8),
     lifecycle (>= 1.0.4),
     purrr (>= 1.0.2),
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index b0779ed..38371a1 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ S3method(as.list,cas)
 S3method(c,cas)
 S3method(format,cas)
 S3method(print,cas)
-export("%>%")
 export(as.cas)
 export(build_ecotox_sqlite)
 export(cas)
 export(check_ecotox_availability)
+export(check_ecotox_build)
+export(check_ecotox_version)
 export(cite_ecotox)
 export(dbConnectEcotox)
 export(dbDisconnectEcotox)
@@ -38,7 +39,6 @@ importFrom(RSQLite,dbConnect)
 importFrom(RSQLite,dbDisconnect)
 importFrom(RSQLite,dbExecute)
 importFrom(RSQLite,dbWriteTable)
-importFrom(dplyr,"%>%")
 importFrom(dplyr,collect)
 importFrom(dplyr,inner_join)
 importFrom(dplyr,left_join)
@@ -46,4 +46,5 @@ importFrom(dplyr,select)
 importFrom(dplyr,sql)
 importFrom(dplyr,tbl)
 importFrom(lifecycle,badge)
+importFrom(rlang,"!!!")
 importFrom(rlang,":=")
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 48d0920..85329ee 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
-ECOTOXr v1.0.8 (Release date: 2024-01-01)
+ECOTOXr v1.0.9 (Release date: 2024-01-07)
 -------------
 
+  * switched from the 'magrittr' pipe operator ('%>%')
+    to R's native pipe operator ('|>')
+  * switched from 'httr' to 'httr2' dependency
+  * Added functions to check the local build
+    and its version
   * Fix in database build routine
   * Fix in manual to pass CRAN checks
   * Explicit mentioning of required versions
diff --git a/R/database_access.r b/R/database_access.r
index 6952eaf..42053ec 100644
--- a/R/database_access.r
+++ b/R/database_access.r
@@ -181,3 +181,129 @@ list_ecotox_fields <- function(which = c("default", "extended", "full", "all"),
                              "dose_response_links", "dose_stat_method_codes"))]
   return(result)
 }
+
+#' Check the locally build database for validity
+#'
+#' `r lifecycle::badge('stable')` Performs some simple tests to check whether the
+#' locally built database is not corrupted.
+#'
+#' For now this function tests if all expected tables are present in the locally built
+#' database. Note that in later release of the database some tables were added. Therefore
+#' for older builds this function might return `FALSE` whereas it is actually just fine
+#' (just out-dated).
+#'
+#' Furthermore, this function tests if all tables contain one or more records. Obviously,
+#' this is no guarantee that the database is valid, but it is a start.
+#' 
+#' More tests may be added in future releases.
+#' @inheritParams dbConnectEcotox
+#' @returns Returns an indicative logical value whether the database is not corrupted.
+#' `TRUE` indicates the database is most likely OK. `FALSE` indicates that something might
+#' be wrong. Additional messages (when `FALSE`) are included as attributes containing hints
+#' on the outcoming of the tests. See also the 'details' section.
+#' @rdname check_ecotox_build
+#' @name check_ecotox_build
+#' @examples
+#' \dontrun{
+#' check_ecotox_build()
+#' }
+#' @author Pepijn de Vries
+#' @export
+check_ecotox_build <- function(path = get_ecotox_path(), version, ...) {
+  validity <- TRUE
+  con <- tryCatch({
+    dbConnectEcotox(path, version, ...)
+  }, error = function(e) NULL)
+  if (is.null(con)) {
+    validity <- FALSE
+    attr(validity, "reasons") <-
+      c(attr(validity, "reasons"), "Cannot connect with 'target' and 'version'.")
+  } else {
+    tables <- RSQLite::dbListTables(con)
+    missing_tables <- .db_specs$table[!.db_specs$table %in% tables]
+    if (length(missing_tables) > 0) {
+      validity <- FALSE
+      attr(validity, "reasons") <-
+        c(attr(validity, "reasons"),
+          sprintf("The following tables were missing: %s",
+                  paste0(missing_tables, collapse = "; ")))
+    } else {
+      for (tab in tables) {
+        n <- dplyr::tbl(con, tab) |> dplyr::summarise(n = dplyr::n()) |> dplyr::pull("n")
+        if (n == 0) {
+          validity <- FALSE
+          attr(validity, "reasons") <-
+            c(attr(validity, "reasons"),
+              "One or more tables have no records")
+          break
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    dbDisconnect(con)
+  }
+  return (validity)
+}
+
+#' Check if the locally build database is up to date
+#'
+#' `r lifecycle::badge('stable')` Checks the version of the database available on-line
+#' from the EPA against the specified version (latest by default) of the database build
+#' locally. Returns `TRUE` when they are the same.
+#'
+#' @inheritParams get_ecotox_sqlite_file
+#' @param verbose A `logical` value. If true messages are shown on the console reporting
+#' on the check.
+#' @returns Returns a `logical` value invisibly indicating whether the locally build
+#' is up to date with the latest release by the EPA.
+#' @rdname check_ecotox_version
+#' @name check_ecotox_version
+#' @examples
+#' \dontrun{
+#' check_ecotox_version()
+#' }
+#' @author Pepijn de Vries
+#' @export
+check_ecotox_version <- function(path = get_ecotox_path(), version, verbose = TRUE) {
+  u <-
+    get_ecotox_url() |>
+    basename() |>
+    stringr::str_extract("(?<=^ecotox_ascii_)(.*?)(?=\\.zip$)") |>
+    as.Date(format = "%m_%d_%Y")
+  
+  available <- check_ecotox_availability(path)
+  if (!available) {
+    if (verbose) {
+      message(crayon::red(
+        "No databased present at the specified path"
+      ))
+    }
+    return(invisible(FALSE))
+  }
+  f <-
+    get_ecotox_sqlite_file(path, version)  |>
+    basename() |>
+    stringr::str_extract("(?<=^ecotox_ascii_)(.*?)(?=\\.sqlite$)") |>
+    as.Date(format = "%m_%d_%Y")
+  result <- f == u
+  if (verbose) {
+    if (result) {
+      message(crayon::green(
+        paste("The locally build database represents",
+              "the latest available EPA release",
+              format(f, format = "(%Y-%m-%d). You are up to date."),
+              sep = "\n")))
+    } else if (f < u) {
+      message(crayon::red(
+        paste(format(f, "The locally build database (%Y-%m-%d) represents"),
+              format(u, "an older EPA release (%Y-%m-%d). Please download"),
+              "and build the latest relase if you.",
+              "wish to be up to date.", sep = "\n")))
+    } else if (f > u) {
+      message(crayon::red(
+        paste(format(f, "You have installed a future release (%Y-%m-%d)"),
+              format(u, "of the EPA database (%Y-%m-%d). Are you a time"),
+              "traveller?", sep = "\n")))
+    }
+  }
+  return(invisible(result))
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/R/helpers.r b/R/helpers.r
index 27164d8..93e1018 100644
--- a/R/helpers.r
+++ b/R/helpers.r
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
   .data <- field <- terms <- table_mod <- NULL
 
   search_result <-
-    lapply(search, as.data.frame, strings.as.factors = F) %>%
-    dplyr::bind_rows(.id = "field") %>%
+    lapply(search, as.data.frame, strings.as.factors = F) |>
+    dplyr::bind_rows(.id = "field") |>
     dplyr::mutate(
       table = lapply(field, function(x) {
         switch(
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@
           test_id   = "tests",
           .db_specs$table[.db_specs$field_name %in% x])
       })
-    ) %>%
-    tidyr::unnest("table") %>%
-    dplyr::group_by(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of(c("table", "field", "method")))) %>%
+    ) |>
+    tidyr::unnest("table") |>
+    dplyr::group_by(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of(c("table", "field", "method")))) |>
     dplyr::summarise(
       where = {
         method <- tryCatch({.data$method[[1]]}, error = function(e) "contains")
@@ -41,27 +41,27 @@
         } else {
           stop("Sorry, specified search method is not implemented.")
         }
-      }) %>%
-    dplyr::group_by(table) %>%
+      }) |>
+    dplyr::group_by(table) |>
     dplyr::group_map(~{
       dplyr::tibble(
-        tbl   = list(tbl(dbcon, .x$table[[1]]) %>% dplyr::filter(!!sql(paste(sprintf("(%s)", .x$where), collapse = " AND ")))),
+        tbl   = list(tbl(dbcon, .x$table[[1]]) |> dplyr::filter(!!sql(paste(sprintf("(%s)", .x$where), collapse = " AND ")))),
         table = .x$table[[1]]
-      )}, .keep = T) %>%
-    dplyr::bind_rows() %>%
-    dplyr::group_by(table_mod = gsub("_synonyms", "", table)) %>%
+      )}, .keep = T) |>
+    dplyr::bind_rows() |>
+    dplyr::group_by(table_mod = gsub("_synonyms", "", table)) |>
     dplyr::summarise(
       table = table_mod[[1]],
       tbl   =
         if (length(tbl) > 1) {
-          tbl %>%
-            purrr::map(~{select(., dplyr::any_of("species_number"))}) %>%
-            purrr::reduce(~{dplyr::union(.x, .y)}) %>%
+          tbl |>
+            purrr::map(~{select(., dplyr::any_of("species_number"))}) |>
+            purrr::reduce(~{dplyr::union(.x, .y)}) |>
             list()
         } else {
           tbl
-        }) %>%
-    dplyr::group_by(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of("table"))) %>%
+        }) |>
+    dplyr::group_by(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of("table"))) |>
     dplyr::group_map(~{
       #keep linking tables until result_ids are obtained
       my_tab <- ..1$tbl[[1]]
@@ -76,35 +76,35 @@
         if (nrow(referring) == 1) {
           foreign <- unlist(regmatches(referring$foreign_key, gregexpr("(?<=\\().+(?=\\))", referring$foreign_key, perl = T)))
           my_tab <-
-            my_tab %>%
+            my_tab |>
             left_join(tbl(dbcon, referring$table), by = structure(referring$field_name, names = foreign))
         } else {
           stop("Sorry could not build a query for the search you have specified.")
         }
       }
-      dplyr::tibble(tbl = list(my_tab %>% select(dplyr::any_of(c("result_id", "test_id")))))
-    }) %>%
-    dplyr::bind_rows() %>%
-    dplyr::group_by(result_available = tbl %>%
-                      purrr::map(~ paste(sort(match(colnames(.), c("test_id", "result_id"))), collapse = "_")) %>%
-                      unlist()) %>%
+      dplyr::tibble(tbl = list(my_tab |> select(dplyr::any_of(c("result_id", "test_id")))))
+    }) |>
+    dplyr::bind_rows() |>
+    dplyr::group_by(result_available = tbl |>
+                      purrr::map(~ paste(sort(match(colnames(.), c("test_id", "result_id"))), collapse = "_")) |>
+                      unlist()) |>
     dplyr::group_map(~{
       switch(
         .y$result_available,
         `1` = {
-          purrr::reduce(.x$tbl, ~{inner_join(.x, .y, by = "test_id")}) %>%
-            left_join(tbl(dbcon, "results"), by = "test_id") %>%
+          purrr::reduce(.x$tbl, ~{inner_join(.x, .y, by = "test_id")}) |>
+            left_join(tbl(dbcon, "results"), by = "test_id") |>
             select(dplyr::all_of(c("test_id", "result_id")))
         },
         `2` = {
-          purrr::reduce(.x$tbl, ~{inner_join(.x, .y, by = "result_id")}) %>%
-            left_join(tbl(dbcon, "results"), by = "result_id") %>%
+          purrr::reduce(.x$tbl, ~{inner_join(.x, .y, by = "result_id")}) |>
+            left_join(tbl(dbcon, "results"), by = "result_id") |>
             select(dplyr::all_of(c("test_id", "result_id")))
         },
         `1_2` = {
           purrr::reduce(.x$tbl, ~{inner_join(.x, .y, by = c("test_id", "result_id"))})
         })
-    }) %>%
+    }) |>
     purrr::reduce(~{inner_join(.x, .y, by = c("test_id", "result_id"))})
   
   return(search_result)
@@ -180,26 +180,26 @@
     }
     if (length(join_params) > 0) {
       ## Create temp fields where forward slash is removed for joining with lookup values
-      lefties      <- join_params %>% purrr::map_chr(~.$left_by)
-      lefties_repl <- lefties %>% purrr::map(~rlang::expr(REPLACE(!!rlang::sym(gsub("_temp$", "", .)), "/", "")))
+      lefties      <- join_params |> purrr::map_chr(~.$left_by)
+      lefties_repl <- lefties |> purrr::map(~rlang::expr(REPLACE(!!rlang::sym(gsub("_temp$", "", .)), "/", "")))
       names(lefties_repl) <- lefties
-      result <- result %>% dplyr::mutate(!!!lefties_repl)
+      result <- result |> dplyr::mutate(!!!lefties_repl)
       
       for (i in seq_along(join_params)) {
         jp <- join_params[[i]]
         result <-
-          result %>%
-          left_join(tbl(dbcon, jp$right_table) %>% dplyr::rename(!!!jp$right_select),
+          result |>
+          left_join(tbl(dbcon, jp$right_table) |> dplyr::rename(!!!jp$right_select),
                            by = structure(jp$right_by, names = jp$left_by))
       }
-      result <- result %>% select(-dplyr::any_of(lefties))
-      if (compute) result <- result %>% dplyr::compute()
+      result <- result |> select(-dplyr::any_of(lefties))
+      if (compute) result <- result |> dplyr::compute()
     }
     return(result)
   }
   
   result <- search_result
-  if (compute) result <- result %>% dplyr::compute()
+  if (compute) result <- result |> dplyr::compute()
   ## start with results table as this is needed for obtaining dose link ids
   
   results_output <- union(output_fields$field[output_fields$table == "results"], "result_id")
@@ -209,28 +209,28 @@
     out_rename <- output_fields$table %in% dose_tables & !output_fields$field %in% c("test_id", "result_id")
     output_fields$new_field[out_rename] <- paste0("dose_link_", output_fields$field[out_rename])
     result <-
-      result %>%
-      left_join(tbl(con, "dose_response_links"),   "result_id") %>%
-      left_join(tbl(con, "dose_responses"),      c("dose_resp_id", "test_id")) %>%
-      left_join(tbl(con, "dose_response_details"), "dose_resp_id") %>%
-      left_join(tbl(con, "doses"),               c("dose_id", "test_id")) %>%
-      dplyr::rename_with(~paste0("dose_link_", .), !dplyr::any_of(c("test_id", "result_id"))) %>%
-      .process_lookups("dose_response_links") %>%
+      result |>
+      left_join(tbl(con, "dose_response_links"),   "result_id") |>
+      left_join(tbl(con, "dose_responses"),      c("dose_resp_id", "test_id")) |>
+      left_join(tbl(con, "dose_response_details"), "dose_resp_id") |>
+      left_join(tbl(con, "doses"),               c("dose_id", "test_id")) |>
+      dplyr::rename_with(~paste0("dose_link_", .), !dplyr::any_of(c("test_id", "result_id"))) |>
+      .process_lookups("dose_response_links") |>
       .process_lookups("doses", "dose_link_")
   }
   
   if (any(c("media_characteristics", "organic_matter_type_codes") %in% output_fields_tables)) {
     foreigns <- .db_specs$field_name[.db_specs$table == "media_characteristics" & .db_specs$foreign_key != ""]
     result <-
-      result %>%
-      left_join(tbl(con, "media_characteristics"), "result_id") %>%
+      result |>
+      left_join(tbl(con, "media_characteristics"), "result_id") |>
       select(dplyr::any_of(union(
         colnames(result),
         union(
           foreigns,
           output_fields$field[output_fields$table == "media_characteristics"]
         )
-      ))) %>%
+      ))) |>
       .process_lookups("media_characteristics")
   }
   
@@ -238,12 +238,12 @@
     table  = gsub("\\(.*?\\)", "",
                   .db_specs$foreign_key[.db_specs$foreign_key != "" & .db_specs$table == "results"]),
     field  = .db_specs$field_name[.db_specs$foreign_key != "" & .db_specs$table == "results"]
-  ) %>% dplyr::filter(!table %in% c("tests", "results"))
+  ) |> dplyr::filter(!table %in% c("tests", "results"))
   
   results_output <- union(results_output, c("result_id", result_foreigns$field))
-  result <- result %>%
-    left_join(tbl(con, "results") %>%
-                       select(dplyr::any_of(union(c("result_id", "test_id"), results_output))) %>%
+  result <- result |>
+    left_join(tbl(con, "results") |>
+                       select(dplyr::any_of(union(c("result_id", "test_id"), results_output))) |>
                        dplyr::rename_with(function(x) paste0("result_", x),
                                           dplyr::any_of(c("created_date", "modified_date", "additional_comments"))),
                      c("result_id", "test_id"))
@@ -254,9 +254,9 @@
   output_fields$new_field[output_fields$table == "results" & output_fields$field == "additional_comments"] <-
     "result_additional_comments"
   
-  if (compute) result <- result %>% dplyr::compute()
+  if (compute) result <- result |> dplyr::compute()
   
-  result <- result %>% .process_lookups("results")
+  result <- result |> .process_lookups("results")
   
   ## continue with linking all requested tables to the test data
   
@@ -264,10 +264,10 @@
     car_sel <- output_fields$table == "chemical_carriers" & !output_fields$field %in% c("carrier_id", "test_id")
     output_fields$new_field[car_sel] <- paste0("carrier_", output_fields$new_field[car_sel])
     result <-
-      result %>%
-      left_join(tbl(con, "chemical_carriers") %>%
+      result |>
+      left_join(tbl(con, "chemical_carriers") |>
                          dplyr::rename_with(~paste0("carrier_", .), !dplyr::any_of(c("carrier_id", "test_id"))),
-                       "test_id") %>%
+                       "test_id") |>
       select(dplyr::any_of(union(
         colnames(result),
         output_fields$new_field[output_fields$table == "chemical_carriers"]
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@
     table  = gsub("\\(.*?\\)", "",
                   .db_specs$foreign_key[.db_specs$foreign_key != "" & .db_specs$table == "tests"]),
     field  = .db_specs$field_name[.db_specs$foreign_key != "" & .db_specs$table == "tests"]
-  ) %>% dplyr::filter(!table %in% c("tests", "results"))
+  ) |> dplyr::filter(!table %in% c("tests", "results"))
   
   test_foreigns <- test_foreigns[test_foreigns$table %in% output_fields$table,,drop = F]
   test_foreigns$foreign <- .db_specs$field_name[.db_specs$primary_key != ""][
@@ -287,9 +287,9 @@
   required_test_fields <-
     union(output_fields$field[output_fields$table == "tests"], test_foreigns$field)
   
-  result <- result %>%
-    left_join(tbl(con, "tests") %>%
-                       select(dplyr::any_of(union("test_id", required_test_fields))) %>%
+  result <- result |>
+    left_join(tbl(con, "tests") |>
+                       select(dplyr::any_of(union("test_id", required_test_fields))) |>
                        dplyr::rename_with(function(x) paste0("test_", x),
                                           dplyr::any_of(c("created_date", "modified_date", "additional_comments"))),
                      "test_id")
@@ -303,27 +303,27 @@
   if (any(c("species", "species_synonyms") %in% output_fields_tables)) {
     species_fields <- output_fields$field[output_fields$table == "species"]
     species_syn_fields <- output_fields$field[output_fields$table == "species_synonyms"]
-    result <- result %>%
+    result <- result |>
       left_join(
-        tbl(con, "species") %>% select(union(species_fields, "species_number")),
+        tbl(con, "species") |> select(union(species_fields, "species_number")),
         "species_number")
     if (length(species_syn_fields) > 0) {
       output_fields$new_field[output_fields$table == "species_synonyms" & output_fields$field == "latin_name"] <-
         "species_synonyms"
       spec_syns <-
-        tbl(con, "species_synonyms") %>%
+        tbl(con, "species_synonyms") |>
         select(union(species_syn_fields, "species_number"))
       if ("species_synonyms" %in% output_fields$table) {
-        spec_syns <- spec_syns %>% dplyr::rename(species_synonyms = "latin_name")
+        spec_syns <- spec_syns |> dplyr::rename(species_synonyms = "latin_name")
       }
-      result <- result %>% left_join(spec_syns, "species_number")
+      result <- result |> left_join(spec_syns, "species_number")
     }
   }
   
   if (!is.null(list(...)$group_by_results) && list(...)$group_by_results && "species_synonyms" %in% colnames(result)) {
-    result <- result %>%
-      dplyr::group_by(dplyr::across(!dplyr::any_of("species_synonyms"))) %>%
-      dplyr::summarise(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of("species_synonyms"), ~GROUP_CONCAT(., "|")), .groups = "keep") %>%
+    result <- result |>
+      dplyr::group_by(dplyr::across(!dplyr::any_of("species_synonyms"))) |>
+      dplyr::summarise(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of("species_synonyms"), ~GROUP_CONCAT(., "|")), .groups = "keep") |>
       dplyr::ungroup()
   }
   
@@ -334,10 +334,10 @@
       "test_chemical"
     output_fields$new_field[output_fields$table == "chemicals" & output_fields$field == "ecotox_group"] <-
       "test_chemical_group"
-    result <- result %>%
+    result <- result |>
       left_join(
-        tbl(con, "chemicals") %>%
-          select(union("cas_number", output_fields$field[output_fields$table == "chemicals"])) %>%
+        tbl(con, "chemicals") |>
+          select(union("cas_number", output_fields$field[output_fields$table == "chemicals"])) |>
           dplyr::rename_with(
             function(x){
               c("test_cas", "test_chemical", "test_chemical_group")[match(x, c("cas_number", "chemical_name", "ecotox_group"))]
@@ -346,16 +346,16 @@
   }
   
   if ("references" %in% output_fields$table) {
-    result <- result %>%
+    result <- result |>
       left_join(
-        tbl(con, "references") %>%
+        tbl(con, "references") |>
           select(union("reference_number", output_fields$field[output_fields$table == "references"])),
         "reference_number"
       )
   }
   
   ## join remaining lookup values
-  result <- result %>% .process_lookups("tests")
+  result <- result |> .process_lookups("tests")
   
   renamed <- output_fields$field != output_fields$new_field
   message(
@@ -369,22 +369,22 @@
     )
   )
   
-  result <- result %>% select(dplyr::any_of(union(unique(output_fields$new_field), "result_id")))
+  result <- result |> select(dplyr::any_of(union(unique(output_fields$new_field), "result_id")))
   return(result)
 }
 
 .group_nest_results <- function(search_result) {
   if (nrow(search_result) > 0) {
     group_by <-
-      search_result %>%
-      dplyr::group_by(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of("result_id"))) %>%
-      dplyr::summarise_all(~all(is.na(.)) || all(.[[1]] == .)) %>%
-      dplyr::ungroup() %>%
-      select(tidyselect::vars_select_helpers$where(~ all(.))) %>%
+      search_result |>
+      dplyr::group_by(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of("result_id"))) |>
+      dplyr::summarise_all(~all(is.na(.)) || all(.[[1]] == .)) |>
+      dplyr::ungroup() |>
+      select(tidyselect::vars_select_helpers$where(~ all(.))) |>
       colnames()
     if (all(colnames(search_result) %in% group_by)) return (search_result) else{
       search_result <-
-        search_result %>%
+        search_result |>
         dplyr::group_nest(dplyr::across(dplyr::any_of(group_by)), .key = "nested_data")
     }
   } else search_result
diff --git a/R/imports.r b/R/imports.r
index 0706358..118f8f5 100644
--- a/R/imports.r
+++ b/R/imports.r
@@ -10,19 +10,6 @@
 
 #' @importFrom dplyr collect left_join inner_join select sql tbl
 #' @importFrom lifecycle badge
-#' @importFrom rlang :=
+#' @importFrom rlang := !!!
 #' @importFrom RSQLite dbExecute dbConnect dbDisconnect dbWriteTable
 NULL
-
-#' Objects exported from other packages
-#' 
-#' Objects imported and exported from other packages. See original documentation for more details.
-#' 
-#' \describe{
-#' \item{dplyr}{[`\%>\%()`][dplyr::reexports]}
-#' }
-#' @importFrom dplyr %>%
-#' @export %>%
-#' @name %>%
-#' @rdname reexports
-NULL
diff --git a/R/init.r b/R/init.r
index 909e649..9c42281 100644
--- a/R/init.r
+++ b/R/init.r
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #' @param verify_ssl When set to `FALSE` the SSL certificate of the host (EPA)
 #' is not verified. Can also be set as option:
 #' `options(ECOTOXr_verify_ssl = TRUE)`. Default is `TRUE`.
-#' @param ... arguments passed on to [httr::GET()]
+#' @param ... arguments passed on to [httr2::req_options()]
 #' @returns Returns a `character` string containing the download URL of the latest version of the EPA ECOTOX
 #' database.
 #' @rdname get_ecotox_url
@@ -24,8 +24,10 @@
 get_ecotox_url <- function(verify_ssl = getOption("ECOTOXr_verify_ssl"), ...) {
   if (is.null(verify_ssl)) verify_ssl <- TRUE
   args <- list(...)
-  if (!verify_ssl)
-    args[["config"]] <- httr::config(ssl_verifyhost = 0, ssl_verifypeer = 0)
+  if (!verify_ssl) {
+    args[["ssl_verifyhost"]] <- 0
+    args[["ssl_verifypeer"]] <- 0
+  }
   link <- tryCatch({
     do.call(.get_ecotox_url, c(url = "https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/index.cfm",
                                args))
@@ -37,16 +39,18 @@ get_ecotox_url <- function(verify_ssl = getOption("ECOTOXr_verify_ssl"), ...) {
 }
 
 .get_ecotox_url <- function(url, ...) {
-  link <- 
-    httr::GET(url, ...) %>%
-    rvest::read_html() %>%
-    rvest::html_elements("a") %>%
+  link <-
+    httr2::request(url) |>
+    httr2::req_options(...) |>
+    httr2::req_perform() |>
+    httr2::resp_body_html() |>
+    rvest::html_elements("a") |>
     rvest::html_attr("href")
   link <- link[!is.na(link) & endsWith(link, ".zip")]
   if (length(link) == 0) stop("Could not find ASCII download link...")
   link[!startsWith(link, "http")] <- paste0(url, link[!startsWith(link, "http")])
   link_dates <-
-    stringr::str_sub(link, -14, -5) %>%
+    stringr::str_sub(link, -14, -5) |>
     as.Date(format = "%m_%d_%Y")
   link[which(link_dates == max(link_dates))]
 }
@@ -69,8 +73,7 @@ get_ecotox_url <- function(verify_ssl = getOption("ECOTOXr_verify_ssl"), ...) {
 #' @export
 check_ecotox_availability <- function(target = get_ecotox_path()) {
   files    <- list.files(target)
-  file_reg <- gregexpr("(?<=^ecotox_ascii_)(.*?)(?=\\.sqlite$)", files, perl = T)
-  file_reg <- regmatches(files, file_reg)
+  file_reg <- stringr::str_extract(files, "(?<=^ecotox_ascii_)(.*?)(?=\\.sqlite$)")
 
   files    <- files[unlist(lapply(file_reg, length)) > 0]
   file_reg <- unlist(file_reg[unlist(lapply(file_reg, length)) > 0])
@@ -149,7 +152,7 @@ get_ecotox_path <- function() {
 #' the user is asked on the command line what to do in those cases. Set this parameter to `FALSE` in order
 #' to continue without warning and asking.
 #' @inheritParams get_ecotox_url
-#' @param ... Arguments passed on to [httr::GET()].
+#' @param ... Arguments passed on to [httr2::req_options()].
 #' @returns Returns `NULL` invisibly.
 #' @rdname download_ecotox_data
 #' @name download_ecotox_data
@@ -187,23 +190,18 @@ download_ecotox_data <- function(
   }
   if (proceed.download) {
     message(crayon::white(sprintf("Start downloading ECOTOX data from %s...\n", link)))
-    cfg <- list(
-      noprogress = 0L,
-      progressfunction = function(down, up) {
-        message(crayon::white(sprintf("\r%0.1f MB downloaded...",
-                                      down[2]/(1024*1024))), appendLF = FALSE)
-        TRUE
-      })
+    cfg <- list(...)
     if (!verify_ssl) {
       cfg[["ssl_verifyhost"]] <- 0
       cfg[["ssl_verifypeer"]] <- 0
-      }
-    cfg <- do.call(httr::config, cfg)
-    
-    httr::GET(link, config = cfg,
-              httr::write_disk(dest_path, overwrite = TRUE), ...)
+    }
 
-    message(crayon::green(" Done\n"))
+    httr2::request(link) |>
+      httr2::req_options(!!!cfg) |>
+      httr2::req_progress() |>
+      httr2::req_perform(path = dest_path)
+    
+    message(crayon::green("Done\n"))
   }
 
   ## create bib-file for later reference
diff --git a/R/online.r b/R/online.r
index 235fbff..78d1fa5 100644
--- a/R/online.r
+++ b/R/online.r
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 #' @inheritParams get_ecotox_url
 #' @param ... In case of [list_ecotox_web_fields()] the dots can be used as search field values used to update the returned list of fields.
 #' 
-#' In case of [websearch_ecotox()] the dots can be used to pass custom options to the underlying [httr::POST()] call. For available
+#' In case of [websearch_ecotox()] the dots can be used to pass custom options to the underlying [httr2::req_options()] call. For available
 #' field names, use `names(list_ecotox_web_fields())`
 #' @returns Returns named `list` of [dplyr::tibble]s with search results. Results are unpolished and `as is' returned by EPA's web service.
 #' 
@@ -45,41 +45,43 @@ websearch_ecotox <- function(
     verify_ssl = getOption("ECOTOXr_verify_ssl"), ...) {
   habitat <- match.arg(habitat)
   if (is.null(verify_ssl)) verify_ssl <- TRUE
-  
-  search_post <- list(
-    url = sprintf("https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/data/search_handler.cfm?sub=%s&type=", habitat),
-    body = fields, encode = "form",
-    ...
-  )
+  cfg = list(...)
   if (!verify_ssl) {
-    search_post[["config"]] <- httr::config(ssl_verifyhost = 0, ssl_verifypeer = 0)
+    cfg[["ssl_verifyhost"]] <- 0
+    cfg[["ssl_verifypeer"]] <- 0
   }
   ## download preview
-  search_post <- do.call(httr::POST, search_post)
+  search_post <-
+    sprintf("https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/data/search_handler.cfm?sub=%s&type=", habitat) |>
+    httr2::request() |>
+    httr2::req_method("POST") |>
+    httr2::req_body_form(!!!fields) |>
+    httr2::req_options(!!!cfg) |>
+    httr2::req_perform()
   .check_http_status(search_post, "Failed to send search query")
-  search_response <-  rvest::read_html(search_post)
-  warnings <- search_response %>% rvest::html_element(xpath = "//div[@class='callout alert']") %>% rvest::html_text2()
+  search_response <- search_post |> httr2::resp_body_html()
+  warnings <- search_response |> rvest::html_element(xpath = "//div[@class='callout alert']") |>
+    rvest::html_text2()
   if (!is.na(warnings)) stop(warnings)
-  search_response <- jsonlite::parse_json(search_post$content %>% rawToChar())
-  headers <- lapply(search_response$headers, `[[`, 1) %>% unlist()
-  table_preview <- search_response$records %>% lapply(structure, names = headers) %>% lapply(dplyr::as_tibble) %>% dplyr::bind_rows()
+  search_response <- jsonlite::parse_json(search_post |> httr2::resp_body_string())
+  headers <- lapply(search_response$headers, `[[`, 1) |> unlist()
+  table_preview <- search_response$records |> lapply(structure, names = headers) |> lapply(dplyr::as_tibble) |> dplyr::bind_rows()
   
-  httr_result <- list(
-    url = sprintf("https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/data/search_handler.cfm?sub=%s&type=excel", habitat),
-    body = fields, encode = "form",
-    ...
-  )
-  if (!verify_ssl) {
-    httr_result[["config"]] <- httr::config(ssl_verifyhost = 0, ssl_verifypeer = 0)
-  }
   ## Download excel report
-  httr_result <- do.call(httr::POST, httr_result)
-  
+  httr_result <-
+    sprintf("https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/data/search_handler.cfm?sub=%s&type=excel", habitat) |>
+    httr2::request() |>
+    httr2::req_method("POST") |>
+    httr2::req_body_form(!!!fields) |>
+    httr2::req_options(!!!cfg) |>
+    httr2::req_perform()
+
   .check_http_status(httr_result, "Failed to send search query")
   
   ## Return preview when Excel download has failed
   if (!grepl("spreadsheet", httr_result$headers$`content-type`)) {
-    warn_text <- httr_result %>% rvest::read_html() %>% rvest::html_text2() %>% stringr::str_replace("Warning", "") %>% trimws()
+    warn_text <- httr_result |> httr2::resp_body_html() |> rvest::html_text2() |>
+      stringr::str_replace("Warning", "") |> trimws()
     warn_text <- paste(warn_text, "Returning on-line preview data only")
     warning(warn_text)
     return(list(`On-line preview` = table_preview))
@@ -87,7 +89,7 @@ websearch_ecotox <- function(
   
   ## otherwise return full data
   tab_file <- tempfile(fileext = ".xlsx")
-  writeBin(httr_result$content, tab_file)
+  writeBin(httr_result$body, tab_file)
   sheet_names <- readxl::excel_sheets(tab_file)
   data_tables <-
     suppressMessages(
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@ list_ecotox_web_fields <- function(...) {
   form_data <- do.call(c, lapply(form_data, function(x) {
     x <- strsplit(x[[1]], "=")[[1]]
     structure(ifelse(is.na(x[2]), "", gsub("[+]", " ", utils::URLdecode(x[2]))), names = x[1])
-  })) %>% as.list()
+  })) |> as.list()
   form_data$Ending_Publication_Year <- format(Sys.Date(), "%Y")
   form_data[names(c(...))] <- c(...)
   return(form_data)
@@ -145,7 +147,7 @@ list_ecotox_web_fields <- function(...) {
 #' @inheritParams get_ecotox_url
 #' @returns Returns a named `list` of [dplyr::tibble]s containing the search results for the requested output tables and fields.
 #' Results are unpolished and `as is' returned by EPA's web service.
-#' @param ... Arguments passed on to [httr::GET] requests.
+#' @param ... Arguments passed on to [httr2::req_options()] requests.
 #' @rdname websearch_comptox
 #' @name websearch_comptox
 #' @examples
@@ -198,6 +200,11 @@ websearch_comptox <- function(
     verify_ssl = getOption("ECOTOXr_verify_ssl"),
     ...) {
   if (is.null(verify_ssl)) verify_ssl <- TRUE
+  cfg <- list(...)
+  if (!verify_ssl) {
+    cfg[["ssl_verifyhost"]] <- 0
+    cfg[["ssl_verifypeer"]] <- 0
+  }
   search_form <-
     list(
       identifierTypes = match.arg(identifierTypes, several.ok = T),
@@ -207,48 +214,43 @@ websearch_comptox <- function(
       inputType       = match.arg(inputType),
       downloadType    = "EXCEL"
     )
-  post_result <- list(
-    url = "https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard-api/batchsearch/export/?lb2ljny4",
-    body   = search_form,
-    encode = "json",
-    httr::content_type("application/json"),
-    ...)
-  if (!verify_ssl) {
-    post_result[["config"]] <- httr::config(ssl_verifyhost = 0, ssl_verifypeer = 0)
-  }
-  post_result <- do.call(httr::POST, post_result)
+
+  post_result <-
+    "https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard-api/batchsearch/export/?lb2ljny4" |>
+    httr2::request() |>
+    httr2::req_body_json(search_form) |>
+    httr2::req_method("POST") |>
+    httr2::req_options(!!!cfg) |>
+    httr2::req_perform()
   .check_http_status(post_result, "Failed to post search query")
   
   ## Wait for download to get ready, by checking its status every second
   i <- 0
   repeat {
-    search_status <- list(
-      url = paste0("https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard-api/batchsearch/export/status/", post_result$content %>% rawToChar()),
-      ...
-    )
-    if (!verify_ssl)
-      search_status[["config"]] <- httr::config(ssl_verifyhost = 0, ssl_verifypeer = 0)
-    search_status <- do.call(httr::GET, search_status)
+    search_status <-
+      "https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard-api/batchsearch/export/status/" |>
+        paste0(post_result |> httr2::resp_body_string()) |>
+        httr2::request() |>
+        httr2::req_options(!!!cfg) |>
+        httr2::req_perform()
     .check_http_status(search_status, "Failed to check download status")
-    if ((search_status$content %>% rawToChar()) == "true") break
+    if ((search_status |> httr2::resp_body_string()) == "true") break
     i <- i + 1
     if (i == 30) warning("It is taking exceptionally long for preparing the download, you may wish to abort...")
     if (i == timeout) stop("Did not succeed before timeout, try again or increase the timeout...")
     Sys.sleep(1)
   }
 
-  search_result <- list(
-    url = paste0("https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard-api/batchsearch/export/content/", post_result$content %>% rawToChar()),
-    httr::content_type("application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"),
-    ...
-  )
-  if (!verify_ssl)
-    search_result[["config"]] <- httr::config(ssl_verifyhost = 0, ssl_verifypeer = 0)
   ## Download is ready, so let's go get it
-  search_result <- do.call(httr::GET, search_result)
+  search_result <-
+    "https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard-api/batchsearch/export/content/" |>
+    paste0(post_result |> httr2::resp_body_string()) |>
+    httr2::request() |>
+    httr2::req_options(!!!cfg) |>
+    httr2::req_perform()
   .check_http_status(search_result, "Failed to obtain search result")
   tab_file <- tempfile(fileext = ".xlsx")
-  writeBin(search_result$content, tab_file)
+  writeBin(search_result$body, tab_file)
   sheet_names <- readxl::excel_sheets(tab_file)
   data_tables <- structure(
     lapply(sheet_names, function(name) {
@@ -260,13 +262,12 @@ websearch_comptox <- function(
   return(data_tables)
 }
 
-.check_http_status <- function(httr_object, message = "") {
+.check_http_status <- function(httr2_response, message = "") {
   ## http status between 200 and 299 indicates success
-  if (!dplyr::between(as.numeric(httr_object$status), 200, 299)) {
-    stop(sprintf("%s. Http response %s status code %s\n\n%s",
+  if (!dplyr::between(as.numeric(httr2_response$status_code), 200, 299)) {
+    stop(sprintf("%s. Http response %s status code %s",
                  message,
-                 httr::content(httr_object)$title,
-                 httr::content(httr_object)$status,
-                 httr::content(httr_object)$detail))
+                 httr2::resp_status_desc(httr2_response),
+                 httr2::resp_status(httr2_response)))
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/R/wrappers.r b/R/wrappers.r
index cc11d0d..55bd0e4 100644
--- a/R/wrappers.r
+++ b/R/wrappers.r
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ search_ecotox <- function(search, output_fields = list_ecotox_fields("default"),
   search_result <- search_ecotox_lazy(search, c(output_fields, temp_field), compute, group_by_results = group_by_results)
   database_file <- attributes(search_result)$database_file
   dbcon         <- search_result[["src"]]$con
-  search_result <- search_result %>% collect()
+  search_result <- search_result |> collect()
   dbDisconnect(dbcon)
   ## group by result_id if requested
   
@@ -126,9 +126,9 @@ search_ecotox <- function(search, output_fields = list_ecotox_fields("default"),
   ## remove temporary fields
   if (!is.null(temp_field))
     search_result <-
-    search_result %>%
+    search_result |>
     select(!dplyr::any_of(gsub("^.*?[.]", "", temp_field)))
-  if (as_data_frame) search_result <- search_result %>% as.data.frame()
+  if (as_data_frame) search_result <- search_result |> as.data.frame()
   return(.add_tags(search_result, database_file))
 }
 
@@ -155,6 +155,6 @@ search_ecotox_lazy <- function(search, output_fields = list_ecotox_fields("defau
 search_query_ecotox <- function(search, output_fields = list_ecotox_fields("default"), ...) {
   search_result <- search_ecotox_lazy(search, output_fields, ...)
   database_file <- attributes(search_result)$database_file
-  search_result <- search_result %>% dbplyr::sql_render()
+  search_result <- search_result |> dbplyr::sql_render()
   return(.add_tags(search_result, database_file))
 }
diff --git a/README.Rmd b/README.Rmd
index ab5bee5..e8ed78f 100644
--- a/README.Rmd
+++ b/README.Rmd
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@ If you like to use [`{dplyr}`](https://dplyr.tidyverse.org/) verbs, you are in l
 
 ```{r warning = FALSE}
 con <- dbConnectEcotox()
-dplyr::tbl(con, "results") %>%
-  dplyr::filter(result_id == "401386") %>%
+dplyr::tbl(con, "results") |>
+  dplyr::filter(result_id == "401386") |>
   dplyr::collect()
 ```
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ needs knowledge of the database structure in order to join additional data.
 > Using `SQL` syntax
 
 ```{r warning = FALSE}
-dbGetQuery(con, "SELECT * FROM results WHERE result_id='401386'") %>%
+dbGetQuery(con, "SELECT * FROM results WHERE result_id='401386'") |>
   dplyr::as_tibble()
 ```
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bc311f4..4669f65 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@
 ECOTOX database](https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/). More specifically you
 can:
 
--   Build a local SQLite copy of the [US EPA ECOTOX
-    database](https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/)
--   Search and extract data from the local database
--   Use experimental features to search the on-line dashboards:
-    [ECOTOX](https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/search.cfm) and
-    [CompTox](https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard/batch-search)
+- Build a local SQLite copy of the [US EPA ECOTOX
+  database](https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/)
+- Search and extract data from the local database
+- Use experimental features to search the on-line dashboards:
+  [ECOTOX](https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/search.cfm) and
+  [CompTox](https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard/batch-search)
 
 ## Why use `{ECOTOXr}`?
 
@@ -97,17 +97,17 @@ search_ecotox(
 #> 'chemicals.cas_number' was renamed 'test_cas'
 #> 'chemicals.chemical_name' was renamed 'test_chemical'
 #> 'dose_responses.dose_resp_id' was renamed 'dose_link_dose_resp_id'
-#> # A tibble: 1 x 98
-#>   test_cas test_grade test_gra~1 test_~2 test_~3 test_~4 test_~5 test_~6 test_~7
-#> *    <int> <chr>      <chr>      <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>  
-#> 1    71432 NR         ""         ""      NR      <NA>    NR      <NA>    NR     
-#> # ... with 89 more variables: test_purity_comments <chr>,
-#> #   organism_lifestage <chr>, organism_age_mean_op <chr>,
-#> #   organism_age_mean <chr>, organism_age_min_op <chr>, organism_age_min <chr>,
+#> # A tibble: 1 × 98
+#>   test_cas test_grade test_grade_comments test_purity_mean_op test_purity_mean
+#> *    <int> <chr>      <chr>               <chr>               <chr>           
+#> 1    71432 NR         ""                  ""                  NR              
+#> # ℹ 93 more variables: test_purity_min_op <chr>, test_purity_min <chr>,
+#> #   test_purity_max_op <chr>, test_purity_max <chr>,
+#> #   test_purity_comments <chr>, organism_lifestage <chr>,
+#> #   organism_age_mean_op <chr>, organism_age_mean <chr>,
+#> #   organism_age_min_op <chr>, organism_age_min <chr>,
 #> #   organism_age_max_op <chr>, organism_age_max <chr>,
-#> #   exposure_duration_mean_op <chr>, exposure_duration_mean <chr>,
-#> #   exposure_duration_min_op <chr>, exposure_duration_min <chr>,
-#> #   exposure_duration_max_op <chr>, exposure_duration_max <chr>, ...
+#> #   exposure_duration_mean_op <chr>, exposure_duration_mean <chr>, …
 ```
 
 If you like to use [`{dplyr}`](https://dplyr.tidyverse.org/) verbs, you
@@ -121,20 +121,20 @@ structure.
 
 ``` r
 con <- dbConnectEcotox()
-dplyr::tbl(con, "results") %>%
-  dplyr::filter(result_id == "401386") %>%
+dplyr::tbl(con, "results") |>
+  dplyr::filter(result_id == "401386") |>
   dplyr::collect()
-#> # A tibble: 1 x 137
-#>   result_id test_id sample_siz~1 sampl~2 sampl~3 sampl~4 sampl~5 sampl~6 sampl~7
-#>       <int>   <int> <chr>        <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>  
-#> 1    401386 1020021 ""           NC      ""      NC      ""      NC      NC     
-#> # ... with 128 more variables: sample_size_comments <chr>,
+#> # A tibble: 1 × 137
+#>   result_id test_id sample_size_mean_op sample_size_mean sample_size_min_op
+#>       <int>   <int> <chr>               <chr>            <chr>             
+#> 1    401386 1020021 ""                  NC               ""                
+#> # ℹ 132 more variables: sample_size_min <chr>, sample_size_max_op <chr>,
+#> #   sample_size_max <chr>, sample_size_unit <chr>, sample_size_comments <chr>,
 #> #   obs_duration_mean_op <chr>, obs_duration_mean <chr>,
 #> #   obs_duration_min_op <chr>, obs_duration_min <chr>,
 #> #   obs_duration_max_op <chr>, obs_duration_max <chr>, obs_duration_unit <chr>,
 #> #   obs_duration_comments <chr>, endpoint <chr>, endpoint_comments <chr>,
-#> #   trend <chr>, effect <chr>, effect_comments <chr>, measurement <chr>,
-#> #   measurement_comments <chr>, response_site <chr>, ...
+#> #   trend <chr>, effect <chr>, effect_comments <chr>, measurement <chr>, …
 ```
 
 If you prefer working using `SQL` directly, that is fine too. The
@@ -146,19 +146,19 @@ the database structure in order to join additional data.
 > Using `SQL` syntax
 
 ``` r
-dbGetQuery(con, "SELECT * FROM results WHERE result_id='401386'") %>%
+dbGetQuery(con, "SELECT * FROM results WHERE result_id='401386'") |>
   dplyr::as_tibble()
-#> # A tibble: 1 x 137
-#>   result_id test_id sample_siz~1 sampl~2 sampl~3 sampl~4 sampl~5 sampl~6 sampl~7
-#>       <int>   <int> <chr>        <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>   <chr>  
-#> 1    401386 1020021 ""           NC      ""      NC      ""      NC      NC     
-#> # ... with 128 more variables: sample_size_comments <chr>,
+#> # A tibble: 1 × 137
+#>   result_id test_id sample_size_mean_op sample_size_mean sample_size_min_op
+#>       <int>   <int> <chr>               <chr>            <chr>             
+#> 1    401386 1020021 ""                  NC               ""                
+#> # ℹ 132 more variables: sample_size_min <chr>, sample_size_max_op <chr>,
+#> #   sample_size_max <chr>, sample_size_unit <chr>, sample_size_comments <chr>,
 #> #   obs_duration_mean_op <chr>, obs_duration_mean <chr>,
 #> #   obs_duration_min_op <chr>, obs_duration_min <chr>,
 #> #   obs_duration_max_op <chr>, obs_duration_max <chr>, obs_duration_unit <chr>,
 #> #   obs_duration_comments <chr>, endpoint <chr>, endpoint_comments <chr>,
-#> #   trend <chr>, effect <chr>, effect_comments <chr>, measurement <chr>,
-#> #   measurement_comments <chr>, response_site <chr>, ...
+#> #   trend <chr>, effect <chr>, effect_comments <chr>, measurement <chr>, …
 ```
 
 ## Disclaimers
@@ -173,13 +173,13 @@ package is therefore **not** official US EPA software.
 
 ## Resources
 
--   [Manual of the CRAN
-    release](https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=ECOTOXr)
--   EPA ECOTOX help <https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/help.cfm>
--   Olker, Jennifer H.; Elonen, Colleen M.; Pilli, Anne; Anderson, Arne;
-    Kinziger, Brian; Erickson, Stephen; Skopinski, Michael; Pomplun,
-    Anita; LaLone, Carlie A.; Russom, Christine L.; Hoff, Dale. (2022):
-    The ECOTOXicology Knowledgebase: A Curated Database of Ecologically
-    Relevant Toxicity Tests to Support Environmental Research and Risk
-    Assessment. *Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry* 41(6) 1520-1539
-    <!--https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5324-->
+- [Manual of the CRAN
+  release](https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=ECOTOXr)
+- EPA ECOTOX help <https://cfpub.epa.gov/ecotox/help.cfm>
+- Olker, Jennifer H.; Elonen, Colleen M.; Pilli, Anne; Anderson, Arne;
+  Kinziger, Brian; Erickson, Stephen; Skopinski, Michael; Pomplun,
+  Anita; LaLone, Carlie A.; Russom, Christine L.; Hoff, Dale. (2022):
+  The ECOTOXicology Knowledgebase: A Curated Database of Ecologically
+  Relevant Toxicity Tests to Support Environmental Research and Risk
+  Assessment. *Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry* 41(6) 1520-1539
+  <!--https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5324-->
diff --git a/man/check_ecotox_build.Rd b/man/check_ecotox_build.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b32167d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/check_ecotox_build.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/database_access.r
+\name{check_ecotox_build}
+\alias{check_ecotox_build}
+\title{Check the locally build database for validity}
+\usage{
+check_ecotox_build(path = get_ecotox_path(), version, ...)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{path}{A \code{character} string with the path to the location of the local database (default is
+\code{\link[=get_ecotox_path]{get_ecotox_path()}}).}
+
+\item{version}{A \code{character} string referring to the release version of the database you wish to locate.
+It should have the same format as the date in the EPA download link, which is month, day, year, separated by
+underscores ("\%m_\%d_\%Y"). When missing, the most recent available copy is selected automatically.}
+
+\item{...}{Arguments that are passed to \code{\link[RSQLite:SQLite]{dbConnect()}} method
+or \code{\link[RSQLite:SQLite]{dbDisconnect()}} method.}
+}
+\value{
+Returns an indicative logical value whether the database is not corrupted.
+\code{TRUE} indicates the database is most likely OK. \code{FALSE} indicates that something might
+be wrong. Additional messages (when \code{FALSE}) are included as attributes containing hints
+on the outcoming of the tests. See also the 'details' section.
+}
+\description{
+\ifelse{html}{\href{https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#stable}{\figure{lifecycle-stable.svg}{options: alt='[Stable]'}}}{\strong{[Stable]}} Performs some simple tests to check whether the
+locally built database is not corrupted.
+}
+\details{
+For now this function tests if all expected tables are present in the locally built
+database. Note that in later release of the database some tables were added. Therefore
+for older builds this function might return \code{FALSE} whereas it is actually just fine
+(just out-dated).
+
+Furthermore, this function tests if all tables contain one or more records. Obviously,
+this is no guarantee that the database is valid, but it is a start.
+
+More tests may be added in future releases.
+}
+\examples{
+\dontrun{
+check_ecotox_build()
+}
+}
+\author{
+Pepijn de Vries
+}
diff --git a/man/check_ecotox_version.Rd b/man/check_ecotox_version.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd3111e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/check_ecotox_version.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/database_access.r
+\name{check_ecotox_version}
+\alias{check_ecotox_version}
+\title{Check if the locally build database is up to date}
+\usage{
+check_ecotox_version(path = get_ecotox_path(), version, verbose = TRUE)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{path}{When you have a copy of the database somewhere other than the default
+directory (\code{\link[=get_ecotox_path]{get_ecotox_path()}}), you can provide the path here.}
+
+\item{version}{A \code{character} string referring to the release version of the database you wish to locate.
+It should have the same format as the date in the EPA download link, which is month, day, year, separated by
+underscores ("\%m_\%d_\%Y"). When missing, the most recent available copy is selected automatically.}
+
+\item{verbose}{A \code{logical} value. If true messages are shown on the console reporting
+on the check.}
+}
+\value{
+Returns a \code{logical} value invisibly indicating whether the locally build
+is up to date with the latest release by the EPA.
+}
+\description{
+\ifelse{html}{\href{https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#stable}{\figure{lifecycle-stable.svg}{options: alt='[Stable]'}}}{\strong{[Stable]}} Checks the version of the database available on-line
+from the EPA against the specified version (latest by default) of the database build
+locally. Returns \code{TRUE} when they are the same.
+}
+\examples{
+\dontrun{
+check_ecotox_version()
+}
+}
+\author{
+Pepijn de Vries
+}
diff --git a/man/download_ecotox_data.Rd b/man/download_ecotox_data.Rd
index 5ed0756..4957621 100644
--- a/man/download_ecotox_data.Rd
+++ b/man/download_ecotox_data.Rd
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ to continue without warning and asking.}
 is not verified. Can also be set as option:
 \code{options(ECOTOXr_verify_ssl = TRUE)}. Default is \code{TRUE}.}
 
-\item{...}{Arguments passed on to \code{\link[httr:GET]{httr::GET()}}.}
+\item{...}{Arguments passed on to \code{\link[httr2:req_options]{httr2::req_options()}}.}
 }
 \value{
 Returns \code{NULL} invisibly.
diff --git a/man/get_ecotox_url.Rd b/man/get_ecotox_url.Rd
index bde7338..7cbb8f4 100644
--- a/man/get_ecotox_url.Rd
+++ b/man/get_ecotox_url.Rd
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ get_ecotox_url(verify_ssl = getOption("ECOTOXr_verify_ssl"), ...)
 is not verified. Can also be set as option:
 \code{options(ECOTOXr_verify_ssl = TRUE)}. Default is \code{TRUE}.}
 
-\item{...}{arguments passed on to \code{\link[httr:GET]{httr::GET()}}}
+\item{...}{arguments passed on to \code{\link[httr2:req_options]{httr2::req_options()}}}
 }
 \value{
 Returns a \code{character} string containing the download URL of the latest version of the EPA ECOTOX
diff --git a/man/reexports.Rd b/man/reexports.Rd
deleted file mode 100644
index 52f9b9d..0000000
--- a/man/reexports.Rd
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
-% Please edit documentation in R/imports.r
-\name{\%>\%}
-\alias{\%>\%}
-\title{Objects exported from other packages}
-\description{
-Objects imported and exported from other packages. See original documentation for more details.
-}
-\details{
-\describe{
-\item{dplyr}{\code{\link[dplyr:reexports]{\\\%>\\\%()}}}
-}
-}
diff --git a/man/websearch.Rd b/man/websearch.Rd
index 68ca09a..191a982 100644
--- a/man/websearch.Rd
+++ b/man/websearch.Rd
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ is not verified. Can also be set as option:
 
 \item{...}{In case of \code{\link[=list_ecotox_web_fields]{list_ecotox_web_fields()}} the dots can be used as search field values used to update the returned list of fields.
 
-In case of \code{\link[=websearch_ecotox]{websearch_ecotox()}} the dots can be used to pass custom options to the underlying \code{\link[httr:POST]{httr::POST()}} call. For available
+In case of \code{\link[=websearch_ecotox]{websearch_ecotox()}} the dots can be used to pass custom options to the underlying \code{\link[httr2:req_options]{httr2::req_options()}} call. For available
 field names, use \code{names(list_ecotox_web_fields())}}
 }
 \value{
diff --git a/man/websearch_comptox.Rd b/man/websearch_comptox.Rd
index 48d1990..cc59684 100644
--- a/man/websearch_comptox.Rd
+++ b/man/websearch_comptox.Rd
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ It will throw an error if it takes longer than the specified \code{timeout}.}
 is not verified. Can also be set as option:
 \code{options(ECOTOXr_verify_ssl = TRUE)}. Default is \code{TRUE}.}
 
-\item{...}{Arguments passed on to \link[httr:GET]{httr::GET} requests.}
+\item{...}{Arguments passed on to \code{\link[httr2:req_options]{httr2::req_options()}} requests.}
 }
 \value{
 Returns a named \code{list} of \link[dplyr:reexports]{dplyr::tibble}s containing the search results for the requested output tables and fields.
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test_that.r b/tests/testthat/test_that.r
index cdee0dc..192d118 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test_that.r
+++ b/tests/testthat/test_that.r
@@ -299,6 +299,6 @@ test_that("When multiple doses are linked to a result, no duplicates are returne
 #################################
 
 test_that("get_ecotox_info doesn't throw an error.", {
-  expect_false({ throws_errors(get_ecotox_info()) })
+  expect_false({ throws_errors(suppressMessages(get_ecotox_info())) })
 })