Ecological risk assessment: Seal Beach, California
Ecological risk assessment offers a means of quantifying the probability and degree of hazard posed toward the well-being of ecological resources by a myriad of physical, chemical and biological agents generated from human activity. In this paper, the authors discuss the results of a screening-level ecological risk assessment conducted in a unique coastal setting-the Seal beach National Wildlife Refuge, which is located within the US Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach, California. Evaluation of activities formerly conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration indicated the presence of various organic and inorganic chemical contaminants in subsurface soil and groundwater resources located beneath the weapons station, as well as potential pathways for introduction of those contaminants to the ecological resources of the wildlife refuge. Completion of the screening-level assessment identified inorganic contaminants-antimony, arsenic, beryllium, and manganese-as the primary risk drivers, leading to a recommendation for definitive characterization of the extent of chemical degradation of the subsurface environs and concurrent performance of a full-scale ecological risk assessment. It is the author's understanding that both of the recommended studies were initiated and were nearing completion at the time of the submittal of this paper.
- Research Organization:
- Norcal/San Bernardino, Inc., CA (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20014824
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ASCE-CSCE 1999 National Conference on Environmental Engineering, Norfolk, VA (US), 07/25/1999--07/28/1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; Related Information: In: Environmental engineering 1999, by Schafran, G.C. [ed.], 936 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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