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Title: Ecological risk assessment of a decommissioned military base

Abstract

The ecological health risks to selected terrestrial animals at a decommissioned military base in Atlantic Canada have been assessed. Areas of the base varied in terms of terrain, ground cover, as well as types and extent of contamination, dependent on former uses of the sites. Analysis of surficial soils, sediments, water and fish tissue at the base indicated contamination by metals, PCBs, and various petroleum products and their constituents. Identification of chemicals of concern was based on these analyses, in conjunction with detailed chemical selection procedures. Exposures to chemicals of concern for ecological receptors were assessed in one of two ways. The exposures of moose, snowshoe hare and meadow vole were estimated in areas with surficial contamination, based on expected exposures to environmental media via oral inhalation, and dermal routes of exposure. For two top predators (mink and bald-headed eagle), exposures to bioaccumulative chemicals (cadmium, lead, mercury and PCBs) via transport through the aquatic and/or terrestrial foodchain were estimated. A toxicological assessment was conducted for the chemicals of concern, to yield exposure limits derived from governmental regulations or developed based on no-observed-effect-levels (NOELs) reported in scientifically sound toxicological assays in relevant species. The risk evaluation of each chemical of concernmore » was conducted as a comparison of the estimated total exposures to the exposure limits derived for the selected ecological receptors.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. CanTox Inc., Mississauga, Ontario (Canada)
  2. CanTox Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
452108
Report Number(s):
CONF-961149-
Journal ID: ISSN 1087-8939; TRN: IM9715%%140
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 17. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: partnerships for the environment - science, education, and policy, Washington, DC (United States), 17-21 Nov 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of SETAC 17. annual meeting -- Abstract book. Partnerships for the environment: Science, education, and policy; PB: 378 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; MILITARY FACILITIES; SITE CHARACTERIZATION; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; OIL SPILLS; CANADA; POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS; RISK ASSESSMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; TOXICITY; POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS; MERCURY; LEAD; CADMIUM; PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; FOOD CHAINS

Citation Formats

Starodub, M E, Feniak, N A, Willes, R F, Moore, C E, Mucklow, L, and Marshall, L. Ecological risk assessment of a decommissioned military base. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Starodub, M E, Feniak, N A, Willes, R F, Moore, C E, Mucklow, L, & Marshall, L. Ecological risk assessment of a decommissioned military base. United States.
Starodub, M E, Feniak, N A, Willes, R F, Moore, C E, Mucklow, L, and Marshall, L. 1995. "Ecological risk assessment of a decommissioned military base". United States.
@article{osti_452108,
title = {Ecological risk assessment of a decommissioned military base},
author = {Starodub, M E and Feniak, N A and Willes, R F and Moore, C E and Mucklow, L and Marshall, L},
abstractNote = {The ecological health risks to selected terrestrial animals at a decommissioned military base in Atlantic Canada have been assessed. Areas of the base varied in terms of terrain, ground cover, as well as types and extent of contamination, dependent on former uses of the sites. Analysis of surficial soils, sediments, water and fish tissue at the base indicated contamination by metals, PCBs, and various petroleum products and their constituents. Identification of chemicals of concern was based on these analyses, in conjunction with detailed chemical selection procedures. Exposures to chemicals of concern for ecological receptors were assessed in one of two ways. The exposures of moose, snowshoe hare and meadow vole were estimated in areas with surficial contamination, based on expected exposures to environmental media via oral inhalation, and dermal routes of exposure. For two top predators (mink and bald-headed eagle), exposures to bioaccumulative chemicals (cadmium, lead, mercury and PCBs) via transport through the aquatic and/or terrestrial foodchain were estimated. A toxicological assessment was conducted for the chemicals of concern, to yield exposure limits derived from governmental regulations or developed based on no-observed-effect-levels (NOELs) reported in scientifically sound toxicological assays in relevant species. The risk evaluation of each chemical of concern was conducted as a comparison of the estimated total exposures to the exposure limits derived for the selected ecological receptors.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/452108}, journal = {},
issn = {1087-8939},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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