Integration of human health and ecological risk assessments in the RI/FS process. Part A: Overview and methods

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:201237

Pueuler, E A ^[1]; Clarkson, J R; Mazzera, D M ^[2]; Cura, J K; Menzie, C A ^[3]; Morrisey, D ^[4]; Sarmiento, R ^[5]

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1. Montgomery Watson, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA (United States)
2. Montgomery Watson, Inc., Walnut Creek, CA (United States)
3. Menzie and Associates, Chelmford, MA (United States)
4. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, NE (United States)
5. Montgomery Watson, Inc., Ventura, CA (United States). Groundwater Technology, Inc.

In the US, human health and ecological risk assessments are required components of remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) efforts at Superfund sites. However, these assessments are often conducted as independent evaluations rather than being optimally integrated into the RI/FS process. The purpose of this presentation is to describe how these independent assessments can be coordinated and ultimately used together in remedial action decision-making. Part A of this presentation will provide an overview of the approach and the methods used to integrate the human health and ecological risk assessments. An RI/FS conducted at a coastal Superfund site will be used to illustrate this integrated evaluation of potential human and ecological risk. Initial investigation of soils, sediment, water, and fish tissue data at the site indicated potential for adverse effects to human health and potential ecological receptors. A multi-component field investigation was designed to allow qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the potential for adverse impacts to biota at the site. The field investigation elements were primarily focused on acquiring data to support the ecological assessment. However, additional consideration was given to the concurrent collection of data to supplement human health risk decision-making. This included analyses of fish samples analyzed for whole-body and edible portions. The results were combined with site-specific field observations on the use and activities at the site by local human and ecological populations in order to support conservative, yet realistic site-specific exposure assumptions.

• OSTI ID: 201237
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COASTAL REGIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HEALTH HAZARDS
REMEDIAL ACTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
US SUPERFUND