Ecological risk assessment and ecological risk management: Does the risk assessment make any difference?
Conference
·
OSTI ID:211921
The process of ecological risk assessment is intended to produce a scientifically defensible position which will be the starting point for risk management decisions on the protection of the environment. Several sites, where ecological risk assessments were conducted, will be evaluated from a scientific perspective and how those assessments were taken into account for the risk management decision. A smelter and an electroplating facility will be used as illustrations of innovative interpretations of ecological risk assessments and the innovative derivation of model assumptions. For these sites, the risk assessments were approached with a combination of toxicity tests, benthic macroinvertebrate collection and evaluations and chemistry. At one site. No Observed Adverse Effect Levels were derived based on solid phase toxicity tests for five chemicals of potential concern. Chromium, cadmium, zinc, nickel, and cyanide were identified as the contaminants of concern by conducting a screening risk assessment and a study to derive a dose-response relationship among the chemicals. The resulting acute and chronic toxicity test results derived chemical specific goals for each of the chemicals. After the completion of the risk assessment, the negotiation of the remedial cleanup goals for the Record of Decision (ROD) is discussed. Some chemicals of concern were ignored others took on a new meaning and other policy considerations were taken into effect. The resultant management decision as noted in the ROD is the integration of all these inputs. For the other site, two chemicals of concern were noted and a triad approach was employed where benthic macroinvertebrate community structure was evaluated, solid phase toxicity tests were employed and chemistry was conducted.
- OSTI ID:
- 211921
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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