Performing Ecological Risk Assessments

This text compares and contrasts ecological risk assessment with human risk assessment. Topics discussed include: an introduction to environmental fate models and pharmacokinetic factors; documentation and critiques for the quantitative basis of uncertainty factors (UFs) in ecological risk assessment; a schema for deriving chemical-specific and species-specific maximum acceptable tissue concentration (MATs); a discussion about sediment quality criteria (SQC); and methods for deriving multi-comtaminant ecosystem MATs.

Performing Ecological Risk Assessments is an extensive compilation of work discussing the components of an ecological risk assessment and how it compares with a human risk assessment. Topics considered include an introduction to environmental fate models and pharmacokinetic factors, documentation and critiques for the quantitative basis of uncertainty factors (UFs) in ecological risk assessment, a schematic scheme for deriving chemical-specific and species-specific maximum acceptable tissue concentration (MATCs), a discussion about sediment quality criteria (SQC), and discussions of methods for deriving multi-contaminant ecosystem MATCs. The book is an excellent reference for environmental toxicologists and chemists, ecological risk assessors, environmental consultants, and regulatory personnel.

Ecological Risk Assessment: An Overview. Exposure Assessment. The Maximum Acceptable Tissue Concentration (MATISSUEC) Approach. Uncertainty Factor For Ecological Risk Assessment. Deriving MATCs: Chemical and Species-Specific. The Toxicity Reference Value (TRV). Sediment Quality Criteria. Chemical Specific Ecosystem MATC.Deriving Multi-Contaminant Ecosystem MATCs. Final Thoughts. References. Appendices: Resume of Vertebrate Classification. Sample Problems Using the Proposed Methodology. Aquatic Toxicology Mixtures.