Standard Guide for Selecting and Using Ecological Endpoints for Contaminated Sites

Importancia y uso:

4.1 This guide assumes that a decision has been made that an ecological risk assessment is required for a contaminated site. In some cases, this decision could be made before any site data are collected. See Fig. 1.

FIG. 1 Conceptual Relationships between Assessment Endpoints, Measurement Endpoints and Lines of Evidence (Source: Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance, Government of Canada, March 2012)

4.2 The selection of assessment endpoints (defined as ecological values to be protected) and measurement endpoints (ecological characteristics related to the assessment endpoints) is a critical step in conducting an ecological risk assessment. Endpoint selection identifies those effects which are ecologically significant and not merely those that are adverse, thus providing a more rational and defensible basis for making risk and remedial decisions.

4.3 This guide provides an approach for identifying, selecting and using assessment and measurement endpoints in an ecological risk assessment for a contaminated site. This guide has been developed because there is no universal, simple measure of ecological health analogous to measures used in human health risk assessment. Assessment and measurement endpoints have to be identified and selected from a variety of individual circumstances on a stressor-, ecosystem- and scale-specific basis. It is important to recognize that a diverse set of ecological endpoints could be required for a specific site. EPA/100/F15/005 Generic Ecological Assessment Endpoints (GEAEs) For Ecological Risk Assessment: Second Edition With Generic Ecosystem Services Endpoints Added. July 2016)

4.4 This guide is intended to be used primarily by a biologist, ecologist, ecotoxicologist, or a team of environmental scientists during problem formulation and work plan development prior to initiating data collection activities at a contaminated site (3-8, 10).

4.5 Ecological risk assessment is usually an iterative process. In many circumstances it proceeds as a series of tiers, that is, desktop/screening, preliminary, and detailed/focused phases. This guide can be used to refine or modify assessment and measurement endpoints developed in earlier phases of the process.

4.6 This guide can be used whenever assessment and measurement endpoints must be identified and selected following an initial or preliminary problem formulation/planning phase:

4.6.1 Analysis phase (exposure assessment, hazard/effects assessment, stress/dose-response assessment;

4.6.2 Risk characterization phase; or

4.6.3 Remediation phase and possible subsequent ecological monitoring.

4.7 This guide is intended to be used in the evaluation of baseline conditions (current and future) and in the evaluation of conditions resulting from remedial actions or corrective measures.

Subcomité:

E50.04

Referida por:

E2385-11R16, E2020-22, E2091-24, E2205_E2205M-22, E3240-20, E3155-19

Volúmen:

11.05

Número ICS:

13.020.40 (Pollution, pollution control and conservation)

Palabras clave:

assessment endpoint; measurement endpoint ;