Ecological Effects Assessment

Ecological Effects Assessment

The ecological effects assessment provides a description of the potential

ecological effects associated with a contaminant of concern and selects a toxicity

factor or factors (i.e., environmental concentration, dose, body burden, or dietary

concentration associated with a particular effect). Figure 8 shows the general

method for selecting and developing toxicity factors. Ultimately, the risk assessment

will compare the toxicity factor developed in the ecological effects assessment to the

predicted environmental concentration, dose, body burden, or dietary concentration

from the exposure assessment to predict risk. The effects assessment proceeds in the

following:

a. Identifying information sources.

b. Summarizing toxicological data.

c. Selecting and developing toxicity factors.

Step 1: Identify information sources

The first step in the effects assessment is to identify the data sources which may

provide information on ecological effects and toxicity factors. The risk assessor

should not rely on previously summarized information. It is important to update the

ecological effects assessment for each COC within the risk assessment because the

scientific literature is constantly adding to the database.

The effects assessment obtains such updated information from the technical

literature and updates to USACE technical resources, USEPA and state guidance,

and reports and publications of USEPA's Office of Research and Development.

Appendix C summarizes a wide variety of information sources and WEB sites

which provide information on toxicity of contaminants.

EPA's AQUIRE database should always be consulted as a primary source of

toxicological information. On-line databases include: Bios Previews; Life Sciences

Collection; Zoological Record Online; Enviroline; Pollution Abstracts; Oceanic

Abstracts; and CAB Abstracts. Also, the TOXNET (TOXicological NETwork) and

IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System) databases can be accessed via the

National Library of Medicine's MEDLARS system. The U.S. Army Engineer

Waterways Experiment Station's WEB page provides an Environmental Residue

Effects Database.

The effects assessment should clearly identify the information sources consulted

in its attempt to identify the known ecological effects associated with the COCs.

Chapter 3 Ecological Exposure Assessment