Risk Assessment & Environmental Manangement

Question 1

Water Quality Standards/WQS (USA & EU Standards) based on??

Answer 1

Based on single-species toxicity tests and total pollutant concentration

Question 2

Limitations to WQS?

Answer 2

Don’t consider exposure risk or biologically available pollutant fractions

Lack of an ecological approach accounting for biodiversity or site-specific conditions

Question 3

Three Main Steps in Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA)

Answer 3

1- Problem formulation
2- Analysis
3- Risk Characterization

Question 4

What is Problem Formulation in ERA (Environmental Risk Assessment)?

Answer 4

Identify ecosystems at risk

Endpoints for evaluation

Develop a conceptual model

Question 5

What is the Analysis in ERA (Environmental Risk Assessment)?

Answer 5

Characterize pollutant exposure and ecological effects using probalistic methods

Laboratory or field data

Question 6

What is Risk Characterization in ERA (Environmental Risk Assessment)?

Answer 6

Compare sensitivity distributions with pollutant exposure

Consider uncertainties

Assess ecological relevance

Question 7

Assessment Endpoints in ERA (Environmental Risk Assessment)?

Answer 7

-Phytoplankton productivity
-Macrophyte community sustainability
-Fish Population Viability