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This section provides a very brief introduction to ecological risk
assessment. The ideas introduced here are discussed in depth in
other modules, beginning with Module 1, Planning.
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 Ecological
risk assessment is a process for systematically evaluating
how likely it is that adverse
ecological effects may occur as a result of exposure to one
or more stressors.
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The goal of ecological risk assessment is to help understand the
relationships between stressors and ecological effects to inform
risk management decisions. These can be applied:
- Prospectively — to predict the likelihood of future adverse
effects.
- Retrospectively — to evaluate the likelihood that observed
effects are caused by past exposure to stressors.
The ecological risk assessment process can be adapted to predict
beneficial changes or risk from natural events.
Stressor and adverse
are two key words in the definition of ecological risk assessment.
Click the audio icon below if you would like to learn more about
them
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Stressors
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Adverse Effects
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Why Conduct an Ecological Risk Assessment?
Ecological risk assessment is one of many analyses that inform
risk-management decisions (others are human-health, economic, legal,
engineering, and sociological evaluations). Ecological Risk Assessments
help risk managers determine which course of action to take for
ecosystems that have been, or could be, exposed to stressors. At
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ecological risk
assessments are used for many types of management actions, including
the regulation of hazardous waste sites, industrial chemicals, and
pesticides. EPA has developed guidelines for performing ecological
risk assessments; this course is based on those guidelines. Click
the In-Depth icon below for information about the Guidelines.
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EPA's Guidelines
for Ecological Assessment
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You may be familiar with human health risk assessment — there
are some key differences between human-health and ecological risk
assessment. Click the Activity icon below to learn more.
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Human and Ecological
Risk Assessment
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Click Next, below, to move to a screen that introduces the basic
phases of the risk assessment process.
Relevant
guidelines section(s): 1.0
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