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Ecological Risk Assessment Training
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resourceHuman and Ecological Risk Assessment

The left column below lists some attributes of human health risk assessments.

To get a sense of some of the contrasts between the two, consider the corresponding statements about ecological risk assessment on the right.

Human Health Risk Assessment
Ecological Risk Assessment
Involves one organism... that is well understood. Involves multiple organisms... that are unevenly understood.
Human health is viewed as very important... because people care about people. Ecosystems are not necessarily viewed to be very important... because some care less about other organisms.
The phrase "to protect human health" is clearly understood. The phrase "to protect the environment" is vague.
People agree what to protect (i.e., people)… and what effects to avoid or prevent. People have many views about which ecological entities are most important to protect. Not everyone agrees on what is good or bad for the environment.

Relevant guidelines section(s): 1.0


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