Frontier ArticleFramework for Metals Risk Assessment
Section snippets
Preface
Many US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) programs are designed to develop guidelines on how to regulate metals. In this process, decisions can range from setting environmental release standards, to establishing protective levels in different environmental media, to setting priorities for programmatic or voluntary efforts. A fundamental input to the decision-making process for most EPA programs is an assessment of the potential risks to human health and the environment.
EPA's
Co-chairs
Anne Fairbrother, US EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, Corvallis, OR.
Randall Wentsel, US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
Steering committee
Stephen DeVito, US EPA, Office of Environmental Information, Washington, DC.
Alexander McBride, US EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, DC (Retired).
David Mount, US EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental
Executive summary
The Framework for Metals Risk Assessment is a science-based document that addresses the special attributes and behaviors of metals and metal compounds to be considered when assessing their human health and ecological risks. The document describes basic principles to be considered in assessing risks posed by metals and is intended to foster consistency in how these principles are applied across the Agency's programs and regions when conducting these assessments. Although the audience for the
Framework for Metals Risk Assessment
The following discussion addresses issues that are unique to inorganic metals and routinely encountered during the inorganic metals risk assessment process. Discussions of issues generic to any chemical risk assessments are kept to a minimum because these are dealt with in other framework and guidance documents (e.g., US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), 1998a, EPA, 2000a, US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), 2003a; http://www.epa.gov/ncea/ and http://www.epa.gov/ncea/raf).
This
Introduction and terminology
A general review of factors pertaining to the chemistry of metals in sediments, soils, waters, and the atmosphere is presented in this section in the context of risk assessment. Because the behavior of metals defies simple generalities, understanding the chemistry of the particular metal and the environment of concern is necessary. However, the factors that control metal chemistry and the environmental characteristics used to produce estimates of metal fate and effects can be generalized.
Human health risk assessment for metals
The National Research Council (NAS/NRC (National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council), 1983, NAS/NRC (National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council), 1994b, NAS/NRC (National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council), 1996), of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), described four phases to the human health risk assessment paradigm (hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization) and identified risk communication as a
Aquatic ecological risk assessment for metals
This section describes how to incorporate the metals risk assessment principles described in 1 Introduction, 2 Framework for Metals Risk Assessment into ecological risk assessments involving aquatic-based receptors. Specifically, the following discussion focuses on the relationship between each metal principle and components of the EPA's Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment (US EPA, 1992a) and subsequent guidelines (US EPA, 1998a). These components include problem formulation,
Terrestrial ecological risk assessment for metals
This section of the framework provides an overview of how the principles for metals risk assessment apply to ecological risk assessments for terrestrial environments. Receptors typically considered in these assessments include soil invertebrates, plants, and wildlife species. Some assessments also examine effects on microbiota and soil processes. This section of the framework builds on the information presented in Section 2 that lays out issues to be considered during problem formulation and
Disclaimer
This document has been reviewed in accordance with US Environmental Protection Agency policy. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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