Risk Assessment in Environmental Management: A Guide for Managing Chemical Contamination Problems

Environmental contamination issues are a complex problem with worldwide implications. Risks to both human and ecological health as a result of toxic materials present or introduced into the environment are a matter of grave concern to modern society. The effective management of environmental contamination problems has therefore become an important environmental priority that will remain a growing social challenge for years to come. Risk assessment promises a way for developing appropriate strategies to aid environmental management decisions in this arena. Risk assessment is a tool used to organize structure, and compile scientific information in order to help identify existing hazardous situations or problems, anticipate potential problems, establish priorities, and provide a basis for regulatory controls and/or corrective actions. This book attempts to provide a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the many facets/aspects relating to chemical risk assessments. It presents some very important tools and methodologies that can be used to help resolve environmental contamination problems in a consistent, efficient and cost–effective way. Overall the book represents a collection and synthesis of the principal elements of the risk assessment process that pertain to environmental contamination problems. It offers an understanding of the scientific basis of risk assessment and its applications in the environmental industry — including a portrayal of how the risk assessment process fits into regulatory policies. The subject matter of this book can indeed be used to aid the resolution of a variety of environmental management problems.

Spis treści:
A GENERAL OVERVIEW.
The Nature of Environmental Contamination Problems.
Characterization of Environmental Contamination Problems.
Legislative–Regulatory Control Needs for the Management of Environmental Contamination Problems.
PRINCIPLES OF RISK ASSESSMENT.
Fundamentals of Hazard , Exposure, and Risk Assessment.
The Risk Assessment Process.
Basic Concepts in Risk Assessment Practice.
PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF A RISK ASSESSMENT.
Determination of Contaminant Fate and Behavior in the Environment.
Hazard Identification, Data Collection, and Data Evaluation.
Design of Conceptual Models and Exposure Analysis.
The Toxicology of Environmental Contaminants and Hazard Effects Determination.
Risk Characterization and Uncertainty Analysis.
RISK ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES AND METHODS OF APPROACH.
Human Health Risk Assessments.
Ecological Risk Assessments.
Probabilistic Risk Assessments.
DETERMINATION OF ACCEPTABLE RISK–BASED LIMITS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS.
General Protocols for Establishing Acceptable Chemical Concentrations and Environmental Quality Criteria.
Development of Risk–Based Remediation Goals.
THE ROLE OF RISK ASSESSMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DECISIONS.
Illustrative Examples of Risk Assessment Practice.
Design of Risk Management Programs.
Risk Assessment Applications to Environmental Management Problems.
APPENDICES.
Index.

Okładka tylna:
Environmental contamination issues are a complex problem with worldwide implications. Risks to both human and ecological health as a result of toxic materials present or introduced into the environment are a matter of grave concern to modern society. The effective management of environmental contamination problems has therefore become an important environmental priority that will remain a growing social challenge for years to come. Risk assessment promises a way for developing appropriate strategies to aid environmental management decisions in this arena. Risk assessment is a tool used to organize structure, and compile scientific information in order to help identify existing hazardous situations or problems, anticipate potential problems, establish priorities, and provide a basis for regulatory controls and/or corrective actions. This book attempts to provide a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the many facets/aspects relating to chemical risk assessments. It presents some very important tools and methodologies that can be used to help resolve environmental contamination problems in a consistent, efficient and cost–effective way. Overall the book represents a collection and synthesis of the principal elements of the risk assessment process that pertain to environmental contamination problems. It offers an understanding of the scientific basis of risk assessment and its applications in the environmental industry — including a portrayal of how the risk assessment process fits into regulatory policies. The subject matter of this book can indeed be used to aid the resolution of a variety of environmental management problems.