Integration of human health and ecological risk-assessments in the RI/FS process. Part B: Lessons learned

In the US, human health and ecological risk assessments are required components of remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) efforts at Superfund sites. However, these assessments are often conducted as independent evaluations rather than being optimally integrated into the RI/FS process. The purpose of this presentation is to describe how these independent assessments can be coordinated and ultimately used together in remedial action decision-making. Part B of this presentation will provide a summary of findings for the baseline human health and ecological risk assessments performed during an RT/FS at a coastal Superfund site. A discussion of the lessons learned in integrating human health and ecological assessments in remedial decision-making will also be presented. These lessons are as follows: reduced costs, better risk communication, improved final product, and optimized focus for remediation efforts. More specifically, coordinated data collection efforts can be useful in both the human and ecological risk evaluations and can reduce field investigation and laboratory costs. Time spent by risk assessment team-members gathering field data can result in greater familiarity with site physical conditions and site usage by human and ecological receptors. This familiarity can improve human and ecological exposure analyses are subsequent risk characterization. Such first hand site knowledge alsomore » provides a firm basis for risk communication efforts. Ultimately, site-related uncertainties can be reduced, thus improving the final product and better focusing remediation efforts.« less