Environmental Risk Assessment A Toxicological Approach

The purpose of risk assessment is to support science-based decisions about how to solve complex societal problems. The problems we face in the twenty-first century have many social, political, and technical complexities. Environmental risk assessment in particular is of increasing importance as a means of seeking to address the potential effects of chemicals in the environment in both the developed and developing world. Environmental Risk Assessment: A Toxicological Approach examines various aspects of problem formulation, exposure, toxicity, and risk characterization that apply to both human health and ecological risk assessment. The book is aimed at the next generation of risk assessors and students who need to know more about developing, conducting, and interpreting risk assessments. It delivers a comprehensive view of the field, complete with sufficient background to enable readers to probe for themselves the science underlying the key issues in environmental risk. Written in an engaging and lively style by a highly experienced risk assessment practitioner, the text: Introduces the science of risk assessment—past, present, and future Covers problem formation and the development of exposure factors Explains how human epidemiology and animal testing data are used to determine toxicity criteria Provides environmental sampling data for conducting practice risk assessments Examines the use of in vitro and ‘omics methods for toxicity testing Describes the political and social aspects of science-based decisions in the twenty-first century Includes fully worked examples, case studies, discussion questions, and links to legislative hearings Readers of this volume will not only learn how to execute site-specific human health and ecological risk assessments but also gain a greater understanding of how science is used in deciding environmental regulations.

Introduction Risk Assessment Paradigm from the 1983 Redbook-"Risk Assessment in the Federal Government: Managing the Process" Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part A 1989 The Interface of Risk Assessment and Risk Management History of Risk Assessment in the US from 1990 to 2010 Risk Communication and Stakeholder Participation Risk Assessment Policy and the Role of Science How Risk is Perceived and Expressed Actuarial Risk Predicted Risk Perceived Risk Risk Estimates for Regulation Uncertainty in Risk Estimates Uncertainty in Risk Management and the Precautionary Principle Human Health Exposure Assessment What are Receptors? How are Receptors Exposed to Environmental Stressors? Human Exposure Assessment Assessing Exposure Factors and Data Issues to Be Considered When Performing an Exposure Assessment The Concentration Term Fate and Transport Models Accounting For Uncertainty In Exposure Factors Toxicity Assessment for Human Health Risk Assessment Mode of Action and General Aspects of Toxicity Homeostasis and Thresholds Historical Perspective on Toxicity Testing Timescale and Nature of Adverse Effects Dose-Response Assessment Low Dose Extrapolation-Two Types of Toxicity Factors Computational Methods in Toxicity Assessment Mixtures Accounting For Uncertainty in Toxicity Factors Toxicity Factors for Regulation Risk Characterization Hazard Quotient for Threshold Effects Risk Estimation for Non-Threshold Effects Cumulative and Aggregate Risk The Possibility of Compounding Conservatism in Both Exposure and Toxicity The Precautionary Principle Utility of Risk Characterization for Decision Making Ecological Risk Assessment Statutory Aspects of ERA at EPA and the Role of Natural Resource Trustees ERA Under REACH Ecological Risk Assessment as Practiced By EPA Methodology for ERA under REACH Science Policy of ERA The Future of Risk Assessment In Vitro Testing and ‘Omics-Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment Recommendations for Improving IRIS in the 2011 NAS Review of the Formaldehyde Risk Assessment Possible Future Scenarios for Risk Assessment: Scientific, Social and Political Factors in Societal Decision Making Appendix A: Useful Methods and Algorithms for Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA)

Ted Simon, DABT earned advanced degrees in biology, including a Ph.D from Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA. After college, he held post-doctoral and teaching positions before serving as senior toxicologist in the Waste Management Division at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. His critically successful novel, A Lost Gun, was published under the nom de plume Wix Simon. He is currently working on another crime novel featuring an environmental poisoning situation inspired by his twelve years at the EPA. He also provides toxicology consulting and scientific support as principal/owner of Ted Simon LLC, Winston, Georgia, USA.