US Environmental Protection Agency - Assignment Example

? US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY: RISK ASSESSMENTS US Environmental Protection Agency: Risk Assessments Baseline Risk Assessment Definition – A kind of assessment by which the effects of different kinds of environmental stressors to the environment or in human settlements without proper interventions or other prevention and control methods are analyzed. Such standards are created to record the effects of such hazards to people or the environment, and these records are used to determine if additional actions are needed or not, to change or modify previous methods as established by preliminary studies, and to check whether or not newly-designed risk-prevention methods are indeed capable of decreasing the probability of such stressors to recur or harm the environment (US EPA, 2012a). 2. Usage - Mostly done as a preliminary method of finding out information with regards to the interaction between the environmental stressors or risk agents and the target population, communities, or sites (US EPA, 2012a). 3. How it is conducted - The EPA uses a four-step method which consists of the following: data collection and evaluation; exposure assessment; toxicity assessment; and risk characterization (US EPA, 2012a). Data collection and evaluation aims to gather as much information from the site as possible, such as collecting samples and identifying the presence of stressors such as chemicals in the surroundings. After sufficient data has been gathered and analyzed, exposure and toxicity assessments are done next. Exposure assessment is done in order to analyze the contaminants released, to identify the populations exposed and how these stressors reached them, as well as estimating both the concentrations and intakes using various pathways by which the stressors were able to reach the studied target areas or populations. The toxicity assessment deals with further quantitative and qualitative studies on the stressors such as performing tests that determine the toxicity levels of contaminants. Lastly, risk characterizations list the sum total possible effects of these contaminants to both the environment and the people such as the potentiality to cause chronic or acute diseases. Also, the probabilities and uncertainties of how these contaminants can reach people are summarized in order to aid future risk assessments to be done in later areas (US EPA, 2012a). 4. Comparison to other kinds of assessments – Baseline risk assessment is the most basic but generalized method of analyzing the current condition of target locations and populations. While it shares many characteristics such as the use of scientific methods in the conduct of other kinds of assessments, it is also the foundation for other kinds of analyses to be conducted in the future, especially with the larger areas of study and necessary information. There is also a greater need to incorporate as much information from the areas or sites as possible since these are the levels by which future prediction models will be based on, and will be constantly relied on in succeeding area or population analyses. Thus, in order to create accurate models and risk assessments for each site, the baseline risk assessment must be carefully and thoroughly conducted to prevent future miscalculations and assure that there is appropriate risk-management in these areas (US EPA, 2012a). Comparative Risk Assessment 1. Definition – It is a kind of assessment method wherein the ranking of various effects in importance or relevance are established into a scale which, while not exactly designed to work on a single measuring unit or scale, is quite functional in approximating the effects or consequences of such stressors based on location and population (US EPA, 2006). 2. Usage - The EPA use comparative risk assessments in a way that various risks or important points are referred to and then compared to the approximated scale so as to assist risk assessors in weighing the appropriate measures in accordance to the presence or identity of the risks involved (US EPA, 2006). Such methods may be comparable to the use of scales in determining the levels of weather phenomena or geological events. 3. How it is conducted - Comparative Risk Assessment is done through ranking, comparing, weighing, and converting these assessments into various levels in order to categorize the different kinds of risks as well as to create measures based on the severity of the possible effects of these hazards to people or to the environment (US EPA, 2006). 4. Comparison to other kinds of assessments – It is less generalized than baseline risk assessment since it mostly deals with processed data in the creation of risk categories, but still uses a relatively large amount of data. However, it is still comparatively generalized to other kinds of risk assessments since it can compass various components of each site, while in other kinds of assessments not all data pertaining to the site is necessary for the completion of the analyses (US EPA, 2006). It also has less specificity when pertaining to output, as these are mostly immeasurable through single measuring units, thus the necessity in converting the collected information into scales. Cumulative Ecological Risk Assessment 1. Definition – It is the method by which the totality of all exposures to environmental stressors called cumulative risks are calculated, and the analysis of these accumulated risks aid assessors in quantifying the combinatory effects of these risks from various agents towards the susceptible areas or populations (US EPA, 2006). It is important to note that terms used for individual or specific stressors occurring singly are not in themselves cumulative: aggregate exposure, which is the combined exposure of an individual, population or a particular area to a single stressor or agent; and aggregate risk, which is the risk that arises from this single agent or stressor. Thus, as defined by the EPA, cumulative risks are not made up of single chemicals or stressors, but rather of an unlimited amount of, kinds of, and length of exposure to these stressors, as well as the interactions and the subsequent effects (US EPA, 2006). 2. Usage - The accumulation of various risks as well as the combinations with other risk factors have significantly varied effects as compared to a single one-time risk exposure alone. The EPA uses Cumulative ecological risk assessment method to analyze the compounded effects of these risks, in addition to conducting baseline risk assessments, comparative risk assessments, among others (US EPA, 2006). 3. How it is conducted - Aside from studying the singular effects of individual risks, the cumulative effects of different kinds of risks are analyzed within a continuous timeline, as well as finding out what possible effects could happen when these risks happen in combination with others (US EPA, 2006). 4. Comparison to other kinds of assessments – The timeline for this kind of assessment may be comparable to the length of time in the conducting of baseline risk assessments, and the information that can be gathered may also be as large, however it has greater specificities as compared to comparative risk assessment since there is a greater deal of quantitative and qualitative information that may be computed using the metric system, among others (US EPA, 2006). The data gathered may also be comparable to data generated from either Human Health Risk Assessment or Ecological Risk Assessment, but has a longer timeline and focuses more on the interactions of stressors and the environment or people. Health Risk Assessment/Human Health Risk Assessment 1. Definition – Health Risk Assessment/Human Health Risk Assessment (HRA/HHRA) is mainly a process by which chemicals or other agents are tested or checked whether there is a high probability that these can have adverse effects on health (US EPA, 2012b). It answers specific questions that pertain mostly to human health risks, such as the kinds of environmental stressors that could create potential health problems to most people, the levels and time or duration at which these stressors may have significant effects or non-significant effects, whether or not such stressors are commonly present in certain kinds of environments, among others (US EPA, 2012c). 2. Usage – The conducting of HHRA is essential for the proper and hazard-free practices of stakeholders such as manufacturers, government officials, and even the common people since there is a need for a full understanding of such effects to people before embarking on certain kinds of work or goals, such as establishment of work areas, rehabilitation projects, implementation of laws or statutes, and other societal aspects that may have consequential and long-term effects on human health. It is done in order to determine the potential causes of hazards or environmental stressors on people and their surroundings, such as methods that measure the amount of chemicals in the air, water, or soil, the extent by which these stressors were able to penetrate the surroundings and affect human lives, or identifying such substances based on their chemical compositions (US EPA, 2012c). This kind of risk assessment enabled EPA to prioritize minimizing the health risks to children by designing frameworks to assess various health risks stemming from either man-made or environmental agents. 3. How it is conducted - Based on the basic four-step method in calculating risks via the baseline risk assessment method, the HHRA uses a four-step method in conducting human health risk assessments consisting of the following steps: hazard identification; dose-response assessment; exposure assessment; and risk characterization (US EPA, 2012c). Hazard identification aims to check whether stressors can potentially harm people or the environment, as well as identifying the circumstances needed in order for harm to occur. Dose-response relationship identifies the relationship between the levels of dosage and the subsequent effects of each dosage. Exposure assessment identifies factors such as frequency, timing, and levels of the contaminants or stressors upon contact. And lastly, risk characterization collates the data regarding the contaminants or stressors, and establishes the nature, extent, and risk levels of these agents from exposure. 4. Comparison to other kinds of assessments – This kind of risk assessment, like the baseline, comparative, and cumulative ecological risk assessments also uses scientific processes and other information current present in the specific areas of concern. However, it has greater focus on the preservation of human lives, leading to its greater specificity in comparison with other risk assessment types (US EPA, 2012b). Ecological Risk Assessment 1. Definition – It is the process by which the likelihood that stressors such as chemicals, land change, disease, invasive species, or climate change could greatly affect the environment and in return, its inhabitants. Problems that ERA aim mostly to address are issues such as the potential effects of creating man-made structures to the flora and fauna of certain areas, whether or not agriculture may have effects on wildlife, risks of introducing invasive species to protected areas, as well as the management of such stressors and the prevention of recurrences (US EPA, 2013). 2. Usage - The EPA also creates models by which the recurrence of such hazards in the future can be predicted, thereby avoiding the possibility of the reentry into the environment and people’s homes, which could consequently cause additional harm in the process. Whether it is for the safety of the people or the environment, the EPA creates ways by which risks can be significantly reduced, fit for the tolerance or actual safety levels for most benefactors. Aside from these, using this method or risk assessment aids the EPA in creating models by which the recurrence of such hazards in the future can be predicted, thereby avoiding the possibility of the reentry into the environment and people’s homes, which could consequently cause additional harm in the process (US EPA, 2013). 3. How it is conducted - The EPA conducts ERA by designing risk assessments to support or prevent actions such as regulation of hazardous wastes and industrial chemicals, or the management of watersheds and the prevention of contaminants such as chemical, physical or biological stressors through a three-step method that is consisted of the following steps which are also loosely founded on the basic four-step method of risk-assessment: problem formulation; analysis; and risk characterization. Problem formulation is the process in which sufficient information is gathered in determining and identifying the species at risk for agents or contaminants. Analysis is determining what plants or animals are exposed, the duration of exposure as well as contamination levels. Risk characterization is the combination of the estimation of exposures and its effects, and the description of the results and the levels of harm on both plants and animals (US EPA, 2013). 4. Comparison to other kinds of assessments – ERA utilizes nearly-similar steps in its processes such as using the scientific method during the planning and data gathering stages, which are also methods observed in the previous kinds of risk assessments mentioned. However, in contrast with baseline, comparative, and cumulative ecological risk assessment, it has a narrower scope which mostly focuses on the environment and its wildlife inhabitants (US EPA, 2012b). Thus ERA is much like HHRA, which has a much more specific area of concern. While having lesser steps than HHRA, ERA is just as relevant since the presence of environmental aggressors may have cumulative effects in human settlements, which could eventually cause problems such as risks to human health. References US Environmental Protection Agency. (2006, January 3). Comparative Risk Framework Methodology and Case Study. Retrieved from Environmental Assessment - US EPA: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=12465 US Environmental Protection Agency. (2012a). Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part A. Retrieved from Solid Waste and Emergency Response - US EPA: http://www.epa.gov/oswer/riskassessment/ragsa/index.htm US Environmental Protection Agency. (2012b). Basic Information. Retrieved from Risk Assessment Portal - US EPA: http://epa.gov/riskassessment/basicinformation.htm#g US Environmental Protection Agency. (2012c). Human Health Risk Assessment. Retrieved from Risk Assessment Portal - US EPA: http://www.epa.gov/risk_assessment/health-risk.htm US Environmental Protection Agency. (2013). Ecological Risk Assessment. Retrieved from Risk Assessment Portal Assessment - US EPA: http://www.epa.gov/risk_assessment/ecological-risk.htm Read More