Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 

About: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment is an academic journal published by Taylor & Francis. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Risk assessment & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 1080-7039. Over the lifetime, 2770 publications have been published receiving 57724 citations. The journal is also known as: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment.

An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management

Abstract: Despite a changing world in terms of data sharing, availability, and transparency, there are still major resource issues associated with collating datasets that will satisfy the requirements of comprehensive pesticide risk assessments, especially those undertaken at a regional or national scale. In 1996, a long-term project was initiated to begin collating and formatting pesticide data to eventually create a free-to-all repository of data that would provide a comprehensive transparent, harmonized, and managed extensive dataset for all types of pesticide risk assessments. Over the last 20 years, this database has been keeping pace with improving risk assessments, their associated data requirements, and the needs and expectations of database end users. In 2007, the Pesticide Properties DataBase (PPDB) was launched as a free-to-access website. Currently, the PPDB holds data for almost 2300 pesticide active substances and over 700 metabolites. For each substance around 300 parameters are stored, cover...

Health Effects of Toxin-Producing Cyanobacteria: “The CyanoHABs”

Abstract: Increasingly, harmful algal blooms (HABs) are being reported worldwide due to several factors, primarily eutrophication, climate change and more scientific monitoring. All but cyanobacteria toxin poisonings (CTPs) are mainly a marine occurrence. CTPs occur in fresh (lakes, ponds, rivers and reservoirs) and brackish (seas, estuaries, and lakes) waters throughout the world. Organisms responsible include an estimated 40 genera but the main ones are Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Cylindrospermopsis, Lyngbya, Microcystis, Nostoc, and Oscillatoria (Planktothrix). Cyanobacteria toxins (cyanotoxins) include cytotoxins and biotoxins with biotoxins being responsible for acute lethal, acute, chronic and sub-chronic poisonings of wild/domestic animals and humans. The biotoxins include the neurotoxins; ana-toxin-a, anatoxin-a(s) and saxitoxins plus the hepatotoxins; microcystins, nodularins and cylindrospermopsins. Confirmations of human deaths from cyanotoxins are limited to exposure through renal dialysis at a haemodialys...

Recommended Uses of Empirically Derived, Sediment Quality Guidelines for Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems

Abstract: Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), based upon empirical analyses of matching chemical and biological data, have been developed for many potentially toxic substances. The predictive abilities and recommended applications of two sets of guidelines, ERLs/ERMs and TELs/PELs, are discussed in this paper. The SQGs were intended as informal (i.e., non-regulatory) benchmarks to aid in the interpretation of chemical data. Low-range values (i.e., ERLs or TELs) were intended as concentrations below which adverse effects upon sediment-dwelling fauna would be expected only infrequently. In contrast, the ERMs and PELs represent chemical concentrations above which adverse effects are likely to occur. Evaluations of the reliability and predictive ability of the SQGs indicate they can be used effectively to assess the quality of soft, aqueous, sedimentary deposits. Specifically, the SQGs can be used to classify sediment samples with regard to their potential for toxicity, to identify contaminants of concern, and to prior...

Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective

Abstract: The technology to recover natural gas depends on undisclosed types and amounts of toxic chemicals. A list of 944 products containing 632 chemicals used during natural gas operations was compiled. Literature searches were conducted to determine potential health effects of the 353 chemicals identified by Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers. More than 75% of the chemicals could affect the skin, eyes, and other sensory organs, and the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Approximately 40–50% could affect the brain/nervous system, immune and cardiovascular systems, and the kidneys; 37% could affect the endocrine system; and 25% could cause cancer and mutations. These results indicate that many chemicals used during the fracturing and drilling stages of gas operations may have long-term health effects that are not immediately expressed. In addition, an example was provided of waste evaporation pit residuals that contained numerous chemicals on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensa...

Dimensions of the Precautionary Principle

Abstract: This essay attempts to provide an analytical apparatus which may be used for finding an authoritative formulation1 of the Precautionary Principle. Several formulations of the Precautionary Principle are examined. Four dimensions of the principle are identified: (1) the threat dimension, (2) the uncertainty dimension, (3) the action dimension, and (4) the command dimension. It is argued that the Precautionary Principle can be recast into the following if-clause, containing these four dimensions: “If there is (1) a threat, which is (2) uncertain, then (3) some kind of action (4) is mandatory.” The phrases expressing these dimensions may vary in (a) precision and (b) strength. It is shown that it is the dimension containing the weakest phrase that determines the strength of the entire principle. It is suggested that the four-dimensional if-clause be used as an analytical apparatus in negotiations of the Precautionary Principle.