Superfund Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center (ERASC)

Objective/Intended Use

The ERASC was founded as a means for the U.S.EPA's Office of Research and Development to provide technical information concerning ecological risk assessment of contaminated sites to the U.S.EPA's regions and Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. The information is provided in the form of white papers or tutorials addressing topics identified by the users through their Ecological Risk Assessment Forum. The ERASC's products are used to assure the technical quality and uniformity of ecological risk assessments performed under Superfund. They also serve to identify data gaps and information needs which may be filled by future research.

Abstract

Topics/requests currently being addressed include:

• Does dredging result in increased environmental risks to aquatic receptors?
• What are the mechanisms that may transport hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) to groundwater and downgradient media, and how will these mechanisms affect exposures, bioaccumulation and toxic effects on ecological receptors?
• How can we develop a remediation goal for mercury in sediment when the concentration of mercury in sediment may be a poor predictor of mercury exposure to biota?
• What is the approach for evaluating the ecological risk to invertebrate receptors from PAHs in sediments at hazardous waste sites?
• What is the approach for evaluating ecological risks to invertebrate receptors from PAHs in soils? (Application of equilibrium partitioning theory to soil PAH contamination)
• What is the most appropriate method to estimate the Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) from paired observations of chemical concentrations in biota and sediment?
• Which of the many sequential extraction procedures (SEP) are best at providing estimates of bioavailability?
• What is a scientifically defensible definition for the depth of the biotic zone in soils and sediments?

Evaluate the effectiveness and utility of the European Plant Protection Organization Protocol for estimating the degree of exposure to contaminants in soil to songbirds

Project Status

Response to Request #2 is undergoing final programmatic review. Responses to Requests #1 and #6 are being revised in accordance with review comments. Response to Request #9 is underway. Annual report describing the major activities and emerging issues addressed was distributed to OSWER in February 2003.

Project Start Date

10/01/2002

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