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Sample BE, Johnson MS, Hull RN, Kapustka L, Landis WG, Murphy CA, Sorensen M, Mann G, Gust KA, Mayfield DB, Ludwigs JD, Munns WR. Key challenges and developments in wildlife ecological risk assessment: Problem formulation. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2024; 20:658-673. [PMID: 36325881 PMCID: PMC10656671 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Problem formulation (PF) is a critical initial step in planning risk assessments for chemical exposures to wildlife, used either explicitly or implicitly in various jurisdictions to include registration of new pesticides, evaluation of new and existing chemicals released to the environment, and characterization of impact when chemical releases have occurred. Despite improvements in our understanding of the environment, ecology, and biological sciences, few risk assessments have used this information to enhance their value and predictive capabilities. In addition to advances in organism-level mechanisms and methods, there have been substantive developments that focus on population- and systems-level processes. Although most of the advances have been recognized as being state-of-the-science for two decades or more, there is scant evidence that they have been incorporated into wildlife risk assessment or risk assessment in general. In this article, we identify opportunities to consider elevating the relevance of wildlife risk assessments by focusing on elements of the PF stage of risk assessment, especially in the construction of conceptual models and selection of assessment endpoints that target population- and system-level endpoints. Doing so will remain consistent with four established steps of existing guidance: (1) establish clear protection goals early in the process; (2) consider how data collection using new methods will affect decisions, given all possibilities, and develop a decision plan a priori; (3) engage all relevant stakeholders in creating a robust, holistic conceptual model that incorporates plausible stressors that could affect the targets defined in the protection goals; and (4) embrace the need for iteration throughout the PF steps (recognizing that multiple passes may be required before agreeing on a feasible plan for the rest of the risk assessment). Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:658-673. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark S. Johnson
- US Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
| | - Ruth N. Hull
- Gary D. Williams & Associates Inc., Campbellville, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Gary Mann
- Azimuth Consulting Group Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kurt A. Gust
- Research Development and Engineering Center, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, MS, Vicksburg, USA
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Brock TCM, Elliott KC, Gladbach A, Moermond C, Romeis J, Seiler T, Solomon K, Peter Dohmen G. Open Science in regulatory environmental risk assessment. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 17:1229-1242. [PMID: 33913617 PMCID: PMC8596791 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
A possible way to alleviate the public skepticism toward regulatory science is to increase transparency by making all data and value judgments used in regulatory decision making accessible for public interpretation, ideally early on in the process, and following the concepts of Open Science. This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges in strengthening Open Science initiatives in regulatory environmental risk assessment (ERA). In this discussion paper, we argue that the benefits associated with Open Science in regulatory ERA far outweigh its perceived risks. All stakeholders involved in regulatory ERA (e.g., governmental regulatory authorities, private sector, academia, and nongovernmental organizations), as well as professional organizations like the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, can play a key role in supporting the Open Science initiative, by promoting the use of recommended reporting criteria for reliability and relevance of data and tools used in ERA, and by developing a communication strategy for both professionals and nonprofessionals to transparently explain the socioeconomic value judgments and scientific principles underlying regulatory ERA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:1229-1242. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin C. Elliott
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeLyman Briggs College Department of PhilosophyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
- Department of PhilosophyLyman Briggs CollegeMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | | | - Caroline Moermond
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)UtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jörg Romeis
- Research Division Agroecology and EnvironmentAgroscopeZurichSwitzerland
| | - Thomas‐Benjamin Seiler
- Hygiene‐Institut des RuhrgebietsGelsenkirchenGermany
- Institute for Environmental ResearchRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
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Singh S, Malhotra S, Mukherjee P, Mishra R, Farooqi F, Sharma RS, Mishra V. Peroxidases from an invasive Mesquite species for management and restoration of fertility of phenolic-contaminated soil. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 256:109908. [PMID: 31822458 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Phenolics drive the global economy, but they also pose threats to soil health and plant growth. Enzymes like peroxidase have the potential to remove the phenolic contaminants from the wastewater; however, their role in restoring soil health and improving plant growth has not yet been ascertained. We fractionated efficient peroxidases (MPx) from leaves of an invasive species of Mesquite, Prosopis juliflora, and demonstrated its superiority over horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in remediating phenol, 3-chlorophenol (3-CP), and a mixture of chlorophenols (CP-M), from contaminated soil. MPx removes phenolics over a broader range of pH (2.0-9.0) as compared with HRP (pH: 7.0-8.0). In soil, replacing H2O2 with CaO2 further increases the phenolic removal efficiency of MPx (≥90% of phenol, ≥ 70% of 3-CP, and ≥90% of CP-M). MPx maintains ~4-fold higher phenolic removal efficiency than purified HRP even in soils with extremely high contaminant concentration (2 g phenolics/kg of soil), which is desirable for environmental applications of enzymes for remediation. MPx treatment restores soil biological processes as evident by key enzymes of soil fertility viz. Acid- and alkaline-phosphatases, urease, and soil dehydrogenase, and improves potential biochemical fertility index of soil contaminated with phenolics. MPx treatment also assists the Vigna mungo test plant to overcome toxicant stress and grow healthy in contaminated soils. Optimization of MPx for application in the field environment would help both in the restoration of phenolic-contaminated soils and the management of invasive Mesquite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savita Singh
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Sarthak Malhotra
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Paromita Mukherjee
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Ruchi Mishra
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Furqan Farooqi
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Radhey Shyam Sharma
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
| | - Vandana Mishra
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
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Devos Y, Munns WR, Forbes VE, Maltby L, Stenseke M, Brussaard L, Streissl F, Hardy A. Applying ecosystem services for pre-market environmental risk assessments of regulated stressors. EFSA J 2019; 17:e170705. [PMID: 32626442 PMCID: PMC7015505 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.e170705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem services (ES) are the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems. Investigating the environment through an ES framework has gained wide acceptance in the international scientific community and is applied by policymakers to protect biodiversity and safeguard the sustainability of ecosystems. This approach can enhance the ecological and societal relevance of pre‐market/prospective environmental risk assessments (ERAs) of regulated stressors by: (1) informing the derivation of operational protection goals; (2) enabling the integration of environmental and human health risk assessments; (3) facilitating horizontal integration of policies and regulations; (4) leading to more comprehensive and consistent environmental protection; (5) articulating the utility of, and trade‐offs involved in, environmental decisions; and (6) enhancing the transparency of risk assessment results and the decisions based upon them. Realisation of these advantages will require challenges that impede acceptance of an ES approach to be overcome. Particularly, there is concern that, if biodiversity only matters to the extent that it benefits humans, the intrinsic value of nature is ignored. Moreover, our understanding of linkages among ecological components and the processes that ultimately deliver ES is incomplete, valuing ES is complex, and there is no standard ES lexicon and limited familiarity with the approach. To help overcome these challenges, we encourage: (1) further research to establish biodiversity–ES relationships; (2) the development of approaches that (i) quantitatively translate responses to chemical stressors by organisms and groups of organisms to ES delivery across different spatial and temporal scales, (ii) measure cultural ES and ease their integration into ES valuations, and (iii) appropriately value changes in ES delivery so that trade‐offs among different management options can be assessed; (3) the establishment of a standard ES lexicon; and (4) building capacity in ES science and how to apply ES to ERAs. These development needs should not prevent movement towards implementation of an ES approach in ERAs, as the advantages we perceive of using this approach render it more than worthwhile to tackle those challenges. Society and the environment stand to benefit from this shift in how we conduct the ERA of regulated stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Devos
- GMO Unit European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Italy
| | - Wayne R Munns
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) United States of America
| | - Valery E Forbes
- College of Biological Sciences University of Minnesota United States of America
| | - Lorraine Maltby
- Department of Animal and Plant Science University of Sheffield United Kingdom
| | - Marie Stenseke
- Unit for Human Geography Department of Economy and Society School of Economics Business and Law University of Gothenburg Sweden
| | | | - Franz Streissl
- Pesticides Unit European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Italy
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Faber JH, Marshall S, Van den Brink PJ, Maltby L. Priorities and opportunities in the application of the ecosystem services concept in risk assessment for chemicals in the environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 651:1067-1077. [PMID: 30266052 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The ecosystem services approach has gained broad interest in regulatory and policy circles for use in ecological risk assessment. Whilst identifying several challenges, scientific experts from European regulatory authorities, the chemical industry and academia considered the approach applicable to all chemical sectors and potentially contributing to greater ecological relevance for setting and assessing environmental protection goals compared to current European regulatory frameworks for chemicals. These challenges were addressed in workshops to develop a common understanding across stakeholders on how the ecosystem services concept might be used in chemical risk assessment and what would need to be done to implement it. This paper describes the consensus outcome of those discussions. Knowledge gaps and research needs were identified and prioritised, exploring the use of novel approaches from ecology, ecotoxicology and ecological modelling. Where applicable, distinction is made between prospective and retrospective ecological risk assessment. For prospective risk assessment the development of environmental scenarios accounting for chemical exposure and ecological conditions was designated as a top priority. For retrospective risk assessment the top priority research need was development of reference conditions for key ecosystem services and guidance for their derivation. Both prospective and retrospective risk assessment would benefit from guidance on the taxa and measurement endpoints relevant to specific ecosystem services and from improved understanding of the relationships between measurement endpoints from standard toxicity tests and the ecosystem services of interest (i.e. assessment endpoints). The development of mechanistic models, which could serve as ecological production functions, was identified as a priority. A conceptual framework for future chemical risk assessment based on an ecosystem services approach is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack H Faber
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Stuart Marshall
- Unilever, Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Paul J Van den Brink
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lorraine Maltby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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Rea AW, Munns WR. The value of nature: Economic, intrinsic, or both? INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2017; 13:953-955. [PMID: 28834367 PMCID: PMC5790155 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne W Rea
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Wayne R Munns
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, Rhode Island
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Doorn N. Do ecosystems have ethical rights? INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2017; 13:952-953. [PMID: 28834370 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
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Chapman PM. The environmental trade-offs of human existence: Opening eyes wide shut. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2017; 13:547-548. [PMID: 28440927 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Chapman
- Chapema Environmental Strategies Ltd., North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Calow P. The importance of money as a common currency in ecosystem service valuation-A comment on the Roskilde Workshop recommendations for risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2017; 36:866. [PMID: 28370290 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Calow
- Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
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Chapman PM, Selck H, Doorn N, Munns WR. Ecosystem services deserve better than "dirty paper". ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2017; 36:867-868. [PMID: 28370294 PMCID: PMC6132052 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- PM Chapman
- Chapema Environmental Strategies Ltd, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - H Selck
- Roskilde University, Denmark
| | - N Doorn
- Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
| | - WR Munns
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
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Syberg K, Backhaus T, Banta G, Bruce P, Gustavsson M, Munns WR, Rämö R, Selck H, Gunnarsson JS. Toward a conceptual approach for assessing risks from chemical mixtures and other stressors to coastal ecosystem services. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2017; 13:376-386. [PMID: 27662428 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Growth of human populations and increased human activity, particularly in coastal areas, increase pressure on coastal ecosystems and the ecosystem services (ES) they provide. As a means toward being able to assess the impact of multiple stressors on ES, in the present study we propose an 8-step conceptual approach for assessing effects of chemical mixtures and other stressors on ES in coastal areas: step A, identify the relevant problems and policy aims; step B, identify temporal and spatial boundaries; step C, identify relevant ES; step D, identify relevant stressors (e.g., chemicals); step E, translate impacts into ES units; step F, assess cumulative risk in ES units; step G, rank stressors based on their contribution to adverse effects on ES; and step H, implement regulation and management as appropriate and necessary. Two illustrative case studies (Swedish coastal waters and a coastal lagoon in Costa Rica) are provided; one focuses on chemicals that affect human food supply and the other addresses pesticide runoff and trade-offs among ES. The 2 cases are used to highlight challenges of such risk assessments, including use of standardized versus ES-relevant test species, data completeness, and trade-offs among ES. Lessons learned from the 2 case studies are discussed in relation to environmental risk assessment and management of chemical mixtures. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:376-386. © 2016 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Syberg
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas Backhaus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gary Banta
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Peter Bruce
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikael Gustavsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Wayne R Munns
- Atlantic Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, Rhode Island
| | - Robert Rämö
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henriette Selck
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jonas S Gunnarsson
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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