Using Reproductuve and Developmental Effects Data in Ecological Risk Assessments211 for Oviparous Vertebrates Exposed To Contaminants

摘要

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) is a tool often used to support risk-based211u001edecision-making. An essential step in the process of applying reproductive and 211u001edevelopmental effects data within a risk assessment context is developing an 211u001eunderstanding of how the information is relevant to the risk-based policy 211u001equestion at hand. This chapter addresses how reproductive and development effects 211u001edata from studies of contaminants can be used by ERA. The authors also discuss 211u001ehow a number of important policy, technical, and procedural topics are addressed 211u001ein the course of framing and implementing the risk assessment. One of the 211u001eauthors' objectives is to determine if the current ERA paradigm needs 211u001emodifications to address unique risks of contaminants to oviparous vertebrates. A 211u001esecondary objective is to provide information on ERA procedures to toxicologists, 211u001ephysiologists, ecologists, chemists, and modelers who are knowledgeable about 211u001eoviparous vertebrates, illuminating how the results of their disciplines may be 211u001eused in this area.