ASTM E2020-22

1.1 An ecological-risk assessment (ERA) is a process for organizing and analyzing data, information, assumptions, and uncertainties to evaluate the likelihood that adverse ecological effects might occur or are occurring as a result of a stressor. This guide is intended to assist remedial project teams, specifically ecological risk assessors, in identifying data and information options that may be used to perform a screening or complex ecological risk assessment (ERA) at a contaminated site.

1.2 The identification of data and information options for human health risk assessment is outside the scope of this guide.

1.3 This guide is intended to provide a list for identifying data and information options and does not recommend a specific course of action for ERA activities.

1.4 This guide addresses data and information options for the ecological risk assessment, not verification or long-term monitoring studies.

1.5 This guide lists many of the common data and information options for ERA, but there may be others relevant for any particular site.

1.6 This guide considers one component of an ERA, that is, identification of data and information options. Other ASTM guides have been developed, for example, Guides E1689 and E1848, and are being developed to cover other components of the risk assessment process.

1.7 This guide does not provide information on how to perform any of the analytical procedures used to perform a risk assessment once data collection options are defined.

1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.