Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Site-Specific Ecological Risk Assessment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Dealing with Contaminated Sites

Abstract

In many countries, soil quality is expressed in chemical concentrations as Soil Quality Standards to address the potential ecological risks in a first tier of an Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA). In cases where application of these standards do not provide satisfactory results, additional tools are required. In this chapter the focus is on these tools, i.e. ERA taking into account the complete mixture of contaminants and the integration of data from bioassays and field ecological observations according to a weight of evidence approach. A straightforward Triad framework, combining three lines of evidence, was introduced in the Netherlands in 2007 and is presented here.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    http://www.epa.gov/riskassessment/ecological-risk.htm; http://www.ccme.ca/ourwork/soil.html

References

  • Amorim MJB, Römbke J, Soares AMVM (2005) Avoidance behaviour of Enchytraeus albidus: effects of benomyl, carbendazim, phenmedipham and different soil types. Chemosphere 59:501–510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baird DJ, Rubach MN, Van den Brink PJ (2008) Trait-based ecological risk assessment (TERA): the new frontier? Integrated Environ Assess Manage 4:2–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnthouse L (2008) The strengths of the ecological risk assessment process: linking science to decision making. Integrated Environ Assess Manage 4:299–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beer T (2006) Ecological risk assessment and quantitative consequence analysis. Human Ecol Risk Assess 12:51–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett JR, Kaufman CA, Koch I, Sova J, Reimer KJ (2007) Ecological risk assessment of lead contamination at rifle and pistol ranges using techniques to account for site characteristics. Sci Total Environ 374:91–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boivin MEY, Greve GD, Kools SAE, Van der Wurff AWG, Leeflang P, Smit E, Breure AM, Rutgers M, Van Straalen NM (2006) Discriminating between effects of metals and natural variables in terrestrial bacterial communities. Appl Soil Ecol 34:102–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brand E, Peijnenburg W, Groenenberg B, Vink J, Lijzen J, Ten Hulscher D, Jonker C, Römkens P, Roex E (2009) Towards implementation of bioavailability measurements in the Dutch soil regulatory framework. Report 711701084, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton GA, Batley GE, Chapman PM, Forbes VE, Smith EP, Reynoldson T, Schlekat CE, Den Besten PJ, Bailer AJ, Green AS, Dwyer RL (2002a) A weight of evidence framework for assessing sediment (or other) contamination: improving certainty in the decision-making process. Human Ecol Risk Assess 8:1675–1696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burton GA, Chapman P, Smith EP (2002b) Weight-of-evidence approaches for assessing ecosystem impairment. Human Ecol Risk Assess 8:1657–1673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carey JM, Burgman MA (2008) Linguistic uncertainty in qualitative risk analysis and how to minimize it. Ann NY Acad Sci 1128:13–17

    Google Scholar 

  • CCME (1996) A framework for ecological risk assessment: general guidance. The national contaminated sites remediation program. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman PM, Anderson J (2005) A decision-making framework for sediment contamination. Integrated Environ Assess Manage 1:163–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman PM, McDonald BG, Lawrence GS (2002) Weight-of-evidence issues and frameworks for sediment quality (and other) assessments. Human Ecol Risk Assess 8:1489–1515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covenant (2009) Covenant: development of soil policy and the way to deal with remediation sites (in Dutch). Interprovinciaal Overleg, Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten, Unie van Waterschappen, Ministerie van VROM en LNV. 10 July 2009

    Google Scholar 

  • Critto A, Torresan S, Semenzin E, Giove S, Mesman M, Schouten AJ, Rutgers M, Marcomini A (2007) Development of a site-specific ecological risk assessment for contaminated sites: part I. A multi-criteria based system for the selection of ecotoxicological tests and ecological observations. Sci Total Environ 379:16–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dagnino A, Sforzini S, Dondero F, Fenoglio S, Bona E, Jensen J, Viarengo A (2008) A weight-of-evidence approach for the integration of environmental triad data to assess ecological risk and biological vulnerability. Integrated Environ Assess Manage 4:314–326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danish EPA (2008) Redegørelse om jordforurening 2006. Redegørelse fra Miljøstyrelsen no 1. Danish report with English summary. Download from: http://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publikationer/2008/978-87-7052-709-5/pdf/978-87-7052-710-1.pdf. 1 February 2008

  • De Zwart D, Posthuma L (2005). Complex mixture toxicity for single and multiple species: proposed methodologies. Environ Toxicol Chem 24:2665–2676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Den Besten PJ, Smidt CA, Ohm M, Ruijs MM, Van Berghem JW, Van de Guchte C (1995) Sediment quality assessment in the delta of the rivers Rhine and Meuse based on field observations, bioassays and food chain implications. J Aquatic Ecosyst Health 4:256–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Dirven-Van Breemen EM, Lijzen JPA, Otte PF, Van Vlaardingen PLA, Spijker J, Verbruggen EMJ, Swartjes FA, Groenenberg JE, Rutgers M (2007) National land use specific reference values: a basis for maximum values in Dutch soil policy (in Dutch with English summary). Report 711701053. RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Dirven-Van Breemen EM, Lijzen JPA, Otte PF, Van Vlaardingen PLA, Spijker J, Verbruggen EMJ, Swartjes FA, Groenenberg JE, Rutgers M (2008) National land use specific reference values: a basis for maximum values in Dutch soil policy. In: Proceedings of the 10th international UFZ-Deltares/TNO conference on soil-water systems, pp F3F6

    Google Scholar 

  • Egler F (1977) The nature of vegetation: its management and mismanagement. Aton Forest, Norfolk, CT

    Google Scholar 

  • Everitt BS, Dunn G (2001) Applied multivariate data analysis, 2nd edn. Arnold, London, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Faber JH (2006) European experiences on application of site-specific ecological risk assessment in terrestrial ecosystems. Human Ecol Risk Assess 12:39–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fairbrother A, Glazebrook PW, Van Straalen NM, Tarazona JV (2002) Test methods to determine hazards of sparingly soluble metal compounds in soils. Society of environmental toxicology and chemistry (SETAC), Pensacola, FL

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaudet CL, Power EA, Milne DA, Nason TGE, Wong MP (1995) A framework for ecological risk assessment at contaminated sites in Canada. Part 1 review of existing approaches. Human Ecol Risk Assess 1:43–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Hope BK (2006) An examination of ecological risk assessments and management practices. Environ Int 32:983–995

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hull RN, Swanson S (2006) Sequential analysis of lines of evidence – an advanced weight-of-evidence approach for ecological risk assessment. Integrated Environ Assess Manage 2:302–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen J, Mesman M (eds) (2006) Liberation, ecological risk assessment of contaminated land, decision support for site specific investigations. ISBN 90-6960-138-9, Report 711701047, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen J, Pedersen MB (2006) Ecological risk assessment of contaminated soil. Rev Environ Contamin Toxicol 186:73–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kedwards TJ, Maund SJ, Chapman PF (1999) Community level analysis of ecotoxicological field studies, 1 biological monitoring. Environ Toxicol Chem 18:149–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kellett BM, Beilin RI, Bristow KL, Moore G, Chiew FHS (2007) Reflecting on stakeholders’ perceptions in an ecological risk assessment workshop: lessons for practitioners. Environmentalist 27:109–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levin R (2006) Adequacy conditions for reporting uncertainty in chemical risk assessments. Human Ecol Risk Assess 12:834–855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linkov I, Satterstrom FK, Kiker G, Batchelor C, Bridges T, Ferguson E (2006) From comparative risk assessment to multi-criteria decision analysis and adaptive management: recent developments and applications. Environ Int 32:1072–1093

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Long ER, Chapman PM (1985) A sediment quality triad: measures of sediment contamination, toxicity, and infaunal community composition in Puget Sound. Marine Pollut Bull 16:405–415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Menzie C, Hope Henning M, Cura J, Finkelstein J, Gentile J, Maughan J, Mitchell D, Petron S, Potocki B, Svirsky S, Tyler P (1996) Special report of the Massachusetts weight-of-evidence workgroup: a weight-of-evidence approach for evaluating ecological risks: report of the Massachusetts weight-of-evidence workshop. Human Ecol Risk Assess 2:277–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesman M, Schouten AJ, Rutgers M, Dirven-Van Breemen EM (2007) Guideline Triad: site-specific ecological risk assessment in the remediation criterion (in Dutch with English summary). Report 711701068, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Natal-da-Luz T, Römbke J, Sousa JP (2008) Avoidance tests in site-specific risk assessment – influence of soil properties on the avoidance response of collembola and earthworms. Environ Toxicol Chem 27:1112–1117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nayak TK, Kundu S (2001) Calculating and describing uncertainty in risk assessment: the Bayesian approach. Human Ecol Risk Assess 7:307–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NEN (2010) Ecological risk assessment with regard to soil contamination (in Dutch). Norm 5737:2009 Netherlands Normalisation Institute, Delft, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Posthuma L, Suter GW, Traas TP (eds) (2002) Species sensitivity distributions in ecotoxicology. CRC, Boca Raton, FL

    Google Scholar 

  • Römbke J, Eisenträger A, Hund-Rindke K, Jänsch S, Neumann-Hensel H, Schallnass (2006a) Testing and preparation of the practical use of ecotoxicological test systems (in German). Sidus, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Römbke J, Sousa J-P, Schouten T, Riepert F (2006b) Monitoring of soil organisms: a set of standardized field methods proposed by ISO. Eur J Soil Biol 42: S61–S64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutgers M (2008) Field effects of pollutants at the community level – experimental challenges and significance of community shifts for ecosystem functioning. Sci Total Environ 405:469–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutgers M, Den Besten P (2005) Approach to legislation in a global context B. the Netherlands perspective – soils and sediments. In: Thompson KC, Wadhia K, Loibner AP (eds) Environmental toxicity testing. Blackwell, CRC, Oxford, pp 269–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutgers M, Faber J, Postma J, Eijsackers H (2000) Site-specific ecological risks: a basic approach to the function-specific assessment of soil pollution. Rapporten Programma Geïntegreerd Bodemonderzoek. Volume 28, ISBN73270 448, Integrated Soil Research Programme, Wageningen, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutgers M, Mulder C, Schouten AJ, Bloem J, Bogte JJ, Breure AM, Brussaard L, De Goede RGM, Faber JH, Jagers op Akkerhuis GAJM, Keidel H, Korthals G, Smeding FW, Ter Berg C, Van Eekeren N (2008a) Soil ecosystem profiling in the Netherlands with ten references for biological soil quality. Report 607604009, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutgers M, Schouten AJ, Bloem J, Van Eekeren N, De Goede RGM, Jagers OP, Akkerhuis GAJM, Van der Wal A, Mulder C, Brussaard L, Breure AM (2009) Biological measurements in a nationwide soil monitoring network. Eur J Soil Sci 60:820–832

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutgers M, Tuinstra J, Spijker J, Mesman M, Wintersen A, Posthuma L (2008b) Ecological risks of soil contamination in the second step of the remediation criterion (in Dutch with English summary). Report 711701072, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Semenzin E, Critto A, Marcomini A (2009a) Ecosystem impairment evaluation on biodiversity and functional diversity for contaminated soil. Integrated Environ Assess Manage 5(3): 399–413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Semenzin E, Critto A, Rutgers M, Marcomini A (2007) Development of a site-specific ecological risk assessment for contaminated sites: Part II. A multi-criteria based system for the selection of bioavailability assessment tools. Sci Total Environ 379:34–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Semenzin E, Critto A, Rutgers M, Marcomini A (2008) Integration of bioavailability, ecology, and ecotoxicology by three lines of evidence into ecological risk indexes for contaminated soil assessment. Sci Total Environ 389:71–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Semenzin E, Critto A, Rutgers M, Marcomini A (2009b) DSS-ERAMANIA: Decision support systems for site-specific ecological risk assessment of contaminated sites. In: Marcomini A, Suter GW II, Critto A (eds) Decision support systems for risk based management of contaminated sites. Springer, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Sijm DTHM, Van Wezel AP, Crommentuijn T (2002) Environmental risk limits in the Netherlands. In: Posthuma L, Suter GW, Traas TP (eds) Species sensitivity distributions in ecotoxicology. CRC, Boca Raton, FL, pp 221–254

    Google Scholar 

  • SKB (2009) Evaluation of the application of the Triad approach for ecological risk assessment (in Dutch). Stichting Kennisontwikkeling en Kennisoverdracht Bodem (SKB), project report PTS 808, Gouda, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Suter GW, Efroymson RA, Sample BE, Jones DS (2000) Ecological risk assessment for contaminated sites. CRC, Lewis, Boca Raton

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Swartjes FA (1999) Risk-based assessment of soil and groundwater quality in the Netherlands: standards and remediation urgency. Risk Anal 19:1235–1249

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swartjes FA, Carlon C, De Wit NHSM (2008) The possibilities for the EU-wide use of similar ecological risk-based soil contamination assessment tools. Sci Total Environ 406:523–529

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US-EPA (1998) Guidelines for ecological risk assessment. EPA/630/R-95/002F. Risk Assessment Forum, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Versluijs CW, Mulder HFMM, Van Wijnen HJ, Van den Broek HH (2007) Soil remediation in areas with political priorities (in Dutch with English summary). Report 607700001. RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • VROM (2008) Circulaire Bodemsanering 2006. Staatscourant 10 Juli 2008, 131/p 23; 1–28. SDU, The Hague, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker WE, Harremoes P, Rotmans J, Van der Sluijs JP, Van Asselt MBA, Janssen P, Krayer von Krauss MP (2003) Defining uncertainty: a conceptual basis for uncertainty management in model-based decision support. Integrated Assess 4:5–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weed DL (2005) Weight of evidence: a review of concept and methods. Risk Anal 25:1545–1557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weeks JM, Comber SDW (2005) Ecological risk assessment of contaminated soil. Mineral Mag 69:601–613

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weeks J, Sorokin N, Johnson IJ, Whitehouse P, Ashton D, Spurgeon D, Hankard P, Svendsen C (2004) Biological test methods for assessing contaminated land. Stage 2 – a demonstration of the use of a framework for the ecological risk assessment of land contamination. Science group report P5-069/TR1. ISBN: 1844322963. Environment Agency, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright DA, Welbourn P (2002) Environmental toxicology. University, Cambridge, UK

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    Michiel Rutgers

  2. University of Aarhus, Silkeborg, Denmark

    John Jensen

Authors
  1. Michiel Rutgers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John Jensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michiel Rutgers .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Public Health and, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, Netherlands

    Frank A. Swartjes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rutgers, M., Jensen, J. (2011). Site-Specific Ecological Risk Assessment. In: Swartjes, F. (eds) Dealing with Contaminated Sites. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9757-6_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation