Weighing the evidence of ecological risk from chemical contamination in the estuarine environment adjacent to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, USA.

摘要: In characterizing ecological risks, considerable consensus building and professional judgments are required to develop conclusions about risk. This is because how evaluate all the factors that determine risk not well defined subject interpretation. Here we report on application of a procedure weigh evidence will incorporate strengths weaknesses assessment. The was applied characterize chemical contamination in nearshore areas adjacent Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, located at mouth Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire Maine, USA. Measures exposure effect were used interpret magnitude assessment endpoints pelagic species, epibenthic benthic community, eelgrass plants, salt marsh avian receptors. from water, sediment, tissue biological effects representative pelagic, epibenthic, benthic, eelgrass, marsh, species weighed Individual measures weighted by quality reliability their data estimated preponderance, magnitude, extent, strength causal relationships between effects. Relating hypothesized pathways made it possible estimate sediment water express confidence associated with findings. Systematically weighing rendered manner clearly defined, objective, consistent, did rely solely judgment.