Community, State, and Federal Approaches to Cumulative Risk Assessment: Challenges and Opportunities for Integration

Timothy Barzyk,Anthony Wilson,Sacoby Wilson

doi:10.3390/ijerph120504546

Abstract

Community, state, and federal approaches to conventional and cumulative risk assessment (CRA) were described and compared to assess similarities and differences, and develop recommendations for a consistent CRA approach, acceptable across each level as a rigorous scientific methodology, including partnership formation and solution development as necessary practices. Community, state, and federal examples were described and then summarized based on their adherence to CRA principles of: (1) planning, scoping, and problem formulation; (2) risk analysis and ranking, and (3) risk characterization, interpretation, and management. While each application shared the common goal of protecting human health and the environment, they adopted different approaches to achieve this. For a specific project-level analysis of a particular place or instance, this may be acceptable, but to ensure long-term applicability and transferability to other projects, recommendations for developing a consistent approach to CRA are provided. This approach would draw from best practices, risk assessment and decision analysis sciences, and historical lessons learned to provide results in an understandable and accepted manner by all entities. This approach is intended to provide a common ground around which to develop CRA methods and approaches that can be followed at all levels.

Highlights

Cumulative risk assessment (CRA) is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an analysis, characterization, and possible quantification of the combined risks to health or the environment from multiple agents or stressors [1]
This paper examines a variety of risk assessment approaches at community, state, and federal levels in order to compare and contrast their adoption of CRA principles—even if they were not originally intended as CRAs—in order to highlight advantages and limitations to CRA, and to develop recommendations for a consistent and generally agreed-upon methodology
This study provides an overview of community, state, and federal risk assessment approaches with special emphasis on the adoption of CRA principles

Summary

Introduction

Cumulative risk assessment (CRA) is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an analysis, characterization, and possible quantification of the combined risks to health or the environment from multiple agents or stressors [1]. CRA is a tool for organizing and analyzing information to examine, characterize, and possibly quantify the combined adverse effect on human health or ecologic resources from multiple environmental stressors [2] To date, both within and outside the EPA, CRA has been a conceptual framework that includes consideration of multiple stressors, but other factors as well, such as stakeholder participation, non-chemical stressors, the role of susceptibility and vulnerability on impacts, and development of risk management options. Both within and outside the EPA, CRA has been a conceptual framework that includes consideration of multiple stressors, but other factors as well, such as stakeholder participation, non-chemical stressors, the role of susceptibility and vulnerability on impacts, and development of risk management options This approach is intended to produce an overall assessment of human and/or ecological health backed by scientific rigor, but cognizant of social, economic, and other real-world considerations; many of these aspects are not covered by conventional risk assessment. Some of the most important aspects of CRA are outlined below

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion