Setting Environmental Standards: The Statistical Approach to Handling Uncertainty and Variation

Abstract

Introducing a novel approach to setting environmental pollution standards that allow for proper treatment of uncertainty and variation, this book surveys the forms of standards and proposes a new kind of statistically verifiable ideal standard.Setting Environmental Standards includes:a current analysis regarding the treatment of uncertainty and variation in environmental standard settinga review of basic principles in standard setting, including costs, actions and effects, and benefitsexamples where uncertainty and variation have been well-treated in current practice as well as examples where clear deficiencies are apparentspecific proposals for the future approach to setting environmental pollution standards - encompassing the anticipated elements of uncertainty and variabilityThe issues discussed serve statisticians as well as those persons involved with environmental standards. Scientists in agencies responsible for setting standards, in organizations advising such agencies or working in industries subject to these standards, will find Setting Environmental Standards an invaluable reference.