Ecological Risk Assessment Approach Research Articles

Vulnerability status and efficacy of potential conservation measures to reduce tuna fishery bycatch of the Critically Endangered East Pacific leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea

Industrial tuna and artisanal fisheries targeting multiple species in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) interact with the Critically Endangered East Pacific (EP) leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea. In 2021, a revised Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) resolution on sea turtles aimed to reduce sea turtle bycatch in EPO industrial tuna fisheries and ensure their safe handling and release. A new ecological risk assessment approach—Ecological Assessment for the Sustainable Impacts of Fisheries (EASI-Fish)—was used to assess vulnerability status and to better understand the potential efficacy of 70 scenarios that compared simulated conservation and management measures (CMMs) for EPO industrial (purse-seine and longline) and artisanal (longline and gillnet) fisheries to the status quo in 2019. In 2019, a fishing mortality proxy (F̃2019) and the breeding stock biomass per recruit (BSR2019) exceeded precautionary biological reference points (F80% and BSR80%), classifying the stock as ‘most vulnerable’. Industrial and artisanal longline fisheries had the highest impacts because they had the highest areal overlap with the modelled EP leatherback distribution. Of the 70 CMM scenarios, 42 resulted in significant improvements in vulnerability status (i.e. to ‘least vulnerable’). The use of large circle hooks, finfish bait, and best handling and release practices each decreased vulnerability; however, the most effective scenarios involved using these 3 measures in concert. The benefits predicted from EASI-Fish for CMM scenarios assume full compliance and attaining the modelled levels of efficacy, our modelling provides stakeholders with evidence-based recommendations to address key threats to EP leatherback turtles to improve their conservation status by reducing fishing impacts.

A novel ecological risk assessment approach applied to Jiangsu coastal zone, China

Natural and anthropogenic risk factors contribute to ecological risks in coastal zones; however, the response of ecological entities (receptors) to disturbances varies with the risk source. We used the risk causal law as a guide to construct an ecological risk assessment method for Jiangsu coastal zone, China, with different ecological receptors as the research subjects. We screened the evaluation indicators for natural and anthropogenic risks, validated the evaluation results, and designed a method to map the integrated coastal ecological risk. The five typical ecological receptors exhibited different risk responses when faced with different disturbances. Among the natural risks, invasive species and seawater pollution had the largest differences in risk values. Of the anthropogenic risks, the largest differences in risk values were for reclamation sea farming and industry. The results of the habitat risk assessment model, which were based on the exposure–consequence framework, and those of the hazard–vulnerability–damage model showed a strong positive correlation. Furthermore, the T-test results were tested with P values of less than 0.05, and were not significantly different at the 95% confidence level; thus, the results were valid. The variability in the evaluation results of different ecological receptors was used to map the integrated ecological risk. High- and very-high-risk areas were distributed along the coastline and the edge of the radiating sand ridge, and moderate-risk areas were distributed within the high-risk mudflat areas. The ecological risk values were quantified for each shore section; very-high-risk areas were mainly distributed in the central and estuaries shore sections, and moderate-risk areas were mainly distributed in the southern shoreline sections. The exposure and consequence values calculated using InVEST-HRA model were used to select ten primary factors represented by coastal erosion and sewage discharge as well as five secondary factors represented by green tides and coastal engineering. Finally, we suggested future ecological protection and risk prevention measures based on the shore sections and primary and secondary factors. This study takes the causal relationship of the risk occurrence process as a guideline, and combines the reflected difference characteristics among the risk elements to provide scientific support for the practice of ecological risk prevention and governance in the coastal zone.

Chronic and transgenerational effects of silver nanoparticles in freshwater gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis

Traditional ecotoxicological studies prove to be focused mainly on single-generation, multigenerational research in ecotoxicological testing is needed to improve the predictive approaches in ecological risk assessment. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been increasingly detected in aquatic environments due to their extensive use in consumer products. We investigated the transgenerational effects of AgNPs on the life traits of freshwater model gastropods Lymnaea stagnalis for two generations. The reversibility of the effects of using recovery experiments was also performed. Results showed that AgNPs induced high Ag bioaccumulation in the whole soft tissues of parental L. stagnalis after 21 days of exposure. The increased ROS production and reduced condition index and fecundity were found after exposure to AgNPs at 500 μg/L. These results highlight that under AgNPs exposure, adult gastropods might allocate more resources to resist oxidative stress rather than to growth or reproduction. Furthermore, the Ag accumulation and ROS production of egg clutches were significantly related to parental exposure duration and concentrations. On the other hand, isolated eggs exposure demonstrated biological effects were persistent in terms of the next generation. For example, after transfer to a clean medium, similar Ag bioaccumulation and ROS production were observed from eggs which parents were pre-exposed to 50 and 500 μg/L AgNPs. Current explicit consideration of offspring performance adds value to existing toxicity testing protocols. Parental exposure duration has important implications for offspring effects, and parental exposure can cause transgenerational changes in resistance that have significant implications for toxicity testing and adaptive responses. These effects across generations point out the need for multigenerational tests to assess the environmental risk of MNPs in aquatic organisms.

Ecological risk assessment of contaminated soil using improved "Weight of Evidence"approach:A case study of electroplating site in Jingjiang, Jiangsu, China

Ecological risk assessment of soil in contaminated sites provides the scientific basis for accurately developing soil quality standards, confirming remediation targets, and making safe use of contaminated soil. It thus is a critical mean to protect soil health and safety. "Weight-of-Evidence" (WoE) has been widely used in ecological risk assessment due to its systematic, integrated and scientific properties. However, most current WoE approaches are poor in objectivity and comparability because they rely too much on expertise scoring in weighing and the difficulty to collect complete evidence bodies with quantitative and comprehensive information. Focusing on those issues above, we developed an improved framework of WoE approach for ecological risk assessment of contaminated site soil based on the "Four-Step" framework of EPA coupled with the concept of hierarchy. Assessment methods and procedures for each tier were unified. Weights were weighed quantitatively through multiple criteria decision analysis. The relative independence among bodies of evidence was assured by the pre-establishment of hierarchy. The "site specific" was stressed based on matrix trails and field investigation. Finally, a case study in an electroplating site in Jingjiang was conducted to verify the approach. Results of the case study suggested that the approach was practical and that the assessment results were objective, scientific, and accurate.

Deep seabed mining and communities: A transdisciplinary approach to ecological risk assessment in the South Pacific.

Deep-sea mineral extraction is a fledgling industry whose guiding principles, legislation, protocols, and regulations are still evolving. Responsible management of the industry is difficult when it is not clearly understood what biological and environmental diversity or ecosystem services may be at risk. But the industry's infancy provides an opportunity to address this challenge by stakeholder-led development and implementation of a multidisciplinary risk assessment framework. This article aims to present the findings of a workshop held in New Zealand that hosted stakeholders from a broad range of interests and regions in the South Pacific associated with the deep-sea mineral activity. The outputs provide stakeholder-informed ecological risk assessment approaches for deep-sea mining activities, identifying tools and techniques to improve the relevance of risk assessment of deep seabed mining projects to communities in the South Pacific. Discussions highlighted the importance of trust or respect among stakeholders, valuing the "life force" of the ocean, the importance of scientific data, and the complications associated with defining acceptable change. This research highlighted the need for a holistic transdisciplinary approach that connects science, management, industry, and community, an approach most likely to provide a "social license" to operate. There is also a need to revise traditional risk assessment methods to make them more relevant to stakeholders. The development of ecotoxicological tools and approaches is an example of how existing practices could be improved to better support deep-sea mineral management. A case study is provided that highlights the current challenges within the legislative framework of New Zealand. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:664-673. © 2021 SETAC.

A critical review of exposure and effect modelling approaches for ecological risk assessment of pesticides

A critical review of exposure and effect modelling approaches for ecological risk assessment of pesticides

A critical review of exposure and effect modelling approaches for ecological risk assessment of pesticides

A critical review of exposure and effect modelling approaches for ecological risk assessment of pesticides

A 40‐year chronology of the vulnerability of spinetail devil ray (Mobula mobular) to eastern Pacific tuna fisheries and options for future conservation and management

AbstractTuna fisheries are among the largest and most valuable fisheries in the world, but most interact with many non‐target species, including several of high conservation importance. The spinetail devil ray (Mobula mobular) – listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – is a commonly discarded bycatch species, particularly in the eastern Pacific Ocean, yet insufficient data exist to undertake a traditional population assessment.A new ecological risk assessment approach designed for data‐limited settings – Ecological Assessment of the Sustainable Impacts of Fisheries (EASI‐Fish) – was used to reconstruct the historical vulnerability status ofM. mobularand to simulate potential changes in its status under 45 hypothetical conservation and management measures. These involved various temporal closures of the eastern Pacific Ocean tuna fishery, decreasing post‐capture mortality by improved handling and release practices, and combinations of the two.The species was classified as ‘Least Vulnerable’ between 1979 and 1993, but became ‘Most Vulnerable’ from 1994, which coincided with a rapid spatial expansion of the industrial purse‐seine fishery, and especially from 2011 following the rapid increase in the number of sets made on floating objects. Simulating the conservation and management measures in place in 2018 revealed that 31 of the 45 scenarios resulted in a change in classification of the species to ‘Least Vulnerable’, which primarily involved a reduction of post‐capture mortality by as little as 20%.It is fortuitous in that education of fishers to implement appropriate best handling and release practices is simpler, more rapid and more cost‐effective than the implementation of fishery closures or gear modifications, which can be expensive and complex to implement and monitor and will probably result in substantial reduction in the catches of target species.

Assessing the Toxicity of 17α-Ethinylestradiol in Rainbow Trout Using a 4-Day Transcriptomics Benchmark Dose (BMD) Embryo Assay.

There is an urgent demand for more efficient and ethical approaches in ecological risk assessment. Using 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) as a model compound, this study established an embryo benchmark dose (BMD) assay for rainbow trout (RBT; Oncorhynchus mykiss) to derive transcriptomic points-of-departure (tPODs) as an alternative to live-animal tests. Embryos were exposed to graded concentrations of EE2 (measured: 0, 1.13, 1.57, 6.22, 16.3, 55.1, and 169 ng/L) from hatch to 4 and up to 60 days post-hatch (dph) to assess molecular and apical responses, respectively. Whole proteome analyses of alevins did not show clear estrogenic effects. In contrast, transcriptomics revealed responses that were in agreement with apical effects, including excessive accumulation of intravascular and hepatic proteinaceous fluid and significant increases in mortality at 55.1 and 169 ng/L EE2 at later time points. Transcriptomic BMD analysis estimated the median of the 20th lowest geneBMD to be 0.18 ng/L, the most sensitive tPOD. Other estimates (0.78, 3.64, and 1.63 ng/L for the 10th percentile geneBMD, first peak geneBMD distribution, and median geneBMD of the most sensitive over-represented pathway, respectively) were within the same order of magnitude as empirically derived apical PODs for EE2 in the literature. This 4-day alternative RBT embryonic assay was effective in deriving tPODs that are protective of chronic effects of EE2.

Indentifikasi Kandungan Zink (Zn), Besi (Fe) dan Escherichia Coli Pada Sumber Air Bersih Dengan Analisis Spasial Ecological Risk Assessment Di Desa Tungka Kecamatan Enrekang Kabupaten Enrekang

Background: Based on WHO data, it is known that nearly 40% of deadly diseases in all countries are related to poor water quality, there are around 2.6 million people worldwide die each year due to diseases caused by dirty water or water that does not meet health requirements. Zinc and Iron are essential mineral substances needed by the body, but in excess amounts will cause poisoning. This deficiency causes growth disorders, affects sexual maturation, susceptibility to infections, diarrhea, and annually causes the death of approximately 800,000 children worldwide. The second most common cause of diarrhea after rotavirus is infection due to the bacteria Escherichia coli, the annual incidence of diarrhea in children is estimated at 2.5 billion, and more than half of it is found in Africa and South Asia and the consequences of this disease are more severe and deadly. Globally every year this disease causes the death of children under five of 1.6 million. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify to map the Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Escherichia Coli Content in Clean Water Sources with a Spatial Ecological Risk Assessment Analysis in Tungka Village Enrekang District, Enrekang Regency. Methods: This research is descriptive observational, to identify and map the content of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and Escherichia Coli in clean water sources in Tungka Village, Enrekang District, Enrekang Regency and calculate the ecological risk assessment. The research design used an ecological risk assessment approach. Sampling was carried out at 6 different points. Results: The results obtained in this study, the amount of zinc content still met the quality standard requirements, namely <3 mg / l of the Republic of Indonesia Minister of Health Regulation No.492 / Menkes / Per / IV / 2010 for zinc content, namely 3 mg / l, with a risk index ecological potential, namely PERI = ∑E_r ^ i (0.831) <150 with low risk category. The iron content is still below the standard, namely <0.3 mg / l, the standard Permenkes RI No.492 / Menkes / Per / IV / 2010 for iron content is 0.3 mg / l, with a potential ecological risk index of PERI = ∑E_r ^ i (0.1797) <150 with low risk category. Meanwhile, the content of escerchia coli does not meet the requirements, namely> 0CFU / ml quality standards, namely the Republic of Indonesia Minister of Health Regulation No.492 / Menkes / Per / IV / 2010 for the content of E. coli, namely 0 CFU / ml. With a risk index, namely PERI = ∑E_r ^ i (46,7.10-6)> 1.10-6 with a very high risk category

Heavy Metals Concentration in Sediments of South Brittany Waters, France: An Ecological Risk Assessment Approach

Distribution patterns of selected heavy metals content in sediments from the Bay of Quiberon and Gulf of Morbihan were studied to understand the current heavy metals contamination due to urbanization and mariculture activities in the coastal area. Therefore, a survey was conducted and 196 sediments collected were characterized for heavy metals content using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after mix acid digestion process. The distribution maps of the concentrations of the heavy metals studied were produced as an isopleth map based on data interpolation by the ArcGIS software application. The association with the adverse effects on aquatic organisms was determined by the classification of the sediment according to the sediment quality guidelines. Therefore, two approaches were employed namely: direct comparison with Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) by USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) and comparison with other numerical SQGs, threshold effect level/probable effect level, and effect range low/effect range medium. In order to estimate the effect of multiple contaminations of heavy metals, the mean-ERM-quotient was calculated at each sampling point.

Application of Biomarker Tools Using Bivalve Models Toward the Development of Adverse Outcome Pathways for Contaminants of Emerging Concern.

As contaminant exposures in aquatic ecosystems continue to increase, the need for streamlining research efforts in environmental toxicology using predictive frameworks also grows. One such framework is the adverse outcome pathway (AOP). An AOP framework organizes and utilizes toxicological information to connect measurable molecular endpoints to an adverse outcome of regulatory relevance via a series of events at different levels of biological organization. Molecular endpoints or biomarkers are essential to develop AOPs and are valuable early warning signs of the toxicity of pollutants, including contaminants of emerging concern. Ecological risk-assessment approaches using tools such as biomarkers and AOPs benefit from identification of molecular targets conserved across species. Bivalve models are useful in such approaches and integral to our understanding of ecological and human health risks associated with contaminant exposures. We discuss the value of using biomarker approaches in bivalve models to meet the demands of twenty-first-century toxicology. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1472-1484. © 2020 SETAC.

Species and life-stage specific differences in cadmium accumulation and cadmium induced oxidative stress, metallothionein and heat shock protein responses in white sturgeon and rainbow trout

Understanding the mechanistic basis of differences in the sensitivity of fishes to metals is important for developing informed ecological risk assessment approaches for metals. Whole body metal accumulation, metallothionein induction, oxidative stress and associated antioxidant response, as well as heat shock proteins (mainly HSP70) are known to play important roles in determining the toxicity of metals in fish. Hence, in this study we have cross-evaluated these parameters as a function of Cd exposure across different life-stages of two evolutionarily distinct fish species, namely rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) trout and white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). These two species have been shown to differ significantly in their physiological and apical responses to Cd exposure. The findings of the present study suggest that species-specific differences in the sensitivity to Cd could partially be explained by HSP70 gene response and oxidative damage biomarkers. However, not all the parameters studied in this study could explain the life-stage specific differences universally and were limited to only some life-stages. Based on the observations in the present study and other recent studies, it is apparent that species- and life-stage specific differences in the sensitivity to Cd and possibly other metals is a complex phenomenon and could be driven by multiple toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic factors.

Ecological Risk Assessment Approach of Offshore Macro-engineering Project Based on US Environmental Protection Agency Framework

Ecological Risk Assessment Approach of Offshore Macro-engineering Project Based on US Environmental Protection Agency Framework

Assessing and Managing Natural Resource Damages: Continuing Challenges and Opportunities.

In a 2002 paper, we discussed the technical challenges associated with quantifying natural resource injuries, service losses and damages, and suggested some actions that might help to overcome them. An important suggestion was to consider using some of the approaches in ecological risk assessment to help evaluate potential natural resource injuries, and ultimately in some cases to help translate those injuries into natural resource service loss. This was based on the observation that ecological risk assessment and natural resource damage assessments use much of the same types of data, but at that time the experience base with ecological risk assessment was greater than for natural resource damage assessments. We also discussed some of the issues in applying the then current Department of Interior natural resource damage assessments regulations. Since our 2002 publication the scientific literature, relevant regulations, the global context and more have changed. In the current paper we focus on the technical and regulatory changes in natural resource damage assessments practice since 2002, and use recent reports and publications to illustrate those changes and identify new directions in natural resource damage assessments.

Ecological and Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Surface Water from Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River

In surface water from the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, total equivalent concentrations of 16 US EPA priority PAHs were calculated based on the measured concentrations. Ecological risk assessment approaches, including hazard quotient and overlapping areas of probability density curves, were performed to evaluate the combined ecological risks of PAHs to the aquatic organisms. The result from hazard quotient indicated that risk quotient of mollusks and zooplankton surpassed 0.1, suggesting potential risks. The potentially affected fractions of PAHs obtained from overlapping areas of probability density curve varied from 11.2% (dry season) to 5.1% (rainy season), which implied that PAHs had been posing pressures on the ecosystem. Health risk based on the incremental lifetime risk for PAHs was conducted to evaluate human cancer risk and noncarcinogenic hazard in the studied area. The results indicated that health risks mainly came from ingestion exposure pathway. The total cancer risks were in the range of 10−8 to 10−7, lower than the baseline value of acceptable risk (10−6). Moreover, non-carcinogenic hazard indices of PAHs ranging from 10−6 to 10−5 were much lower than the threshold values (1.0). These results indicated that the water from middle and lower reaches of Yellow River might pose no health risk on local residents as a source of drinking water.

Watershed-Scale Environmental Risk Assessment of Accidental Water Pollution: The Case of Laoguan River, China

Although co-existing sources of chemicals pose major cumulative environmental threats to watersheds, few risk assessments have specifically tackled the accidental chemical pollution of rivers at watershed-scale. Herein, a Watershed-scale Accidental Pollution Risk Assessment (WAPRA) method was constructed which applied a risk ranking procedure to the whole watershed, and was based on watershed-scale stressors, exposures to and effects of water accidental pollution risk (e.g. sudden occurrences, waterway spread, and acute consequences). Multi-criteria analysis and instantaneous water quality models were used to refine the risk ranking procedure within the framework of a Relative Risk Model (RRM), a regional-scale ecological risk assessment approach. The study area comprised the Laoguan River, a tributary watershed of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, which will eventually feed into the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China. The resultant map shows that risk is higher in the upstream and downstream reaches, and lower in the middle reaches. The map also indicates that the greatest threat to water quality arises from the upstream heavy metal mine tailings ponds. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were performed to validate the robustness of the WAPRA method.

Magnet bioreporter device for ecological toxicity assessment on heavy metal contamination of coal cinder sites

A novel magnet bioreporter device was developed in this research for soil toxicity assessment, via magnetic nanoparticles functionalized whole-cell bioreporters. The whole-cell bioreporter ADPWH_recA kept response capability to DNA damage after magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) functionalization, and could be harvested from soil samples by permanent magnet to reduce the soil particle disturbance. Compared to conventional treatments applying bioreporter directly in soil–water mixture (SW-M treatment) or supernatant (SW-S treatment), MNPs functionalized bioreporter via the magnet device (MFB) treatment achieved high sensitivity to evaluate the toxicity and bioavailability of chromium contamination in soils from 10mg/kg to 5000mg/kg soil dry weight. The MNPs functionalized bioreporter also achieved high reproducibility with pH value from 5.0 to 9.0, salinity from 0% to 3% and temperature from 20°C to 37°C. A case study was carried out on the ecological toxicity assessment of heavy metal contamination at the coal cinder site via the magnet bioreporter device. The heavy metal toxicity declined with the increasing distance to the coal cinder point, and a significant accumulation of heavy metal toxicity was observed along the vertical distribution. No direct link was found between the pollution load index (PLI) and heavy metal toxicity, and the results suggested the bioreporter test monitored the toxicity of heavy metals in soils and was an important approach for ecological risk assessment. Magnet bioreporter device also offered the high throughput biological measurement and was feasible for in situ monitoring.

Application of species sensitivity distribution in aquatic probabilistic ecological risk assessment of cypermethrin: a case study in an urban stream in South China.

A tiered ecological risk assessment was applied to quantitatively refine the overall probabilistic risk of cypermethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, to aquatic organisms. These results were then validated through the bioassays using field water from an urban stream, Chebei Creek in Guangzhou, South China. Seventeen water samples were collected along Chebei Creek for evaluation. In total, 71% of the field waters were acutely toxic to Hyallela azteca and 24% of the waters caused 100% mortality. Toxic unit evaluation suggested that cypermethrin was one of the main contributors to toxicity. The tiered ecological risk assessment approach (deterministic quotient method and probabilistic methods, including joint probability curve and Monte Carlo Simulation) suggested that cypermethrin posed significant threats to aquatic ecology in this stream. The overall probabilistic risk of cypermethrin to aquatic species in Chebei Creek reached 66% when acute-to-chronic ratios were set at 125. An exceedance probability of cypermethrin in Chebei Creek that affected H. azteca as modeled using the joint probability curve method was 88%, suggesting that most sites were at risk due to cypermethrin exposure. This value was similar to the results obtained from acute toxicity tests (71% of field water samples were acutely toxic to H. azteca), indicating the effectiveness of the tiered approach to assess risk of cypermethrin in urban waterways. To the authors' knowledge, the present study is the first to provide a focused probabilistic evaluation of ecological risk for cypermethrin in a complex urban waterway environment. Despite uncertainties existing in the ecological risk assessment procedure, this approach provides a comprehensive assessment of ecological risk of cypermethrin, and subsequently, a foundation for further risk diagnosis and management in urban waterways.

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment of cadmium in the Bohai Sea using native saltwater species

Predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) is often used in ecological risk assessment to determine low-risk concentrations for chemicals. In the present study, the chronic data from native saltwater species were used to calculated PNEC values using four methods: log-normal distribution (ETX 2.0), log-triangle distribution (US EPA’s water quality criteria procedure), burr III distribution (BurrliOZ) and traditional assessment factor (AF). The PNECs that were calculated using four methods ranged from 0.08 μg/L to 1.8 μg/L. Three of the SSD-derived PNECs range from 0.94 to 1.8 μg/L, about a factor of two apart. To demonstrate the use of SSD-based PNEC values and comprehensively estimate the regional ecological risk for cadmium in surface water of the Bohai Sea, in the Liaodong Bay, Bohai Bay, and Laizhou Bay, China, the dissolved cadmium concentrations were measured and obtained 753 valid data covering 190 stations from July 2006 to November 2007. Based on three ecological risk assessment approaches, namely hazard quotient (HQ), probabilistic risk quotient and joint probability curve (JPC), the potential ecological risk of cadmium in surface water of the Liaodong Bay, Bohai Bay, and Laizahou Bay were estimated. Overall, the ecological risk of cadmium to aquatic ecosystem in the whole Bohai Sea was at acceptable ecological risk level, the order of ecological risk was Liaodong Bay>Bohai Bay>Laizhou Bay. However, more concerns should be paid to aquatic ecological risk in the Liaodong Bay which is the home of many steel, metallurgy and petrochemical industrial in China.