What are Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments?
A risk assessment determines the potential for adverse health effects to occur from exposure to chemicals. Risk assessments are conducted for human health effects and ecological effects (e.g., effects on plants, fish and wildlife). These assessments are done to determine the potential, type and severity of risks, and if actions should be taken to reduce the potential for adverse effects. Risk assessment methods typically use mathematical models to calculate the theoretical health risk to humans, plants, wildlife and the natural environment from exposure to a substance using an exposure pathways analysis. Actual (as opposed to theoretical) exposures can be measured for humans and some ecological species, such as plants and fish. Actual impacts to some ecological species, such as plants and fish, can also be measured. For the Sudbury Soils Study, the Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) assessed potential human health risks related to exposure to arsenic and metals from soil, water, food
