ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF FRESHWATER SEDIMENTS IN BRAZIL

Eduardo Cimino Cervi; Cristiano Poleto

doi:10.5327/Z2176-947820180234

Authors

Eduardo Cimino Cervi University of São Paulo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2446-5550
Cristiano Poleto Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7376-1634

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/Z2176-947820180234

Keywords:

ecological risk assessments; toxicity; sediment quality guidelines; weight of evidence.

Abstract

During the past 40 years, ecological risk assessments (ERA) were being
performed by different organizations, using different various principles and
methods, with little or no communication and inconsistencies between
the different many assessment methodologies. Brazil still does not have a
regulation based on quality criteria for sediments. Also, ERA approach has
only been introduced here, and detailed guidance on how to interpret and
apply these frameworks is still generally inadequate. In our paper, ERA
framework and its application around the globe is are presented. Also,
some promising future directions in ERA are briefly discussed, and critical
challenges to future success of this tool in Brazil are identified.