Integrating Environmental and Health Data to Assess Cumulative Risks

Abstract

Soil, surface water, and groundwater at thousands of industrial sites are contaminated from past research and production activities. Safely managing the contamination at these sites is a priority, and risk assessment plays a key role in identifying appropriate solutions that will ensure long-term health and environmental protection. The risk assessments must consider multiple contaminants, media, exposures, receptors, time frames, and effects. These analyses aim to integrate environmental and health data with sociocultural and economic issues to provide a more comprehensive view of potential risks and thus a stronger foundation for cleanup decisions. Initial steps are being taken to develop cumulative assessments for contaminated sites, focusing on linked conceptual models and screening approaches developed in communication with intersted parties.