ASTM_E_1848_-_96_2014.pdf

Designation:E184896(Reapproved 2014)Standard Guide forSelecting and Using Ecological Endpoints for ContaminatedSites1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1848;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers an approach to identification,selection,and use of ecological endpoints(both assessment andmeasurement endpoints)(1-8)2that are susceptible to the directand indirect effects of both chemical and non-chemical stress-ors or agents associated with wastes and contaminated media atspecific sites under current and future land uses.It does notaddress assessment and measurement endpoints for non-sitespecific studies(for example,chemical-specific or regional riskassessments)or measurements in abiotic media(soil,water,orair).1.2 This guide addresses only the identification,selection,and use of assessment and measurement endpoints,not the fullrange of activities that occur in an ecological assessment orecological risk assessment at a contaminated site(1,3-8).These activities are addressed in other ASTM guides andreferences provided at the end of this guide.1.3 This guide is intended to identify assessment andmeasurement endpoints to be used for screening,preliminary,focused,detailed,and quantitative ecological risk assessmentsconducted in a linear or iterative fashion(3,8).This is a partial,incomplete listing of possible levels of assessment.In a tieredecological risk assessment,it may be necessary to redefineecological endpoints when planning to collect more data orwhen additional site data are obtained and evaluated.1.4 This guide is intended to be used by trained biologists,ecologists,and ecotoxicologists familiar with risk assessment,and ecological and ecotoxicological concepts.1.5 This guide(including Appendix X1)consists of a seriesof options or instructions and does not recommend a specificcourse of action or provide detailed guidelines to be followedat all sites.See 2.2.2 of Regulations Governing ASTM Techni-cal Committees.31.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:4,5E943 Terminology Relating to Biological Effects and Envi-ronmental FateE1689 Guide for Developing Conceptual Site Models forContaminated Sites3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions are provided specifically foruse with this guide.Many of the terms listed in this sectionhave been modified from those defined in other publications(1-8).3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 assessment endpointan explicit expression of anenvironmental value(ecological,not monetary)to be protected(3).3.2.1.1 DiscussionAn assessment endpoint is an ecologi-cal condition of potential concern or effect experienced by an1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E50 on EnvironmentalAssessment,Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-ity of Subcommittee E50.05 on Environmental Risk Management.Current edition approved Jan.1,2014.Published March 2014.Originallyapproved in 1996.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E1848 96(2008).DOI:10.1520/E1848-96R14.2The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to a list of references at theend of the text.3Available from ASTM International Headquarters and the ASTM website,www.astm.org.4For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.5A bibliography of related references and documents is provided in AppendixX2.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 ecological receptor with ecological and societal value thatdrives risk-based decision-making at a contaminated site(forexample,a specific reduction in the abundance of a fishpopulation or the disruption of the structure of benthic com-munity).It is a qualitative,quantitative,or quantifiableexpression,measure,metric,or index involving an ecologicalreceptor at risk.Under some circumstances,assessment end-points may be measured and used directly for assessmentpurposes.Assessment endpoints are the ultimate focus in riskcharacterization and link measurement endpoints(see below)to policy goals and the risk management process(1-3,5,6,8).3.2.2 chemical stressora chemical,chemical mixture orradionuclide present in an environmental medium that isknown or suspected to induce an adverse biological,toxico-logical or ecological re