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Research Type or Product
Assessment
Depending on the context, assessments can be superficial or may require
extensive sampling and analysis. The term "assessment" is often
associated with another term associated with: risk, site, biological ecological,
exposure and health (human). Biological assessments are evaluations of
the condition of waterbodies using surveys and other direct measurements
of resident biological organisms (macroinvertebrates, fish, and plants).
Biological assessment results are used to answer the question of whether
waterbodies support survival and reproduction of desirable fish, shellfish,
and other aquatic species -- in other words, if the waterbodies meet their
designated aquatic life uses.
Water Quality Research Database
Cross-Media
Releases that may result in transfer of contaminants from the soil or solid media to water, air or other natural media are generally referred to as cross-media transfer.
Database
A computerized data management tool that allows the users or computer application to access and manage data.
Decision Support Tool
Decision support involves integration of expertise and data, followed by analysis and interpretation of the results to produce outcomes in terms of decision variables (health risk, cost, suitability, etc.). The decision support can be in the form of guidance that provides a framework for performing the analysis or software that has codified the expertise to allow more rapid analysis by many.
Ecological Research
The goal of ecological research is to provide the scientific understanding required to measure, model, maintain and/or restore, at multiple scales, the integrity and sustainability of ecosystems now and in the future. Four fundamental areas of ecological research are: (1) ecosystem monitoring; (2) ecological processes and modeling; (3) ecological risk assessment; and (4) ecological risk management and restoration. http://www.epa.gov/NERL/research/ecostrat.htm
Effects
Generally a measure of pollutant or toxic on the environment. Pollution is defined as the presence of matter or energy whose nature, location, or quantity produces undesired or deleterious environmental effects. A toxicity test measures the degree of effect on exposed test organisms of a specific chemical or effluent.
Exposure
Contact through any number of pathways (e.g. sorption, ingestion, inhalation or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains) with a chemical or physical agent.
Human Health Research
Human health research addresses uncertainties in human health risk assessment. Research develop, demonstrate, and provide protocols to strengthen multimedia risk assessment methods, and the scientific foundation for future risk assessments.
Indicators
A measurable quantity that can be used to evaluate the relationship between pollutant sources and their impact on water quality. Indicators should be technically robust; that is, the indicator should be measurable and quantifiable, and measurements of the indicator should be reproducible. Since comparability with previously collected information is important, it is helpful to select an indicator that is consistent with already-available data and for which information concerning reference and natural background conditions is available. biological indicators).
Risk Management
The public process of selecting the actions to take after determining risks exist. Risk Management integrates risk assessment with social, economic, engineering, and political factors that may influence the decision. Adapted from: Thompson, 1993. While the science of risk assessment helps risk management, it does not necessarily drive the decision. Other considerations may overwhelm the scientific contribution. A given community may elect to accept a condition that introduces large environmental stress at one location, but find a lesser induced stress unacceptable at another location. The second NRMRL research focus area is "identifying, developing, and evaluating tools and technologies for prevention, control, restoration, and remediation of environmental problems that are high risk, high cost, or that lack effective management alternatives. "US EPA, 1997 Update to ORD's Strategic Plan, EPA/600/R-97/015, April 1997.
Statistical Methods
The use of descriptive statistics, or statistical tests or procedures to evaluate data. Statistics are most commonly used to compare results, and to flag unusual or unlikely values. More formal statistical procedures may use specified sampling methods and performance specifications. Statistical methods to predict outcomes. Statistical methods offer a low cost approach to predicting problem. Typical statistical methods in use include multiple regression analysis and neural networking.