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EPA EcoBox (A Toolbox for Ecological Risk Assessors)

  • EcoBox: EPA's Premier Ecological Risk Assessment Resource

    EPA EcoBox provides easy-to-use topic areas to help all levels of risk assessors

  • EPA Ecological Risk Assessment Document

    Learn more about the Ecosystem Services Ecological Risk Assessment Endpoints Guidelines Document

  • Searching at your Fingertips

    EcoBox's advanced search can be used to find the latest links and resources by topic

EPA’s Ecological Risk Assessment ToolBox (EPA EcoBox) is a group of tools designed to assist with assessing ecological risk. An ecological risk assessment is the process for evaluating how likely it is that the environment might be impacted from an exposure to one or more environmental stressors, such as chemicals, land-use change, disease, and invasive species. EPA EcoBox provides links to guidance documents, databases, models, reference materials, and other related resources. The information and tools are organized according to six topics areas of interest to ecological risk assessors. Each of these tool sets provides information on how these topics are considered within the context of the phases of an Ecological Risk AssessmentA process that evaluates the likelihood that adverse ecological effects may occur or are occurring as a result of exposure to one or more stressors. Stressors are defined as any chemical, biological, or physical entity that can induce an adverse response on ecological individuals, populations, communities, or ecosystems. (ERA).

Phases of ERA

  • Phases of ERA Overview
    • Planning and Problem Formulation
    • Analysis
    • Risk Characterization
    • Tools

Stressors

  • Stressors Overview
    • Stressors in ERA
    • Chemical
    • Biological
    • Physical

Receptors

  • Receptors Overview
    • Receptors in ERA
    • Biota
    • Endangered Species
    • Ecosystems and Habitats

Exposure Pathways

  • Exposure Pathways Overview
    • Exposure Pathways in ERA
    • Air
    • Soil
    • Water and Sediment
    • Food Chains

Exposure Factors

  • Exposure Factors in ERA

Effects

  • Effects Overview
    • Effects in ERA
    • Aquatic
    • Terrestrial

Learn More

  • Basic Information
  • Get email alerts!

What is an Ecological Risk Assessment?

See EPA's Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment.

Related Links

  • Ecological Guidelines
  • Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center (ERASC)
  • Causal Analysis (CADDIS)
  • Watershed Academy
  • Wildlife Exposure Factors Handbook
  • Generic Ecological Assessment Endpoints (GEAE) for Ecological Risk Assessment, 2nd Edition (2016)

Search EcoBox

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Search EPA EcoBox

(A toolbox for
Ecological Risk Assessors)

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 24, 2025
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