Non-Chemical Impacts

Description:

Non-chemical ecological impacts include those that are caused by physical or biological disturbances. Non-chemical stressors identified by SETAC include: ionizing radiation, heat, noise, environmental disturbances (habitat alteration, including changes to biochemical cycling, biodiversity, and loss of endangered species), physical change to water (siltation and flow, interrupted surface or subsurface drainage, drop in aquifer levels), physical changes to soil(erosion and soil loss), regional climate change, and species change (alterations in composition or total diversity). These impacts are not distinct, but interact and overlap. At this point, the project does not include non-chemical human health impacts, such as physical trauma or depletion of sustenance. Impacts included in TRACI, WAR, and PARIS are based on the impacts of chemicals on human health and the environment. Non-chemical impacts are considered in other tools, such as P2P and LCA, but a comprehensive scheme for identifying and quantifying them is needed.

Status: Initiating a literature search of available tools and concepts.

Estimated Completion Date: FY02

Principal Investigator:

Terri Hoagland
hoagland.theresa@epa.gov

Non-Chemical Impacts

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