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Risk Assessment Methodology for Hazardous Waste Management (1998)

Paper Number: EE-0108

Document Date: 09/23/1988

Author(s):  Lawless, Edward

Subject Area(s):

Economic Analysis, Hazardous Waste, Risk Assessment, Uncertainty

Keywords: Economic Analysis, Hazardous Waste, Risk Assessment, Uncertainty

Abstract: 

A methodology is described for systematically assessing and comparing the risks to human health and the environment of hazardous waste management alternatives. The methodology selects and links appropriate models and techniques for performing the several portions of the comparative risk assessment process. The selection of component methods was based on intensive review and evaluation of the technical and science policy literature, particularly works on environmental transport modeling, health effects modeling, and risk assessment and risk management concepts. The goal of the methodology is to develop both best estimates of the risks to potentially exposed individuals and populations for each identified waste management alternatives and also estimates of the upper and lower limits of the risk range at one or more confidence levels, considering both random and systematic sources of uncertainty. The methodology as presently developed is oriented towards site-specific assessments of alternative treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and contains seven major steps: 1) source assessment (hazard characterization), 2) environmental transport and fate analysis, 3) exposure prediction, 4) health and environmental effects analysis, 5) adverse impact estimation and summation for exposed individuals and populations, 6) uncertainty analysis, and 7) comparison of results.

This paper is part of the  Environmental Economics Research Inventory.

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  • Risk Assessment Methodology for Hazardous Waste Management (PDF)(308 pp, 38 MB, 09/23/1988, EE-0108, EPA-230-02-89-041)
    Method described for systematically assessing and comparing the risks to human health and the environment of hazardous waste management alternatives. The methodology selects and links appropriate models and techniques for performing the several portions of the comparative risk assessment process. The selection of component methods was based on intensive review and evaluation of the technical and science policy literature - works on environ. transport modeling,health effects and risk assessment