Ecotoxicology

*** For current ecological risk assessment guidance, tools and other information on assessing contaminated sites, see Department of Toxic Substances Control’s Human and Ecological Risk Office (HERO) Ecological Risk Assessment ***

OEHHA’s Ecotoxicology Program was established in 1993 with the goal of applying tools from the developing field of human health risk assessment to address the risks caused by chemicals on California’s ecosystems. In 1998, the US EPA adopted a set of guidelines for “evaluating the likelihood that adverse ecological effects may occur or are occurring as a result of exposure to one or more physical, chemical, or biological stressors.” Ecological risk assessment (ERA) is based on a simple three-step process which includes a) identifying the problem or stressor(s) of concern, b) analyzing the stressors by characterizing their exposure and ecological effects, and c) characterizing risk using a variety of methods. The work of the OEHHA Ecotoxicology Program, which is now inactive, focused on applying this approach to understanding risks to the State’s ecological resources. 

The Ecotoxicology resources developed by OEHHA and their links, provided below, are included for informational purposes only and are not updated or maintained. For more information, please e-mail OEHHA Answers.

Dry Wells

Oregon’s Experience with Dry Wells: The Underground Injection Control Program

Ecotoxicology Resource Links

Dry Creek Watershed Assessment and Indicator Report

Impervious Surface Analysis

Toxicity Testing Guidance Documents

Overview of Freshwater and Marine Toxicity Tests: A Technical Tool for Ecological Risk Assessment

Aquatic Resources & Watersheds

Background: Factsheet on the Effect of Urbanization on the Water Cycle

Factsheet on Low Impact Development: a Sensible Approach to Land Development and Stormwater Management

Reports, Notices, Documents

: Dry Wells

OEHHA, the City of Elk Grove and a team of hydrologists examined the potential environmental risks associated with the use of dry wells. Infiltration of stormwater runoff through dry wells with pretreatment may pose little risk to groundwater quality.

: CalEcotox Database

CalEcotox is a searchable database that has been recently updated and contains relevant data for over 90 California mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians for use in ecotoxicological risk assessments in California

: CalEcotox Database

A compilation of physiological and ecological parameters and toxicity data for a number of California fish and wildlife species.

A fact sheet describing Oregon's dry well program.  Oregon's program is the most well developed in the country.

Extensive list of external sources of information for ecological risk assessment provided for informational purposes.