Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Theory and Pactice [Hardcover]

Dennis J. Paustenbach (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 14, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0471147478 | ISBN-13: 978-0471147473 | Edition: 1

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Theory and Practice assembles the expertise of more than fifty authorities from fifteen different fields, forming a comprehensive reference and textbook on risk assessment. Containing two dozen case studies of environmental or human health risk assessments, the text not only presents the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline, but also serves as a complete handbook and "how-to" guide for individuals conducting or interpreting risk assessments. In addition, more than 4,000 published papers and books in the field are cited.

Editor Dennis Paustenbach has assembled chapters that present the most current methods for conducting hazard identification, dose-response and exposure assessment, and risk characterization components for risk assessments of any chemical hazard to humans or wildlife (fish, birds, and terrestrials). Topics addressed include hazards posed by:

• Air emissions
• Radiological hazards
• Contaminated soil and foods
• Agricultural hazards
• Occupational hazards
• Consumer products and water
• Hazardous waste sites
• Contaminated air and water

The bringing together of so many of the world's authorities on these topics, plus the comprehensive nature of the text, promises to make Human and Ecological Risk Assessment the text against which others will be measured in the coming years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…I believe that this text provides both the breadth of topics and the specific information and reference that will make it a valuable reference for years to come.” (Environmental Practice, September 2004)

“…an invaluable source of reference for students and practitioners alike.” (Journal of Risk Research, Vol. 7 No. 6, September 2004)

"...provides a theoretical primer on the four pillars of human health and ecological risk assessment...new chapters add depth and focus..." (Risk Policy Report, July 2002)

"...a comprehensive and authoritative text on risk assessment..." (Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 95, No. 3, December 2002)

"for the student...and practitioner...a good investment...difficult to see how any scientific library, consulting firm, or environmental organization can decide not to have a copy." (Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, Vol. 37, 2002)

"...almost guaranteed to be successful...offers a very well written compilation of relevant material, and it will certainly be useful to every reader..." (Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Vol. 42, 2003)

"...this new edition is a good update of Paustenbach’s pioneering risk assessment text, and...it is affordable..." (SETAC Globe, March-April 2003)

"...very well-written compilation of relevant material, and it will certainly be useful to every reader interested in this field."(Angewandte Chemie, Vol.42, No.17, 2003)

From the Back Cover

An authoritative guide to risk assessment, grounded in actual case studies of sites or issues that address a wide range of human and ecological hazards

"The overall quality of the text, with the emphasis on providing transparency in the calculations, the quantitative description of uncertainty in the risk estimates, and the importance of proper risk characterization should help ensure that better quality risk assessments are conducted in the coming years. Students and practitioners will benefit significantly from the work of Dr. Paustenbach and his colleagues."
-From the Foreword by William K. Reilly, former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Theory and Practice assembles the expertise of more than fifty authorities from fifteen different fields, forming a comprehensive reference and textbook on risk assessment. Containing two dozen case studies of environmental or human health risk assessments, the text not only presents the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline, but also serves as a complete handbook and ?how-to? guide for individuals conducting or interpreting risk assessments. In addition, more than 4,000 published papers and books in the field are cited.

Editor Dennis Paustenbach has assembled chapters that present the most current methods for conducting hazard identification, dose-response and exposure assessment, and risk characterization components for risk assessments of any chemical hazard to humans or wildlife (fish, birds, and terrestrials). Topics addressed include hazards posed by:
* Air emissions
* Radiological hazards
* Contaminated soil and foods
* Agricultural hazards
* Occupational hazards
* Consumer products and water
* Hazardous waste sites
* Contaminated air and water

The bringing together of so many of the world's authorities on these topics, plus the comprehensive nature of the text, promises to make Human and Ecological Risk Assessment the text against which others will be measured in the coming years.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1592 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 1 edition (May 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471147478
• ISBN-13: 978-0471147473
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,728,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Practitioner's Guide to Risk Assessment, December 3, 2002

By 

Ellen Wenning (Orinda, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Theory and Pactice (Hardcover)

Dr. Dennis Paustenbach's second handbook on human health and ecological risk assessment further confirms his stature as one of the world's preeminent risk assessment experts and a leading authority on environmental risks and chemical hazards. His new book, which describes both the theory and practice of risk assessment across a broad spectrum regulatory and environmental disciplines, is an excellent companion to his first book in 1989, which was the first published textbook at that time dedicated to environmental risk assessment. This second book provides the scientific community and environmental policy-makers with an up-to-date single source of information about how to conduct human and ecological risk assessments. It is far and away the most comprehensive treatment of the broad multi-discipline field of environmental toxicology and risk assessment available anywhere in print. The book includes over 10,000 full literature citations, which very likely represents the most comprehensive referencing of the published literature on this subject that has ever been compiled for the field of risk assessment. The book is a valuable technical resource in any health sciences and engineering library, and a desktop how-to companion for students, environmental toxicologists and chemists, environmental risk managers and policy decision-makers.

This book brings together approximately 60 experts from academia, consulting, industry, and government who have contributed significantly to health and ecological assessments in the United States over the past two decades. Their contributions weave a rich mosaic of experience and insights on both the theory of risk assessment and its practical applications to real world issues. The foreword and preface by former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrators William K. Reilly and William D. Ruckelhaus are a must read for environmental historians. The first six chapters provide a thorough review of basic risk assessment concepts. Most of the remaining 26 chapters present case studies addressing the common (and at times, unique) environmental and occupational health challenges that scientists have faced throughout the world over the past decade. Nearly half of the book is devoted to new and current public health issues such as understanding the hazards associated with radionuclides, consumer product safety, food safety, bioterrorism, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and children's health. The book concludes with seven chapters devoted to examination of the politics of risk communication and risk management, and a forecast of future environmental challenges.

Dr. Paustenbach has enjoyed a distinguished career as a scholar, health scientist and successful businessperson. He has tackled some of the most complex environmental contamination problems in the U.S. and in other countries over the past 25 years. He is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of environmental chemical risk assessment, and throughout the 1990's led the largest scientific consulting staff in private practice devoted entirely to human health and ecological risk assessment.
- Richard J. Wenning, ENVIRON International Corporation, San Francisco, CA