Risk Assessments

Ecological Risk Assessment

An Ecological Risk Assessment has been done on the Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River (API/PC/KR) Superfund Site which evaluates the possible harmful effects that human activities have on the plants and animals that make up ecosystems. The risk assessment involves developing, organizing and presenting the research so that it can be used to make environmental decisions.  When an ecological risk assessment is being made on a watershed, the process can identify exposed and important resources, data collection will be prioritized and analyzed, and link what potential effects of human activities.  When the data is collected and analyzed the risk assessment will help make management decisions available and keep the community informed of the jeopardy of the ecology.

For a summary of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site’s ERA, click here…

Human Health Risk Assessment

A Human Health Risk Assessment has been done on the Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River (API/PC/KR) Superfund Site to help determine the health risk to five populations: sport angler — central tendency assumptions sport anglers — high-end assumptions; subsistence anglers; residents, and recreationalists.  In all circumstances the exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mainly by consumption of fish or contact with contaminated soils (inhalation of dust and volatile emissions from floodplains near the three former river dams had risks and hazards were linked.

For more information related to recent health issues and risks pertaining to the Great Lakes basin, including summaries, reports, and beach closings, click here.