A Probabilistic Ecological Risk Assessment of Zinc in Surface Waters of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Published:

May 1, 1999

the goal of this study was to conduct a screening level probabilistic ecological risk assessment of zinc in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by using the following distinct phases: problem formulation, analysis and risk characterization. This probabilistic ecological risk assessment characterized risk by comparing the probability distributions of environmental exposure concentrations with the probability distributions of species response data determined from laboratory toxicity studies. the overlap of these distributions was ameasure of risk to aquatic life. Comparative risk from zinc exposure was determined for various basins in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.