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(60-10) Routes forward in risk assessment of toxic compounds involving Species Sensitivity Distributions. Posthuma, Leo*,1, 1 RIVM, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands ABSTRACT- Species Sensitivity Distributions are functioning in various (legal) frameworks for risk assessment of toxic compounds. A recent review has addressed the methods' advantages and disadvantages. Before looking at ways forward in risk assessment involving SSDs, it is crucial to understand what the method, by virtue of its essentially statistics-based approach, can offer - and what not. Further, insight in the confirmation status and confirmation problems is needed, that is: how well can SSD-based predictions reflect ecological responses of contaminant-exposed ecosystems. This presentation will address the issues beyond the review, and looks at the question: how further? Analyses of ecological responses in some contaminant-exposed ecosystems taken from ongoing investigations are analysed. Selections of examples are made so, that some routes forward are illustrated, both for the SSD-methodology itself, regarding the requisites for an improved ease of use, and regarding the context in which SSDs can be of use. Key words: Species Sensitivity Distributions, Routes forward |
