Document Type

Report

Abstract

Using an Integrated Assessment (IA) framework, we consolidated and utilized existing data from the Detroit River to develop models that both identify possible drivers of elevated fish contaminant body burdens, and to facilitate a more risk-based approach of tissue trigger-levels for consumption advisories. This integrated assessment approach was particularly useful for consumption advisories as it provided the ability to integrate and organize complex data in a manner that can help inform management decisions. In addition, the IA framework explicitly fosters collaboration and participation of multiple interested groups. We have capitalized on this component of IAs, by seeking the active participation of different stakeholder groups in developing logic models that identify the goals of the scientific assessment and the connections between the science and management or policy outcomes. This science-policy connection was the focus of workshops designed to evaluate frameworks identifying the goals and desired outcomes from the scientific assessment component of the IA. We approached this IA with the following objectives: 1) Synthesize and summarize the status and trends of fish contaminant levels and advisories in the Detroit River, through an assessment of the trends in the data as well as documentation of the history of the fish advisory in the river Canadian and U.S. 2) Describe the abiotic, biotic, and human health causes and consequences of fish consumption advisories, with an emphasison model simulation and explanatory analyses. This effort will focus on the environmental conditions that contribute to fish consumption advisories in addition to other factors that may exacerbate human health risks. 3) Identify the key uncertainties regarding the drivers of consumption advisories for use in prioritizing future research and monitoring efforts and in helping guide management and policy directives. 4) Utilize information on the causes and consequences of consumption advisories for providing technical guidance in implementing policy and management options. This will include a focus on short-term measures that reduce direct threats to human health and longer-term objectives to reduce overall body burden of fish in the Detroit River relative to reference areas.

Disciplines

Environmental Sciences | Fresh Water Studies | Geology | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Comments

This technical report is in the public domain.

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