Considerations Regarding the Use of Reference Area and Baseline Information in Ecological Risk Assessments

There has been debate in the recent literature as to whether a reference assessment should be included in ecological risk assessments (ERAs) of contaminated sites, and if so, how such an evaluation can be incorporated in a way that aids in decision making. It is our view that an assessment of reference conditions can be useful in the ERA process, for both prospective and retrospective ERAs, given adequate resources and acknowledgement and understanding of the limitations and uncertainties associated with this information. Suggestions and considerations for incorporating reference area information into an ecological risk assessment are discussed.