黑料网

Abstract

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) is a critical tool for evaluating the potential impacts of environmental stressors, such as pollutants, on ecosystems and their biodiversity. This interdisciplinary approach bridges the gap between toxicology and environmental conservation by combining principles from both fields to assess risks to environmental health. The ERA process involves hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization, and plays a pivotal role in the management and conservation of ecosystems. Toxicology provides insight into the mechanisms through which chemicals and other stressors affect organisms at various levels-molecular, individual, population, and community-while environmental conservation focuses on preserving ecosystem services and biodiversity. This paper explores the role of ERA in ecological decision-making, highlighting its application in environmental policy and conservation strategies. Key challenges include the integration of complex ecological data, the assessment of non-chemical stressors, and the uncertainty in predicting ecosystem-level outcomes. A comprehensive and context-specific approach is necessary to improve ERA methodologies and enhance environmental conservation efforts.