Sessions

Session Chairs: David Moore , Jeff Steevens
Session Chairs Affiliations: Weston Solutions, USACE -ERDC
Email: david.moore@westonsolutions.com:

This platform session will provide an opportunity to discuss comparative ecotoxicological studies. Emphasis will be on papers which include comparative evaluations for purposes of establishing more responsive and/or ecologically relevant endpoints. It is anticipated that papers will include comparison between field and laboratory based studies, acute and chronic endpoints, testing under different environmental conditions (e.g., freshwater vs marine), as well as comparison between species. Invited speakers will include representatives from academia, industry/consulting, and government.

Session Chairs: Carys Mitchelmore
Session Chairs Affiliations: UMCES, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Email: mitchelmore@cbl.umces.edu:

Coral reef ecosystems are highly productive and diverse and are of huge ecological and economic importance. A rapid decline in the health of the world's coral reefs has been described in the past decade. Many reefs are in serious decline or change and numerous literature studies point to human activities playing a major role at global, regional and local scales. Studies directed at understanding the mechanisms involved in the stress response, the impacts / effects of anthropogenic inputs and the development of diagnostic tools in coral reef organisms are encoraged to submit to this session. These may include laboratory or field-based mechanistic and applied studies that describe the impacts and effects of anthropogenic stressors on corals or other associated reef organisms. Studies focussed on the development and application of new diagnostic tools (forensic measures) to detect stress before physiological decline and mortality to aid in management decisions in these locations are also encouraged. Understanding the current health of the world's coral reefs, the role of anthropogenic stressors and the prediction of future changes are the focus areas for this session.

Session Chairs: Linda Ziccardi , Steve Diamond
Session Chairs Affiliations: Exponent EcoSciences, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Continent Ecology Division
Email: lziccardi@exponent.com:

The study of the ecological effects of nanomaterials is an emerging area in toxicology today. Although current research is somewhat limited, it is rapidly expanding, and the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles is coming under regulatory scrutiny. Some of the available research has concluded that nanoparticles can be taken up by and produce effects in aquatic and terrestrial biota, and that dose-response relationships and patterns of relative toxicity are emerging. The objectives of this session will be to present current research, expand our knowledge of the effects of nanomaterials on ecological processes and receptors, and provide information that might help guide future research.

Session Chairs: Dr. Sean M. Richards , Mark L. Hanson
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Tennessee - Chattanooga, University of Manitoba
Email: seanrichards.utc@gmail.com:

While ecotoxicology purports to be, at its fundamental level, dedicated to understanding the effects of chemical stressors on ecosystem structure and function, very little work is conducted to elucidate the ecological mechanisms by which these effects might be manifested. While this is somewhat understandable at the laboratory level, it is still the status quo in much of field-level ecotoxicology. The emphasis remains primarily on characterizing direct effects. Indirect, ecosystem-level effects, when described, usually are treated qualitatively, without any meaningful analysis or linkage to ecological theory. This session will focus on work that is explicitly attempting to incorporate an understanding of ecological repercussions from indirect mechanisms of effect, and the testing of ecological theories in an ecotoxicological context.

Session Chairs: Thomas L Deardorff
Session Chairs Affiliations: Exponent
Email: tdeardorff@exponent.com:

Degradation, damage or destruction of the environment by natural events (e.g., hurricanes, volcanic eruption, floods, fire) or anthropogenic activities (e.g., industrial accidents, construction activities, berm failures), often require ecological restoration. Projects to assist in returning the terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems to a close approximation of its remaining natural potential are growing yearly. Understanding the ecosystem prior to the adverse impact, best practices for restoring the system, the impacts of exotic species, and needs for monitoring and evaluations are critical to the restorative process. However, the techniques used to achieve a successful restoration project vary. Federal and State guidelines are in place to facilitate the recovery process and provide metrics toward a successful recovery. This session will highlight case studies, design and site management practices, and State and Federal guidelines.

Session Chairs: Dr. David W. Graham , Mark L. Hanson
Session Chairs Affiliations: Newcastle University, University of Manitoba
Email: d.graham@ncl.ac.uk:

The impacts on ecosystems by anthropogenic stressors, which do not recognize political borders, are a global issue that increasingly require multinational efforts to solve. The developing world is beginning to expand its environmental protection and ecological risk assessment initiatives, in many cases with the cooperation of those nations with more extensive experience in these matters. Technical approaches to characterizing toxicity, exposure and implementing remediation, restoration or improved industrial processes will often be the same in developed or developing nations. However in some scenarios, there are uniquely different challenges in developing countries, especially related the prioritization of environmental issues and remediation goals; i.e., what is considered ‘critical’ may vary from situation to situation, and it is essential that quality science be applied to solve the most important local issues rather than serve larger research agendas. Furthermore, hurdles to locally valuable research can be many, including social, cultural, financial, political and scientific issues, which may not be obvious in the planning stages of many programs. This session will allow those with experience working in these regions to expound on their lessons learned, the pitfalls and pratfalls, and sage advice they can give others in the face of such pursuits. A special emphasis will be placed on interactions in Africa, South and Latin America, and Arctic regions.

Session Chairs: David Volz , Olga Tsyusko
Session Chairs Affiliations: Syngenta, University of Kentucky
Email: david.volz@syngenta.com:

Molecular and genetic approaches are widely used in biomedical science but seldom incorporated into classic ecotoxicological research. Current molecular and genetic approaches to environmental toxicology include, but are not limited to, understanding the chemical, spatial, and temporal dependence between mechanistic and pathologic changes; identifying patterns of mRNA transciption, protein translation, and metabolites; modeling molecular networks in response to chemical exposure; utilizing knock-down- and/or transgenic-based approaches approaches for identification of functionally-relevant genes and proteins; and understanding the influence of genetic variability on individual- or population-level responses. The objective of this platform session is to feature biological scientists promoting the use of innovative molecular and/or genetic approaches that address unanswered questions in molecular environmental toxicology. To avoid redundancy among platforms, we propose to select abstracts within a range of biological disciplines that incorporate environmental toxicology, demonstrate groundbreaking research, and provide the greatest potential for shifting current paradigms in toxicology. The overall goal of this session is to promote molecular and genetic applications to conventional environmental toxicology using a range of in vivo or in vitro animal models. In addition, this session will continue to bridge collaborations among scientists with common biological approaches but diverse research interests in environmental toxicology.

Session Chairs: James T. Oris , Aaron P. Roberts
Session Chairs Affiliations: Miami University, University of North Texas
Email: orisjt@muohio.edu:

Aquatic organisms are exposed to a vast array of natural and human-induced stressors, and they must cope simultaneously with multiple stressors throughout their lifespan as individuals and over the long-term within a population. Exposure to stressors such as increased UV and temperature due to climate change, pesticides or fossil fuels from runoff or direct inputs, and introduction of exotic or invasive species will each have predictable effects on organisms. However, the consequences of multiple stressors (eg., insecticides plus exotic species introduction; increased UV plus warmer temperatures) may result in effects at the individual, population, and community levels that are not predicted by experiments with single, isolated stressors. In this session, we will explore some of the potential consequences of multiple stressor exposure in aquatic ecosystems.

Session Chairs: Richard Frank , Richard Kavanagh
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Guelph
Email: frankr@uoguelph.ca:

The oil sands of the Athabasca Basin contribute to Canada’s possession of the second largest global oil reserves, and serve as a valuable commodity in an industry that has experienced rapid expansion and is projected for continued growth. A substantial research effort has been dedicated to the analysis, toxicological characterization, and remediation of the affected mine sites and waste materials that are produced during the mining of oil sand and the subsequent extraction of bitumen. Scientists focusing on oil sands research projects are encouraged to share their findings in this session, with the goal of facilitating scientific discussion and potential collaboration in future research initiatives.

Session Chairs: Robert Kroger
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Mississippi Field Station and Center for Water and Wetland Resources
Email: robert.kroger@ars.usda.gov:

Wetlands as holistic systems help mitigate a slew of pollutants e.g. pesticides, heavy metals, nutrients and sediments. This session aims to look intrinsically at wetland systems and evaluate how we can improve their effectiveness. Wetland systems are developed according to the specific pollutant needs i.e. series, aerobic/anaerobic constructed wetlands for dairy waste, ubiquitous drainage ditches for agricultural runoff, aerobic free surface wetlands for acid mine drainage. Research is moving towards identifying those components of wetlands that improve their effectiveness. Plant, sediment types, flow rate adjustments – numerous factors help to improve the mitigation efficiency. These factors will also change according to the pollutant specifically mitigated –i.e. heavy metals, pesticides, nutrients and/or sediment. This session is also aimed at looking at the toxicity of various pollutants on various wetland components. How do pollutants affect plant metabolic activity? At what effluent load do certain wetland plants survive? Overall the session will encompass toxicity and contaminant related issues with wetland systems.

Session Chairs: Dr. Danny Reible , Tim Thompson
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Texas at Austin, SEE, LLC
Email: reible@mail.utexas.edu:

This session will focus on field and laboratory research related to the addition of physical and/or chemical amendments to sediment capping remedial alternatives. The emphasis will be on work that addresses how specific amendments have been shown to alter the fate and toxicity of contaminants in sediments, and the ability to alter or prevent uptake into benthic organisms. The papers submitted should present work that shows the ability of the amendments to provide sorption capacity and retardation of contaminant migration, but also how these amendments may also encourage contaminant degradation. Presentations on laboratory and field trials that have evaluated methods for application in the field, and the overall effect to the benthic community and aquatic ecosystem will also be included.

Session Chairs: Steven Lev , Ryan Casey , Joel Snodgrass
Session Chairs Affiliations: Towson University
Email: slev@towson.edu:

Stormwater management ponds are common features of more recent development and are required by most state and local governments as part of more comprehensive stormwater management practices. Storm water ponds are designed to mitigating the impacts of pollutants and stormwater runoff generated by impervious areas, lawns, and other highly managed surfaces typical of urban and suburban landscapes. By intercepting and detaining runoff before it enters surface water systems, storm water ponds promote biological and physical removal and detention of pollutants, dissipation of thermal pollution, and groundwater recharge, ultimately protecting hydrological and water quality characteristics of natural streams and wetlands. While storm water ponds are human created habitats, they may superficially resemble natural wetlands and attract wildlife use as well. However, stormwater ponds may represent significant threats to wildlife in urban and suburban areas as they may serve to expose wildlife to the pollutants they are designed to sequester. Moreover, while short-term (individual storm event) studies indicate storm water ponds are effective at removing pollutants, the effectiveness of ponds over longer time scales (years) and the interaction of ponds with human populations have received less attention. Additionally, while stormwater ponds are generally designed to attenuate sediment-bound pollutant loads, these designs can promote the infiltration of soluble pollutants (e.g. road salt) into groundwater with the potential for down-gradient contamination of surface waters. This session will examine interactions among stormwater pond design, lands use, pollutant accumulation, short and long-term protection of natural habitats, and exposure of urban wildlife populations to pollutants. Outcomes of the session should promote a more comprehensive approach to stormwater pond design and management that recognizes the multifunctional nature of these uniquely urban habitats.

Session Chairs: James Lazorchak , Alistair Boxall , Daniel Caldwell
Session Chairs Affiliations: USEPA Offiice of Research and Development, York University EcoChemistry Team, "Johnson & Johnson Worldwide Environment, Health and Safety"
Email: lazorchak.jim@epa.gov:

This session will contain presentations that overview chemical and genomic approaches that address exposure issues that address the following questions: What do we know about the environmental transport of pharmaceuticals in aquatic and soil systems? What do we know about the mechanisms of degradation and sorption in water, sediment and soil as well as the impacts of sludge manure on the fate and bioavailability of pharmaceuticals to aquatic or terrestrial organisms? What do we know about the patterns of exposure from point and non-point sources of pharmaceuticals? What do we know about statistical approaches or exposure modeling to simulate, predict and test the efficacy of laboratory approaches to real world low level continuous versus episodic exposure? What do we know about the application of structure-property (activity) and biodegradability relationships for pharmaceuticals? What do we know about bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of pharmaceuticals in aquatic and terrestrial organisms? What do we know about the differences in estimating risk using an individual substances approach vs a mixture approach? What do we know about setting environmental standards at the population level vs the individual level? Which under or overestimates risk? How do we integrate data on pharmaceuticals from human/animal metabolism/excretion studies into exposure assessments? What do we know about estimating the ecotoxicity of pharmaceuticals to aquatic and terrestrial organisms based on human pharmacology?

Session Chairs: Kristie Willett , Richard Di Giulio
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Mississippi, Duke University
Email: kwillett@olemiss.edu:

This session will offer researchers a chance to share their results associated with mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) toxicity. PAHs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that are listed in the top ten CERCLA hazardous substances. Because PAH concentrations are increasing in the environment, understanding their toxicity is relevant to both wildlife and human health. While the larger molecular weight PAHs have classically been associated with carcinogenesis, newer research, in fish models especially, has highlighted PAH’s ability to impact other physiological processes including reproduction, development, and immune response. This session will highlight studies probing the mechanisms by which these various toxicities occur.

Session Chairs: Elin Ulrich , Marsha Morgan , Florence Fulk
Session Chairs Affiliations: US Environmental Protection Agency
Email: ulrich.elin@epa.gov:

By bridging the fields of ecological and human exposure, we can further improve our ability to characterize, forecast, hindcast, and manage exposure, which are goals of both areas of exposure research. The goal of this forum is to expand the realm of research possibilities and initiate a paradigm shift to harmonize these two fields of research. In this forum, we will share and discuss ideas to better integrate human and ecological exposure research for organic pollutants in the environment. To more fully integrate this research, we must 1) understand the problems faced and solutions used in both fields; 2) plan ways to include exposure research into one framework and project strategy; and 3) execute research to benefit both humans and ecosystems. Specific focus areas will address the following topics: successful execution of research where both human and ecological exposures are addressed together and the benefits of such efforts; tools, methodologies, biomarkers, and indicators applicable to both fields; and existing opportunities where collaboration would be beneficial. By focusing on similarities rather than the differences between human and ecological exposure research, significant scientific gains can be made in the environmental field. "Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy."

Session Chairs: Jessica Yeager , Mindy Armstead , David Trimm
Session Chairs Affiliations: Potesta and Associates, Potesta and Associates, Inc., Ecology and Environment
Email: jlyeager@potesta.com:

This session is a forum for discusion for coal slurry impoundment releases focusing on a large coal slurry release in eastern Kentucky. Topics may include spill response, agency interaction, damage assessment, risk assessments, restoration, and establishing recovery.

Session Chairs: William Stubblefield
Session Chairs Affiliations: Parametrix
Email: stubblew@onid.orst.edu:

Advances in modeling, toxicology, and physiology have led to the development of models (e.g. Biotic Ligand Models) which predict acute metal toxicity to aquatic organisms as a function of water chemistry. However, there is a need for more experimental data on a wider range of organisms, metals, and water chemistry to improve and refine current acute models. Since these models show considerable promise as regulatory tools, there is now a growing interest in applying similar modeling approaches to the prediction of chronic toxicity of metals in the aquatic environment. This interest has highlighted the need for better definition of chronic endpoints, greater physiological understanding of the mechanisms of chronic toxicity, and greater understanding of the potential role of multiple route exposure (e.g. trophic transfer) in contributing to chronic toxicity. This session will encompass all these issues, and will be of interest to all those interested in the acute and chronic toxicity of metals to aquatic organisms.

Session Chairs: Daniel W. Smith
Session Chairs Affiliations: CRA, Inc
Email: dwsmith@craworld.com:

Co-occurrence sediment quality guidelines (Co-SQBs) are widely used in regulation and regulatory science to assess toxicity to macrobenthos. The Co-SQBs effectively have the imprimatur of regulatory science. However, some analyses suggest that the Co-SQBs are not science at all, but a witches' brew of pseudo-science, overt bias, and blind faith. If the latter is only half correct, it begs two critical questions. First, is sediment toxicity really a significant problem or largely mis-interpretation of worst-case risk assessment. Second, has the regulatory science community adequately vetted other aspects of this issue. For example, are bioassays, especially very sensitive, chronic bioassays, really predictive of community effects in the field? Or in cases where moderate levels of sediment toxicity really occurs (i.e., some species are actually excluded), does that really significantly impact aquatic production? And ultimately, what are we protecting -- benthos or the fish and wildlife that rely on benthos? This session will examine, critically, various methods to assess sediment toxicity and extrapolation of those methods to field populations and effects.

Session Chairs: J. Kevin Summers
Session Chairs Affiliations: U.S. EPA
Email: summers.kevin@epa.gov:

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment produced a compelling synthesis of the global value of ecosystem services to human well-being. While the MEA was a critical, initial step to demonstrate the potential for assessing global trends in ecosystem services, it is important to note that the MEA did not attempt to down-scale such assessments to regional or even national scales of analysis, nor did it attempt to create methods and tools to support decision-makers at any level of governance, industry, or citizen action. A new ecosystem services research program is needed in which we define ecosystem services as “the products of ecological functions or processes that directly or indirectly contribute to human well-being, or have the potential to do so in the future”. The vision of this research program would be to contribute to a comprehensive theory and practice for characterizing, quantifying, and valuing ecosystem services and to ensure that their relationship to human well-being is consistently incorporated into environmental decision making. Building upon indicators linking ecosystem services to human and community health, both ecosystem and placed based information could be used to develop a Well-Being Index (WBI). This index will expand the interpretation of ecosystem service indicators into an overall quality of life measurement for environmental decision support.

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Session Chairs: Robert Spehar
Session Chairs Affiliations: U.S. EPA
Email: spehar.robert@epa.gov:

The session on Aquatic Toxicology - General includes research on the effects of both inorganic and organic compounds on various life stages of aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate species. Research can include both short- and long-term studies to determine effects of a variety of compounds including metals, pesticides or other organic compounds on survival, growth, reproduction and biaccumulation in fishes and aquatic invertebrates. Studies involving the combination of chemical compounds or conventional pollutants that investigate the effects of interactions on toxicity endpoints also should be submitted to this session.

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Session Chairs: David Volz , Michelle Embry
Session Chairs Affiliations: Syngenta, ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI)
Email: david.volz@syngenta.com:

Herbicides are important agricultural and turf management tools for successful weed control in the United States. Over the last 15-20 years, implementation of best management practices have significantly decreased off-site movement of herbicides (and sediments) from application sites and, subsequently, improved surface water quality. However, herbicides can be detected by current monitoring efforts in surface waters, where exposure patterns are highly dependent on use patterns, watershed characteristics, and chemical fate characteristics. Given highly variable exposure profiles and species-specific sensitivities to herbicides, some challenges remain for assessing potential ecological risk of herbicides in aquatic ecosystems, such as indirect effects on higher trophic levels due to direct effects on aquatic plants. The objective of this platform session is to feature the latest comprehensive assessments of potential herbicide effects on freshwater or estuarine ecosystems. We propose to select abstracts that integrate GIS-based spatial analyses, refined exposure modeling/monitoring, and comprehensive effects datasets in order to better characterize geographically and temporally explicit assessments of potential herbicide exposure. The overall goal of this session is to provide a platform for scientists and risk assessors to present the latest aquatic ecological risk assessments related to herbicide use. In addition, this session will provide a general forum for discussing challenges and technological solutions available for conducting site-specific aquatic risk assessments.

Session Chairs: Pierre Yves Robidoux , John W. Davis
Session Chairs Affiliations: National Research Council Canada, The Dow Chemical Company
Email: Pierre-Yves.Robidoux@cnrc-nrc.gc.ca:

In environmental toxicology, beneficial or adverse effects of a chemical depend on the amount reaching an active site in, or on the surface of an organism. These environment-organism concentration relationships often are discussed in terms of bioaccessibility, bioavailability and bioaccumulation. These concepts are now well established as a key factor in ecotoxicology and risk assessment and have been studied extensively in the aquatic environment. However, knowledge is lacking for soil ecotoxicology and research involving different contaminants (e.g., metals) is progressing. Indeed, soils are considerably variable biotopes both spatially and temporally, more than sediment or water bodies. Soil properties are known to markedly modulate toxicant behaviour and toxicity in soils. Methods for assessing bioaccessibility, bioavailability and bioaccumulation in soils are being developed and validated. In order to better assess the risk of contaminated soils, relevant and validated bioavailability assessment methods and data are needed. This session will provide a tribune for outstanding scientists investigating the bioavailability of contaminants in soil biota and to report the latest advances in the field. Leading scientists will present their latest findings, ongoing research and will pinpoint gaps and needs in research and regulation. Methods and models to access bioaccessibility, bioavailability and bioaccumulation, with reference to soil properties, chemical dose and exposure, as well as future challenges will be discussed.

Session Chairs: Sebastien Humbert , Thomas McKone
Session Chairs Affiliations: UC Berkeley
Email: sebastien_humbert@berkeley.edu:

This session will address the environmental and human health benefits and burdens associated with biofuels. The following issues will be addressed: Prospects and Pitfalls of Biofuel (cost, climate, health, environmental and socioeconomic), The need for biofuel life-cycle assessment and how LCA adresses life-cycle cost, carbon footprint, and human health, feedstock production, biomass production, transportation and storage, Life-cycle infrastructure, material/energy demands and potential impacts, Developing an Inventory of materials flows and emissions, Global warming and biofuels, Air quality issues, Human Health and Ecotoxicology, Water use and water impacts, and Waste materials.

Session Chairs: Ron Checkai , Mark Johnson , Doris ""Andy"" Anders
Session Chairs Affiliations: U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center - Environmental Toxicology, U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, AIR FORCE CENTER FOR ENGINEERING & THE ENVIRONMENT
Email: Ron.Checkai@us.army.mil:

This Session focuses on the terrestrial fate, ecotoxicity, or Risk Assessment of "Materials of Importance to the Military" (other than explosives) as potential contaminants in soil environments, plus innovative methods developed to investigate material properties, fate, or effects. The common thread for this session is reporting on research or Risk Assessment that establishes environmental fate data or ecotoxicological benchmarks for "Materials of Importance to the Military" in soil environments, or innovative methods established for such investigations. U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) strategy for the environment applies an ecosystem approach to managing natural resources at installations. It builds on advancements in environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology to enhance sustainability of natural resources and improve land management practices, while supporting requirements for sustaining military testing, training, and mission capabilities. Proactive protection of the terrestrial environment and ecosystems at DoD installations is in-part achieved by utilizing best-available information regarding environmental fate and ecotoxicological effects of "Materials of Importance to the Military" for both military-unique materials and common industrial chemicals, compounds, and materials, that may be used in unique or specialized DoD applications. Common-material used in a unique manner, or unusual location, can present an environmental fate or ecotoxicological issue that requires special attention in order to establish benchmark values and make appropriate management decisions. A partial listing of "Materials of Importance to the Military" that may impact terrestrial environments includes: soil contaminants at DoD sites, chemical elements and compounds, smokes/obscurants, counter-measure materials, solvents, composites and specialized materiel, nanomaterial, non-lethal suppressants, training surrogates, chemical agent simulants, toxic chemical agents, decontaminants; related compounds. This Session will provide a forum for scientists to report and discuss most recent research results to government/regulatory, university, industry, and contractor representatives, and stakeholders, on material-classes important to the military and concerned parties.

Session Chairs: Carolyn Fordham , Robin DeHate ,
Session Chairs Affiliations: GEI Consultants, Inc.
Email: cfordham@geiconsultants.com:

There are many human health and ecological risk assessment issues related to former Manufactured Gas Plants (MGP) sites throughout the U.S. These sites are usually in urbanized areas, which makes them difficult to evaluate due to the presence of confounding contaminants of concern. Chemical forensic analysis methods have been utilized to identify MGP versus non-MGP related contaminants. Soil vapor intrusion assessments and evaluation of human health risks associated with this potential exposure pathway are being routinely required by regulatory agencies. This session will address potential issues related to human health and ecological risks due to exposure to contaminated soils and groundwater. Soil vapor intrusion into indoor air and other fate and transport pathways associated with MGP sites will be investigated.

Session Chairs: Kevin Henry , Dr. Thomas Steeger , Nancy Golden
Session Chairs Affiliations: Syngenta Crop Protection, US Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Fate and Effects Division, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Email: kevin.henry@syngenta.com:

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act requires that EPA ensure that pesticides, when used according to the label directions, will not have unreasonable adverse effects on the environment. The Endangered Species Act requires a determination of whether a pesticide's use may affect a federally-listed threatened or endangered species, or adversely modify its designated critical habitat. These endangered species determinations must include consideration of both direct effects and indirect effects to the species at issue. For the indirect effects assessments, screening level risk assessment and refined risk assessment methods are being developed. Some aspects of these assessments that are important and under discussion are: exposure estimates for prey items, species biology considerations, definition of the relevant endpoints and levels of concern, incorporation of population- or community-level models in the assessment, data quality standards, and location of species relative to the usage of the compound. This session will examine the different methods for, and perspectives on addressing indirect effects.

Session Chairs: Scott E. Belanger , Michelle R. Embry , Ph.D.
Session Chairs Affiliations: Procter & Gamble, Senior Scientific Program Manager
Email: Belanger.se@pg.com:

The concept of developing assays that can reduce, refine or replace (the 3-R’s) traditional whole animal tests for use in all areas of science was historically aimed at higher vertebrates. However, today the need for advances in Animal Alternatives is equally important in environmental science. Use of lower vertebrates such as fish and amphibians for the purposes of assessing effluent toxicity, chemical effects, endocrine disruption, bioaccumulation, and classification and labeling of chemicals and products are all affected by the long-term goal of replacing in vivo vertebrate assays with in vitro methods, assays using non-protected life stages, statistical and QSAR approaches, and the like. This session, sponsored by the SETAC Science Advisory Group on Animal Alternatives in Environmental Science, will explore new assessment frameworks, methodologies relevant to the 3-R’s, and the long-term science agenda for animal alternatives in environmental hazard and risk assessment.

Session Chairs: Annemette Palmqvist , Valery Forbes , Pernille Thorbek
Session Chairs Affiliations: Roskilde University, Roskilde University, "Environmental safety, Syngenta"
Email: apalm@ruc.dk:

Using population models in ecological risk assessment (ERA) offers great opportunities for adding more ecological realism into ERA. It also aids extrapolation from effect studies on the limited number of species that can be tested to the range of species and situations for which we wish to estimate risk. Population models are excellent tools for exploring the importance of and interactions among ecological complexities, for helping to identify sensitive species, important exposure scenarios and data gaps and for generating hypothesis that should be further evaluated. But there are challenges too; lack of standards for communicating the models, lack of guidance on model design and analysis, uncertainty about necessary model complexity, lack of transparency and lack of case studies to show the benefits of ecological modelling, to name a few. Whereas these challenges are not insurmountable, they need to be thoroughly addressed before population models can become widely accepted as tools for risk assessment. This session aims to provide insights into how population modelling can improve ERA as well as highlight the challenges we face when we try to implement population models in ERA, and come up with suggestions on how we best can overcome the obstacles.

Session Chairs: Norman Birchfield , David Volz
Session Chairs Affiliations: U.S. EPA, "Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc."
Email: birchfield.norman@epa.gov:

Genomics research and technology is advancing at a rapid pace. Though advances in genomics present industry and regulatory agencies with new challenges, it is likely that genomics approaches will greatly assist in advancing product development/safety, risk assessment, and regulatory policy and decision making processes. New techniques, hardware, and knowledge of genomics responses have the potential to improve our understanding of how organisms respond to environmental stressors as well as increasing the efficiency in how we reach our conclusions. Genomics data are becoming useful for industry in developing and screening candidate chemicals for safety and efficacy. Regulatory agencies are beginning to consider the use of genomics data in prioritizing chemicals and contaminated sites, for monitoring, and risk assessment. Genomics also holds the potential to reduce, refine, or replace more costly and time consuming toxicological studies. However, there are several challenges to the use of genomics in meaningful ways. Critical needs for research include linking genomics information to adverse outcomes and interpreting genomics information. This session will contain presentations of ongoing work to address these critical needs. During the final 20 minutes of the session, we propose to moderate a brief discussion of issues and concerns among attendees, as well as provide ideas or solutions not covered within the platforms.

Session Chairs: James Meador , Nelson Beyer
Session Chairs Affiliations: NOAA Fisheries, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center - USGS
Email: james.meador@noaa.gov:

This session will present papers concerning the tissue residue approach for assessing toxicity and managing chemical contamination. We expect the presentations to highlight selected contaminants as case studies that use tissue residues for toxicity evaluations. While many of the talks will be case studies, we expect some to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of using tissue concentrations as the dose metric in laboratory and field studies. Currently, there are very few cases where tissue residues have been used in risk assessments or as criteria values; however, we expect these subjects to be addressed by some of the authors. We also expect that the presentations will cover a wide range of taxa, including birds, mammals, fish, and invertebrates.

Session Chairs: Dwayne Moore , Larry Brewer
Session Chairs Affiliations: Intrinsik Environmental Sciences, Springborn Smithers Laboratories
Email: dmoore@intrinsikscience.com:

This session will focus on advances in knowledge and modeling of avian risk. For example, recent studies have been conducted to determine how food avoidance behavior mitigates exposure of birds to pesticides in the field. Similarly, recent studies have documented the influence of the dietary matrix on toxicity of pesticides in birds. These are examples of recent advances that improve our ability to model risk of pesticides to birds. There are numerous other advances in both knowledge and modeling methodology that have occured in recent years. The purpose of this session will be to present recent studies and methodologies that improve the science of avian risk assessment of pesticides.

Session Chairs: Frank S. Dillon
Session Chairs Affiliations: CH2M HILL
Email: fdillon@ch2m.com:

An increased understanding of the complexities of assessing potential ecological risk from contaminated sediments as well as an growing number of assessment tools challenges risk assessors in designing an effect contaminated sediment investigation. Ecological risk assessors are faced with decisions on what methods to apply and when. This session is intended to explore the utility of decision science as well as other decision processes in designing and implementing contaminated sediment investigations.

Session Chairs: Paul van den Brink
Session Chairs Affiliations: Alterra and Wageningenb University
Email: paul.vandenbrink@wur.nl:

Traits are the physiological, morphological and ecological attributes of species, or other taxonomic entities, which describe their physical characteristics, ecological niche and functional role within an ecosystem. Trait-based approaches are now being introduced into the field of Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) and bioassessment of ecological quality (biomonitoring) of aquatic ecosystems. This is a consequence of our realisation that taxonomy-based descriptions of natural systems place limitations on our ability to describe ecological responses to stress. Whereas taxonomy can be regarded as a higher-level expression of the genetic composition of organisms, traits can be seen as their functional consequence. In this session examples and the pros and cons of applying trait-based approaches in ERA will be discussed as well as the efforts needed to realise its full potential and the role SETAC can play in fostering TERA

Session Chairs: Mary Reiley , Uwe Schneider
Session Chairs Affiliations: U.S. EPA, Environment Canada
Email: reiley.mary@epa.gov:

The agencies responsible for protecting and improving water quality in the US, Canada, EU and other countries have a constant need for the information and data generated by the researchers and investigators that make up SETAC and other organizations and individuals focused on environmental science . Not only do long standing programs need to stay at the forefront of the science to ensure continued success, efficiency, effectiveness, and credibility, new water quality and aquatic ecosystem concerns emerge at a staggering pace. Anticipated subject areas include addressing the needs of effluent-dependent waters, the influence of toxicity-modifying factors on substances of priority concern, the microbiology of a healthy aquatic ecosystem & microbiological indicators of adverse effects, link water quality to protection of threatened and endangered species, aquatic life toxicity determinations without testing, bench and field detection and testing methods, etc. The scientific objective of this session is to make investigators aware of the research needs of these entities so that they can develop more informed proposals, research, academic, and outreach programs. This information is needed to increase the number of collaborative research activities, leverage the research resources and expertise of a broader universe of investigators, and diversify the perspectives that are brought to regulatory science. The ultimate environmental outcome will be more accurate levels of aquatic life protection; broader interest, participation, and perspective brought to water quality and ecosystem decision making; and increased acceptance of the science and its application by all stakeholders. This session will outline the research questions the regulatory community needs answered in order to achieve the environmental results they have been asked to deliver. The session will also highlight recently completed research designed and conducted to inform regulatory decisions that make environmental improvements possible. Finally, the session will tee-up some of the research questions that must be answered to determine which potential future water quality concerns may become actual water quality concerns and would thus be ripe for fuller investigation.

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Session Chairs: Senthil Kumar Kurunthachalam , Kenneth S Sajwan
Session Chairs Affiliations: Research Scientist, Professor
Email: kskumar@savstate.edu:

Personal Care Products and Pharmaceuticals (PCPP) terms, in general, the product consumed/used by humans and for veterinary health care purpose. They contain thousands of direct or indirect toxic substances. The major PCPPs include shampoo, soap, tooth paste, antibiotics, fragrances, cosmetics, prescription over-the-counter therapeutic drugs, and veterinary drugs. Several recent research reports have shown that PCPP present in wastewater, surface water, and other water bodies. Furthermore some research findings also demonstrate that certain PCPP may cause negative implications to human and wildlife health. Antimicrobial agents such as triclosan and triclocarbon can able to breakdown and produce highly toxic dioxins and furans. Human consumed PCPPs have been washed away in the water and to environment for as long as humans have been using them. Similarly the pharmaceuticals taken by humans are not entirely absorbed by body, and are excreted and passed into wastewater and surface water. With advances in analytical technology with high resolution mass spec that improved the ability to detect and quantify these toxic chemicals. Consequently studies have started to identify what effects, if any, these chemicals have on humans, wildlife and environmental health. Therefore, identification of target chemicals and its derivatives evolve from PCPP should be identified and their toxic action should be studied thoroughly. Considering those facts, this session invite the specialists who did research on PCPPs and highlight their results.

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Session Chairs: Chunlong (Carl) Zhang
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Houston-Clear Lake
Email: zhang@uhcl.edu:

This session will primarily address recent advancements and new techniques in sampling, analysis, and data treatment encountered in environmental chemistry and toxicology studies. Topics of general pitfalls and experience in sampling and analysis will also be included for the benefit of beginning as well as experienced professionals with a broad interest in environmental sampling and analysis. Examples of topics include but are not limited to: cost-effective sampling design and strategies for various matrices (air, water, groundwater, soil, sediment, biota), innovative sampling device and apparatus or new applications of the existing ones, innovative instrumental techniques or new applications, new analytical methods, analytical methods for emerging environmental contaminants, field and lab quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), data analysis regarding outliers, non-detect, and/or spatial and time series data that are typically encountered in environmental data sets.

Session Chairs: Ann Rosecrance , Ken Osborn
Session Chairs Affiliations: Conestoga Rovers & Associates, East Bay Municipal Utilities District Laboratory Services
Email: arosecrance@craworld.com:

All measurement based information, including environmental data, is inherently uncertain. Detection limits and quantitation limits are the enabling metrics that allow the decision making process to proceed in the prescence of this uncertainty, whether the testing be intended for regulatory compliance or toxicological evaluation. If we were restricted to make regulatory decisions in the absence of uncertainty, then we would never be able to make decisions on measurement based information. This session will focus on evaluation of the concepts, applications and alternate approaches to develop and effectively use detection and quantitation limits for environmental analysis.

Session Chairs: Marc A. Mills , Bryan Boulanger , James Lazorchak
Session Chairs Affiliations: USEPA - National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Texas A&M University, USEPA-National Exposure Research Laboratory
Email: mills.marc@epa.gov:

Research continues to show endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals in effluents, surface waters, sediments and tissues are impacting the environment. The waste loadings have been shown to occur downstream of wastewater treatment plants and from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been implicated as sources of estrogenic compounds, such as metabolites of alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants, steroid hormones, bisphenol A, and pharmaceuticals. CAFOs have the potential to discharge natural steroid hormones, synthetic growth promoters, and veterinary pharmaceuticals. This session focuses on questions such as: Why do some wastewater treatment plant designs perform better than others? What is the mass loading of EDCs and pharmaceuticals to wastewater plants and how do operational characteristics impact treatment? What is the loading of EDCs and pharmaceutical from CAFOs? Are existing management practices (such as nutrient management plans) protective to the environment with respect to EDCs and pharmaceuticals? Platform presentations will include reports on the fate of EDCs and pharmaceuticals within wastewater treatment plants, on-site wastewater systems, CAFOs, and in their immediate discharge. Also expected are reports on recent developments in analytical and bioassay techniques to monitor WWTP performance and CAFO management technologies. We anticipate that the audience for this session will include those who are interested sources of EDCs and Pharmaceuticals including toxicologists, engineers and chemists from research, regulatory organizations, and facilities operation (both WWTP and CAFO).

Session Chairs: Stephen Emsbo-Mattingly
Session Chairs Affiliations: Newfields
Email: smattingly@newfields.com:

The accurate identification of contaminant sources is a critical component of most environmental projects. Environmental forensics specializes in source identification using an ever increasing toolbox of multidisciplinary techniques. The growing interest in environmental forensics is indicative of its collaborative and successful application during the assessment of source control strategies, fate and transport phenomenon, cleanup liability, background conditions, risk exposures, and natural resource damages. In many instances, the lines of evidence for source identification are readily apparent from the unique features of the contaminant material and limited number of sources. In other instances, the origin of the contaminant is ambiguous because the concentration is low, the laboratory data are incomplete, the contaminant is environmentally altered, or independent releases from on-site and off-site sources mixed. Environmental forensics can frequently help in these more ambiguous circumstances by defensibly sorting out the various source signatures. The issues discussed in this session apply to many media including water, soil, solid, oil, sediment, and tissue. An important dimension of environmental forensics often includes the characterization and definition of ambient conditions in which similar chemicals from multiple sources commingle; e.g., mixed hydrocarbon plumes and chlorinated organics in urban watersheds. This session emphasizes a diverse array of contaminant types and environmental forensic techniques. The contaminants of greatest interest will likely include petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, polychlorinated dioxins, polychlorinated furans, heavy metals, and sewage tracers. Papers that illustrate the effectiveness of multidisciplinary techniques will be encouraged from the field of advanced chemical fingerprinting, isotopic chemistry, geology, organic petrology, radiogenic age dating, biological indicators, and statistics. Leading scientists from several disciplines will be invited to discuss environmental approaches used on projects associated with the release of crude oil, diesel fuel, MGP tar, wood preservatives, and chemical manufacturing wastes.

Session Chairs: Matthew MacLeod , Joseph V. DePinto
Session Chairs Affiliations: ETH Zurich, LimnoTech
Email: macleod@chem.ethz.ch:

This session will feature new research on human and ecosystem exposure modeling of environmental contaminants. Of particular interest are a) strategies for collecting exposure measurements to build and test models, b) effective use of models, c) confronting uncertainties and d) common themes and methods in human and ecological exposure assessment. Papers are sought describing the development, parameterization, and application of models that quantify the relationship between sources of contaminants and exposure, including all relevant transport, fate, and accumulation pathways. Topics may include case studies of model applications at local or regional scales.

Session Chairs: Dr Nicholas Gathergood , Robert Boethling
Session Chairs Affiliations: Dublin City University, "Exposure Assessment Branch, US EPA
Email: nick.gathergood@dcu.ie:

Under Section 6602(b) of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990, Congress made it clear that prevention was top priority in a hierarchy of pollution management options. One way to accomplish this is to design safer chemical reactions. This 'benign by design' concept properly begins with the assessment of the synthetic methodology, reaction conditions and chemicals (e.g. reagents, catalysts, solvents, target molecules). Optimization and redesign of chemicals and synthetic methods to reduce environmental impact are well established facets of green chemistry, and are best accomplished by interdisciplinary collaboration and feedback among synthetic chemists, environmental chemists, chemical engineers, ecologists, and toxicologists. Contributions are sought from individuals in these disciplines, and anyone else for whom efficient synthetic methodology and safe chemical design is a principal objective. Examples from green chemistry include the development of reactions with high atom efficiency or improved catalytic methods e.g. which lead to a reduction in the toxicity of the catalysts or reduced energy requirements. As an example from environmental chemistry, chemical structure can be optimized to increase the probability of rapid breakdown in the environment to non-toxic products. This is already being practiced in e.g., design of biodegradable solvents, drilling fluids. and several other classes of chemicals with actual or potential environmental emissions. In aquatic toxicology, safer substitutes are being designed through generic modifications that focus on properties such as water solubility as well as specific changes in molecular structure, often aimed at reducing excess toxicity. Sometimes what is safer in one area has the opposite effect in another, but other examples show that it is possible to reduce toxicity by molecular engineering without concomitantly increasing environmental persistence. This session will provide a forum for presentation of current research and will also show why safe design requires interdisciplinarity.

Session Chairs: Edward A. Garvey , R. Bruce Fidler
Session Chairs Affiliations: Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
Email: egarvey@pirnie.com:

This session will cover the latest findings from the many legacy sediment sites currently undergoing remediation as well as the early results from those sites that have been completed. With the remediation of many, if not most, upland sites across the US, the remediation of the downstream impacts, that is, the remediation of the receiving rivers, lakes and estuaries, remains the outstanding "frontier." The focus of the forum is the science used to design site remedies as well as to measure the impacts of site remedies already completed. Additionally, the forum will highlight the new geochemical/ecological understandings gained from the remedial investigations of these sites and how these understandings impacted the choices made in site remediation and management. Papers presented at this session should describe what new geochemical or ecological observations were made as part of the site investigation. The papers presented should then describe how these observations affected the remedial choices made. Finally, where appropriate, the papers should describe how successful the choices in achieving the desired outcome (e.g., reduced fish body burdens) and what changes or improvements might be considered.

Session Chairs: William K. Reagen , Jennifer Keller
Session Chairs Affiliations: 3M Company, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Email: wkreagen@mmm.com:

Session emphasizing spatial and temporal changes in the abundance and distribution of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)in environmental matrices. Emphasis of measurement data on the accumulation and reduction rates of PFC's in environmental compartments and studies examining temporal trends as well as geographical and species differences. In particular, emphasis on samples and high quality analytical data that have been collected in a systematic and well-documented manner for comparing results over time and different geographical locations to support environmental trends.

Session Chairs: Laurence Libelo , Mark J. Strynar
Session Chairs Affiliations: U.S. EPA
Email: libelo.laurence@epa.gov:

Perfluorinated compounds have been widely detected in air, water, biota, food, soil, sediments, consummer products, human tissues other media. PFOA, PFOS, PAPS and related compounds have been found in areas near manufacturing facilities and in locations far from any known source. While monitoring data are limited in geographic coverage and in the compounds analyzed, the observed widespread occurrence of PFOS, PFOA and other compounds suggests a global distribution. Papers on the occurrence and potential migration patterns of PFOA, PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds in any media, including air, water soil, plants, animals, food etc. are appropriate for this session.

Session Chairs: Helder J. Costa , Charles A. Menzie
Session Chairs Affiliations: Haley & Aldrich Inc., Exponent
Email: hcosta@haleyaldrich.com:

Former manufactured gas plant (MGPs) sites encompass a broad range of environmental remediation issues. These include: migration and mitigation of non-aqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) in soil, groundwater and sediments; in situ treatment of unrecoverable NAPL; vapor intrusion and indoor air quality; distinguishing waste residuals from common petroleum and urban background sources; determining contaminant-specific risk in sediments; designing caps to mitigate sheens and gas ebullition; and gaining acceptance for monitored natural recovery and enhanced natural recovery. In an era when many remedial technologies have become "off-the-shelf" solutions, the complexity of many MGP site issues has revived the focus on science underlying site management decisions. This session will present a cross-section of “hot button” issues, focusing on the revitalized role of science in MGP site management and remediation.

Session Chairs: Laurence Libel , Andrew Lindstrom
Session Chairs Affiliations: USEPA
Email: libelo.laurence@epa.gov:

Direct and indirect sources contribute PFCs to the environment. Degradation of fluoropolymers and other fluorinated species can release PFCs. Abiotic and microbially mediated reactions may control the fate and movement of perfluorinated compounds once they are released to the environmental. Data on sources to the atmospheric, soil ,aquatic and marine systems and processes which control the movement and fate of PFCs are needed to understand human and environmental exposure to these materials. Lab and field study data are needed to provide a more complete understanding of how these compounds are released to and behave in the environment. Papers on chemical and physical properties such as partitioning coefficients, bioaccumulation, vapor pressure, microbial or abiotic reactions including photolysis, hydrolysis, and biodegradation in wastewater treatment systems, soil, air and water. etc are requested.

Session Chairs: Juliana Atmadja , Solomon S GbondoTugbawa
Session Chairs Affiliations: Malcolm Pirnie Inc.
Email: jatmadja@pirnie.com:

The conceptual site model (CSM) is one of the primary planning tools that can be used for site managers and planning teams to examine the contamination problem and to provide the basis for identifying and evaluating the potential risks to human health and the ecosystem. The intent of this session is to learn about holistic perspective by integrating all information such as the existing data, existing body of literature, data collected during field investigations and the exposure pathways and receptors to construct a comprehensive CSM that address all aspects of the contaminated sites. The focus of this session will be on experiences in actual cases, the process and tools utilized in the development of CSM in assessing and restoring the contaminated sites.

Session Chairs: Susan Glassmeyer , Angela Batt , James Lazorchak
Session Chairs Affiliations: U.S. EPA
Email: glassmeyer.susan@epa.gov:

This session will contain presentations that overview studies that address human exposure issues that address the following questions: What do we know about the presence of these chemicals in drinking water source waters? What do we know about the mechanisms of removal of these chemicals during wastewater and drinking water treatment? Do modeling, bench, and pilot scale experiments correctly predict “real world” treatment removal? What do we know about the potential for by-products formation during treatment? What do we know about the relative toxicity of these by-products? What do we know about the presence of these chemicals in drinking water relying on either direct water reuse or indirect water reuse (for example groundwater recharging)? What do we know about the transport of pharmaceuticals drinking water distribution systems? What are other routes of human exposure (for example, antibiotic residue in meat)?

Session Chairs: Damia Barcelo , ED Furlong
Session Chairs Affiliations: IIQAB-CSIC, USGS
Email: dbcqam@cid.csic.es:

In the industrialized countries several tons of pharmacologically active substances reach wastewater treatment plants each year. In many instances, their moderate to high polarity in conjunction with poor biodegradability result in inefficient elimination and ultimately their discharge into receiving water bodies where drug residues at levels up to the ug/L range have been detected. Undoubtedly, the currently applied wastewater technologies relying on mechanical and biological treatment are inadequate for the extensive removal of many pharmaceuticals. After discharge from sewage treatment facilities, knowledge on the fate and distribution in surface waters is still very fragmentary. It is worth taking into account that natural attenuation processes such as biodegradation and photodegradation can play an important role during the transport of pharmaceutical residues in rivers and streams.. The breakdown of drugs into metabolites and degradates adds to the complexity of the spectrum of anthropogenic pollutants and thus will complicate the assessment of environmental hazards associated therewith. In particular, the identification of degradation products constitutes a major challenge with respect to improving the understanding of the environmental fate of pharmaceuticals. Recent advances in mass spectrometric instrumentation like LC/time of flight (TOF) and QTrap-LC(MS/MS open a new window of possibilities for the identification of new metabolites and degradation products of pharmaceuticals. In this session it is expected that papers will be presented reporting advanced analytical methods, like liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and other combinations like LC/tTOF and QTrap-LC(MS/MS for the unequivocal identification of new degradation products of pharmaceuticals formed wither during wastewater treatment and/or in the surface river waters.. Following the unequivocal identification of the new pharmaceutical degradation products , additional papers will be reporting fate studies on the various pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants and in surface waters can be undertaken.

Session Chairs: Yong Cai , Nelson J. O'Driscoll , Guangliang Liu
Session Chairs Affiliations: Florida International University, Environmental Science, Florida International University
Email: cai@fiu.edu:

Mercury is one of the most prevalent and toxic contaminates in the environment. Mercury pollution is a primary issue of concern worldwide. This symposium will highlight recent accomplishments and trends in the field of fate and transformation of mercury in the environment. The toxicity and environmental fate of mercury are determined by a number of physical, chemical and biological processes. Studies on the environmental processes and factors controlling mercury fate and transformation are therefore especially encouraged in this symposium. These studies include researches on the factors controlling distribution of mercury species in different environmental phases, investigations on processes affecting mercury bioavailability, transformation, and bioaccumulation, and advancement in modeling mercury fate and transport in the environment. Studies linking fate and transformation of mercury to environmental health issues are also welcome. This symposium will provide a platform for scientists in a variety of fields, such as environmental chemistry, biogeochemistry, and environmental health, to advance our understanding of mercury fate and transformation in the environment.

Session Chairs: Jim McGeer
Session Chairs Affiliations: Wilfrid Laurier University
Email: jmcgeer@wlu.ca:

Research and development efforts directed at obtaining an improved understanding of the chemistry and toxicology of metals are proceeding at a rapid pace. Models incorporating the results of these efforts are being developed for use in evaluating both the fate and effects of metals in the environment. Additionally, both water quality criteria and soil and sediment quality guidelines for metals are undergoing review, with a long-range goal being the development of an integrated approach to assessing the bioavailability and toxicity of metals in terrestrial and aquatic settings. The results of these ongoing activities will have broad implications to the scientific, regulatory and regulated communities, the intended audience for this session. It is therefore of utmost importance to bring representatives of these groups together to exchange information on the latest developments related to the chemistry of metals and to discuss the implications of these findings to the evaluation of both the fate and effects of metals in the environment.

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Session Chairs: John S. French
Session Chairs Affiliations: Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council
Email: john.pegasus@gci.net:

This session is intended to advocate for greater public stakeholder involvement in identification and decimation of science priorities, and the concomitant sculpting of environmental policy decisions. The Interactive Platform Session format seems well suited to discussion of alternative solutions to assuring citizen involvement in both scientific and environmental policy decision making. We envision posters providing organizational missions, structures, and activities. While the discussion will focus primarily on how to best integrate public stakeholder interests and knowledge into the identitication and decimation of research priorities, and influencing environmental policy. Although this session originated in Alaska, we seek to provide a regionally-balanced perspective on these questions. We envision recruiting a few presenters from the many diverse organizations whose missions include enhancing citizen involvement in defining scientific questions and the incorporation of findings into environmental policy. Presenters should be prepared to participate in the joint development of our discussion concerning how to best incorporate public stakeholders into better science and environmental policy.

Session Chairs: Bernalyn McGaughey
Session Chairs Affiliations: FIFRA Endangered Species Task Force
Email: bmcgaughey@complianceservices.com:

Like all federal programs that issue permits, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act must assure that its actions are in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Once a federal permitting action is taken under a national program, it often becomes the state's role to implement protecitons at the local level. However, communication between state and local agencies and federal agencies is complex, and few forums exist for the exchnage f how the implementation process is undertaken from one state jurisdiction to another. This session is meant to explore how states and local agencies have approached the implementation of endangered species protection under federal program mandates, using traditional or innovative means of outrach and communication that in turn lead to protective measures undertaken by affected parties, such as land owners or land use managers. The session will provide the opportunity to explore commonalities in protection approaches, unique approaches to species having special attributes that allow "niche" management, problems that might occur in preventing disclosure of sensitive species location data while also communicating where and how and species must be protected, and similar complex risk management challenges.

Session Chairs: Annie Weisbrod, Emma Lavoie
Session Chairs Affiliations: Procter & Gamble, U.S. EPA
Email: weisbrod.av@pg.com: LCA

Abstracts for this session can cover any of the three types of footprints recently highlighted in the press: environmental, carbon, and water footprints. All three footprints are based in life cycle thinking, and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, and are essentially data inventories of e.g. green house gas emissions or water use. All require a significant level of detail, understanding, and experience for those doing the footprint calculations. The objectives are to: a) communicate basic knowledge of footprinting techniques and uses, b) bring together key stakeholders to identify major methodological issues and solutions, c) review some case studies, and d) lead to dialogue on how Footprinting methodologies can be most efficiently created, harmonized, and broadly accepted. The threat of climate change has drawn attention to Carbon Footprinting (CF), the calculation of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with an activity, product, or service. Due to data availability, GHG emissions are usually derived from the release of CO2 from fossil fuel usage, but should also include other gases (e.g. methane, perfluorinated hydrocarbons). Although CF falls under ISO 14040 for Life Cycle Assessment, there is not yet a standard method available for CF-only. Even with a standard method, the system boundaries, assumptions, and uncertainty in each calculation will differ for competitive products. Similar to Carbon, announcements of companies becoming 'water neutral' are becoming more common. As urban populations explode and the demand for water for farmland, resource extraction or cooling, etc, scientists are starting to calculate Water Footprints (WF), the amount of water needed to produce goods or services. Also coming on the horizon are Environmental Footprints (EF), which account for multiple environmental impact indicators across life cycle phases (e.g. raw material extraction and manufacture, product manufacture, transportation, consumer use and disposal). Starting in 2006, industry, consulting (including academia), and government sectors have been hit by demands for or inquiries about Carbon Footprints in particular. More than 250 companies selling calculation tools or services have been started in the US since 2006, and many of those technical staff are not SETAC members or have prior LCA or footprinting experience. SETAC experts may provide useful guidance in the development of appropriate calculation methods, handling of uncertainty/accuracy, and how the results are communicated to the public.

Session Chairs: Christopher Ollson , Glenn Ferguson
Session Chairs Affiliations: Jacques Whitford Limited, Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc.
Email: collson@jacqueswhitford.com:

Throughout North America recent attention has focused on the issue of chemical air emissions from industrial facilities. The US EPA Human Health Risk Assessment Protocol (HHRAP) for Hazardous Waste Combustion Facilities (2005) provides the blueprint for estimating facility emissions, air dispersion modeling, fate and transport models for deposited chemicals and health risk assessment guidance. Similar guidance for conducting ecological risk assessment has been released only at the screening level (1999). Although these documents provide guidance there is a considerable amount of work being done in academia, industry and government to ensure that these predictive risk assessment models continue to evolve so that management decisions for pollution control technology are firmly based in science. The focus of this session is on advances in the predictive human health and ecological risk assessment models and approaches being used to evaluate the potential risk to receptors from air emissions / deposition from industrial facilities; such as refineries, incinerators, power generating stations, smelters, etc. Issues on refining the fate, transport and environmental cycling models used to predict chemical concentrations in the environment after air deposition will be discussed. Novel approaches and challenged to conducting this type of human health and ecological risk assessment will be considered. Case studies and presentation of actual risk assessments are encouraged as long as they demonstrate novel approaches to tackling the science of predictive risk assessment.

Session Chairs: Dr. Hans Stroo , Tim Thompson
Session Chairs Affiliations: Hydrogeologic Inc, SEE LLC
Email: hstroo@hgl.com:

The topic of bioavailability remains an important focus of research and regulatory activities. The call for abstracts for this session are for papers relating to (1) new and innovative tools (biological, chemical and physical)for assessing bioavailability from soils and sediments, (2) recent advances in understanding the processes that control fate and transport of organic and inorganic risk-drivers from soils or sediments to ecological receptors, (3) models that relate uptake to food chain receptors, and (4) case studies of successful applications of bioavailability in remedial decision-making.

Session Chairs: Karin Olsen
Session Chairs Affiliations: EA Engineering, Science, and Technology
Email: kolsen@eaest.com:

Sediment management requires an integrated, multi-faceted planning process that can be vary widely based on the priorities in different regions. Increasingly, sediment is being viewed as a resource that can be beneficially used for environmental restoration. There are several existing guidance frameworks and analytical tools that can be used to assess the quality of sediment and dredged material for beneficial use. Existing approaches include the tiered-testing approach used in dredged material guidance, risk-based assessments based on CERCLA/RCRA guidance, site-specific cleanup goal based remediation, and adaptive management. Each one of these frameworks have benefits and disadvantages, but the end-use of the site will ultimately dictate the testing methodologies, management approach, and data assessment tools used for each project. Complex sediment management issues require integrated approaches that utilize components from multiple frameworks in order to adequately assess and determine sediment quality. Additionally, better analytical techniques and new technologies have substantially increased the ability to determine how sediment quality changes when moved from an aqueous to an upland environment. The challenge is how to incorporate these tools into the existing frameworks in order to develop a comprehensive sediment plan management that can be used to modify site operations to achieve the goals.

Session Chairs: Michael C. Ciarlo
Session Chairs Affiliations: EA Engineering, Science, and Technology
Email: mciarlo@eaest.com:

Management of sediments both for navigational purposes and as part of remediation requires an in-depth understanding of chemical fate, transport, exposures, and risk. Evaluation of material for navigational dredging is a well established practice with long standing guidance documents and frameworks for assessing chemical change; however, many navigational dredging projects are dealing with new environmental questions and data requirements as they investigate beneficial re-use as a sediment management option. The management and remediation of contaminated sediments is an emerging practice which has benefited from the issuance of recent guidance and from large demonstration projects over the past few years. For both remedial and navigational sediment management, investigating and predicting changes in sediment chemistry and potential ecological and human health risks are essential to making effective management decisions. There have been numerous projects and studies that utilize innovative approaches and cross-over methods to assess risks and investigate chemical change in sediment during and after dredging or remediation. These approaches include specialized chemical analyses and in situ studies to quantify long-term chemical mobility and bioavailability; geophysical studies to quantify sediment stability; bioassays to evaluate toxicity and bioaccumulation; and modeling to predict fate, exposures, and risk. Many of these approaches were developed for sites where sediments undergo substantial changes during placement, capping, or treatment, and are essential to ensuring the effectiveness of management decisions.

Session Chairs: Nancy Bonnevie , Rebecca Efroymson
Session Chairs Affiliations: ARCADIS, ORNL-Env. Sciences Division
Email: nancy.bonnevie@arcadis-us.com:

Historically, remedial decisions for contaminant management in the US have focused on apparent risk reductions based on achieving media-based remedial goals. While on the surface this approach improves the environment by reducing the volume of contaminants, it leaves little room for consideration of the possible net impact of the remedial action, including such issues as habitat destruction, human use limitations, etc. This applies not only to site-specific assessments but also to the evaluation of larger ecosystems and restoration of watersheds and other larger systems. By utilizing a common set of principles (such as those under the NEBA paradigm), we can explore risk management decisions that maximize the overlap between human health, societal use and ecological benefits, thereby providing the most cost- and net-benefit. This session will draw upon the experiences of scientists from both industry and the regulatory community in considering strategies and methods for addressing these concerns.

Session Chairs: Greg Linder , Larry Kapustka
Session Chairs Affiliations: USGS/BRD/CERC, Golder Associates Ltd.
Email: linder2@usgs.gov:

HACCP--Hazard Analysis-Critical Control Point--evaluations are increasingly applied to resource management issues involving multiple stressors and the interplay among stressors and development of adaptive management plans. Oftentimes, HACCP in its various implementations serves as a risk assessment tool, particularly within the context of risk reduction and proactive steps to optimize outcomes from resource management decisions. ASTM has developed a number of standards that serve HACCP process, and in partnership with SETAC could introduce environmental scientists and decision makers to the tool and the merits it has in crafting a wide range of environmental practices. This session will focus on HACCP as a technical tool that has been applied to a wide range of resource management issues, including those that incorporate chemical applications for controlling invasive species, disease agents, and remedial actions for mitigating risks linked to past chemical releases. The session will include an overview of the HACCP process developed by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), as well as other ASTM standards that are available to implementation of HACCP when adaptive management plans are being developed in response to existing or potential chemical releases to the environment. The wide range of HACCP implementations range from evaluations of chemical stressors under various land-use and water-use practices, and the interaction of multiple stressors in shaping natural resource management plans.

Session Chairs: Robert Ries , Lanka Thabrew
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Florida
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This session seeks presentations that focus on life cycle assessment as a tool for assisting in realizing sustainable development. Talks in this session will focus on life cycle assessment as an approach to promote “life cycle thinking” among stakeholder groups, cultivating a holistic approach and enabling capacity building in sustainable planning and implementation. Presentations from developing and developed countries in disaster reconstruction, alternative building materials, environmental communication, and capacity building are especially encouraged.

Session Chairs: Robert Ries
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Florida
Email: rries@ufl.edu:

This session seeks presentations that focus on new and novel applications of and case studies in life cycle assessment. The case study may be novel in subject and/or approach, and be exploratory, and address an area that has the potential to yield new insights or generate new avenues of inquiry. Applications in developing countries, new materials including nano-materials, new renewable and non-renewable energy sources and systems are especially encouraged.

Session Chairs: Ralph Rosenbaum , Manuele Margni
Session Chairs Affiliations: cole Polytechnique de Montreal, CIRAIG, "cole Polytechnique de Montrial, CIRAIG"
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Envisioning the integration of uncertainty management into daily practice, this session provides an integrative exchange platform between the different fields of environmental assessment. It explores approaches to estimate, communicate, visualise and interpret any kind of uncertainty information in environmental studies and its inclusion in decision-making. Identification and quantification of main sources of uncertainty is a special point of interest; all with the ultimate goal of minimising resources needed to perform uncertainty analysis. Not the least, strategies for uncertainty reduction are certainly of interest in this context. This session explicitly invites all stakeholders from methodological developers to assessors/practitioners and decision-makers to present and discuss their views, experiences and ideas related to practical uncertainty management in their particular field of environmental assessment. Analogies from all related scientific and decision support areas are welcome to see how various domains deal with these questions and what others might be able to learn.

Session Chairs: Upal Ghosh , Gerard Cornelissen
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Maryland Baltimore County, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
Email: ughosh@umbc.edu:

Bioavailability of toxic chemicals in sediments depends on site-specific sediment geochemistry and association of contaminants with strong sorbent materials. Recent findings demonstrate that contaminant bioavailability and transport pathways in impacted sediments can be interrupted by modifying and enhancing the binding capacity of natural sediments. Several sorbent amendments for organic and metal contaminants have been used in laboratory-scale demonstrations of bioavailability manipulation and some have been recently tested in pilot-scale field applications. Pertinent to the theme of this SETAC meeting, this session is focused on addressing the science of contaminant bioavailability in soils and sediments and takes that forward to exploring novel approaches for intervention and management of contaminated soil and sediment sites. This session invites contributions addressing better understanding of the linkages between sediment geochemistry and contaminant bioavailability and moving the science to the development of novel approaches for the management of contaminated sites through the alteration of sediment geochemistry. Contributions based on new findings from laboratory-scale experiments, pilot-scale experiments, and contaminant biouptake modeling are invited for this session.

Session Chairs: Olivier Jolliet , Robert Ries
Session Chairs Affiliations: University of Michigan, University of Florida
Email: :

Talks in this session will present the recent developme