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Environmental risk assessment of plant protection products: an approach to the development of guidelines
Author(s) -
GREIGSMITH P. W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2338.1991.tb01229.x
Subject(s) - computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , product (mathematics) , sequence (biology) , risk assessment , management science , engineering , business , mathematics , computer security , geometry , genetics , biology
To aid the assessment of potential environmental side‐effects arising from the use of plant protection products, a general framework for decision‐making schemes is proposed. This should provide a consistent basis for the evaluation of different products, affecting the environment in different ways. Schemes constructed by this approach should indicate areas of uncertainty, highlight aspects on which expert knowledge is essential, and identify the data needed and how to interpret them. The proposed framework is sequential, comprising a series of stages, from the pattern of use of the product and its properties, to exposure of wildlife, calculation of the probability that adverse effects will occur, and judgements about their acceptability. This can be applied separately to effects on various components of the environment. A convenient format for decision‐making schemes is a sequence of linked questions leading to a classification of the environmental consequences. This is adaptable to more complex versions (e.g. a computer‐based expert system) or simpler, abbreviated evaluation using safety factors.