Bohai sea [in China] environmental risk assessment

The potential harm to human and environmental targets may arise from exposure to contaminants in the environment. These contaminants come from activities that bring economic growth and contribute benefits to society. The potential harm to environmental targets may also arise from indiscriminate extraction of resources and physical destruction of habitats. The environmental impacts of these activities stem from the loss of ecological functions and the consequent disruption of the ecological balance. The impacts may not be as evident as impacts from pollutants but could be irreversible and may lead to greater losses. An environmental risk assessment estimates the likelihood of harm being done to the identified targets because of factors emanating from human activities but which reach the targets through the environment. This combines knowledge about the factors that bring about hazards, their levels in the environment, and the pathways to the targets. There can be two approaches for protecting the environment and human health. The first approach is to eliminate the contaminant or stop the activities that produce it. Another approach is to prevent the contaminant level from exceeding an allowable level that presents acceptable risk. The elimination of contaminants to zero concentrations may require large investments and discontinuing economic activities may hinder the delivery of goods and services that contribute to human welfare and economic development. The second approach, the risk-based methodology, presumes that there are contaminant levels in the environment that present low or acceptable risks to human health and the environment, and that there is not always a need for zero emission levels. Scientific studies have specified threshold values below which adverse effects are not likely to occur. This implies that economic development activities can be managed at levels that promote human health and environmental protection, yet maintain activities that produce economic benefits. This emphasizes the importance of cost-benefit analyses in sustainable development initiatives. The risk assessment attempted to answer two questions: 'what evidence is there for human being done to targets in the coastal area?' (referred to as a retrospective risk assessment) and 'what problems might occur as a consequence for conditions known to exists, or possibly exist in the future?' (referred to as a prospective risk assessment). This report implemented as part of the Global Environment Facility/ United Nations Development Programme/ International Maritime Organization Regional Programme on Building Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), aimed to address these two questions and give necessary information about the risks in the Bohai ecosystem and human health. This report provides information on the rationale of the environmental risk assessment, the methodology developed and applied in the Bohai Sea initiative, the results of the work and recommendations for improving the risk assessment as a management tool in Bohai Sea. The report provides basis for the risk management and interventions in Bohai Sea.