Risk assessments (RAs) comprise two principal components:

• ecological risk assessments; and
• human health risk assessments.

RAs are playing an increasingly important role in the redevelopment of brownfield sites, or any site containing elevated levels of contaminants.  The use of RAs is accepted by the federal and provincial ministries of the environment, as well as major municipalities.

The RA process takes into consideration contaminant types and concentrations, soils and groundwater conditions, proposed landuse requirements following redevelopment and contaminant exposure pathways for people and the overall environment.  Risk assessment is the technical, scientific examination of the nature and magnitude of risk and uses a factual base to define the health effects of exposure of individuals or human and ecological populations to contaminants in different exposure settings.  Risk assessment involves estimating the likelihood of an event and providing an expression of what that event might be.

Using sophisticated computer software and toxicological data, site specific acceptable contaminant levels are determined for a particular site.  The results of a RA are often submitted to the MOE and the municipality for approval.  The use of the risk assessment approach can significantly reduce the extent, and hence the cost, of required remediation work at a site, compared to the cost of remediating to meet generic clean up levels.

Risk assessments have been successfully completed by DCS on several dozens of projects on both large and small sites  The risk assessment analyses are carried out, in conjunction with our affiliate SENES Consultants Limited, by a team of engineers and scientists.  The SENES group of companies provide a full range of services associated with risk-based site cleanups ranging from site investigations to site remediation design to site cleanup supervision.

Contact DCS for more information on Risk Assessment services.

Back | Home