1.1This guide covers an approach to identification, selection, and use of ecological endpoints (both assessment and measurement endpoints) (1-8)2 that are susceptible to the direct and indirect effects of both chemical and non-chemical stressors or agents associated with wastes and contaminated media at specific sites under current and future land uses. It does not address assessment and measurement endpoints for non-site specific studies (for example, chemical-specific or regional risk assessments) or measurements in abiotic media (soil, water, or air).

1.2This guide addresses only the identification, selection, and use of assessment and measurement endpoints, not the full range of activities that occur in an ecological assessment or ecological risk assessment at a contaminated site (1, 3-8). These activities are addressed in other ASTM guides and references provided at the end of this guide.

1.3This guide is intended to identify assessment and measurement endpoints to be used for screening, preliminary, focused, detailed, and quantitative ecological risk assessments conducted in a linear or iterative fashion (3, 8). This is a partial, incomplete listing of possible levels of assessment. In a tiered ecological risk assessment, it may be necessary to redefine ecological endpoints when planning to collect more data or when additional site data are obtained and evaluated.

1.4This guide is intended to be used by trained biologists, ecologists, and ecotoxicologists familiar with risk assessment, and ecological and ecotoxicological concepts.

1.5This guide (including Appendix X1) consists of a series of options or instructions and does not recommend a specific course of action or provide detailed guidelines to be followed at all sites. See 2.2.2 of Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees.3

1.6This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.7This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.