ASTM E1848-20

Standard Guide for Selecting and Using Ecological Endpoints for Contaminated Sites

ABSTRACT
This guide deals with an approach to identification, selection, and use of ecological endpoints (both assessment and measurement endpoints) that are susceptible to the direct and indirect effects of both chemical and non-chemical stressors and 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). Conditions of the site and risk assessment that should be considered in identifying and selecting assessment and measurement endpoints include stressor characteristics, ecosystem types, spatial scale, temporal scale, ecological organization, and functionality/values. The following subsections present a partial listing of representative measurement endpoints: measurement endpoints representing ecosystem assessment endpoints, measurement endpoints representing community assessment endpoints, measurement endpoints representing population assessment endpoints, and measurement endpoints representing individual organism assessment endpoints. Other general considerations, desirable characteristics of assessment and measurement endpoints, candidate site-related ecological receptors, candidate assessment endpoints, specific steps in identifying, selecting and using assessment and measurement endpoints, addressing uncertainties in the identification and selection of assessment and measurement endpoints, documenting the selection of assessment and measurement endpoints.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide assumes that a decision has been made that an ecological risk assessment is required for a contaminated site. In some cases, this decision could be made before any site data are collected. See Fig. 1.
FIG. 1 Conceptual Relationships between Assessment Endpoints, Measurement Endpoints and Lines of Evidence (Source: Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance, Government of Canada, March 2012)  
4.2 The selection of assessment endpoints (defined as ecological values to be protected) and measurement endpoints (ecological characteristics related to the assessment endpoints) is a critical step in conducting an ecological risk assessment. Endpoint selection identifies those effects which are ecologically significant and not merely those that are adverse, thus providing a more rational and defensible basis for making risk and remedial decisions.  
4.3 This guide provides an approach for identifying, selecting and using assessment and measurement endpoints in an ecological risk assessment for a contaminated site. This guide has been developed because there is no universal, simple measure of ecological health analogous to measures used in human health risk assessment. Assessment and measurement endpoints have to be identified and selected from a variety of individual circumstances on a stressor-, ecosystem- and scale-specific basis. It is important to recognize that a diverse set of ecological endpoints could be required for a specific site. EPA/100/F15/005 Generic Ecological Assessment Endpoints (GEAEs) For Ecological Risk Assessment: Second Edition With Generic Ecosystem Services Endpoints Added. July 2016)  
4.4 This guide is intended to be used primarily by a biologist, ecologist, ecotoxicologist, or a team of environmental scientists during problem formulation and work plan development prior to initiating data collection activities at a contaminated site (3-8, 10).  
4.5 Ecological risk assessment is usually an...
SCOPE
1.1 This 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 spe...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2020
• ICS: 13.020.40 - Pollution, pollution control and conservation
• Technical Committee: E50 - Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action
• Drafting Committee: E50.04 - Corrective Action

Standards Content (Sample)

This 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.
Designation: E1848 − 20
Standard Guide for
Selecting and Using Ecological Endpoints for Contaminated
1
Sites
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1848; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.5 This guide (including Appendix X1) consists of a series
of options or instructions and does not recommend a specific
1.1 This guide covers an approach to identification,
course of action or provide detailed guidelines to be followed
selection,anduseofecologicalendpoints(bothassessmentand
2 at all sites. See 2.2.2 of Regulations Governing ASTM Techni-
measurementendpoints) (1-8) thataresusceptibletothedirect
3
cal Committees.
and indirect effects of both chemical and non-chemical stress-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
orsoragentsassociatedwithwastesandcontaminatedmediaat
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
specific sites under current and future land uses. It does not
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
address assessment and measurement endpoints for non-site
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
specificstudies(forexample,chemical-specificorregionalrisk
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
assessments) or measurements in abiotic media (soil, water, or
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
air).
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.2 This guide addresses only the identification, selection,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
and use of assessment and measurement endpoints, not the full
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
range of activities that occur in an ecological assessment or
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
ecological risk assessment at a contaminated site (1, 3-8).
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
These activities are addressed in other ASTM guides and
references provided at the end of this guide.
2. Referenced Documents
1.3 This guide is intended to identify assessment and
4,5
2.1 ASTM Standards:
measurement endpoints to be used for screening, preliminary,
E943 Terminology Relating to Biological Effects and Envi-
focused, detailed, and quantitative ecological risk assessments
ronmental Fate
conductedinalinearoriterativefashion (3, 8).Thisisapartial,
E1689 Guide for Developing Conceptual Site Models for
incomplete listing of possible levels of assessment. In a tiered
Contaminated Sites
ecological risk assessment, it may be necessary to redefine
2.2 Other Documents:
ecological endpoints when planning to collect more data or
EPA/100/F15/005 Generic Ecological Assessment End-
when additional site data are obtained and evaluated.
points (GEAEs)For Ecological Risk Assessment: Second
1.4 This guide is intended to be used by trained biologists,
Edition With Generic Ecosystem Services Endpoints
ecologists, and ecotoxicologists familiar with risk assessment,
Added, July 2016
and ecological and ecotoxicological concepts.
1 3
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental Available from ASTM International Headquarters and the ASTM website,
Assessment, Risk Management and CorrectiveAction and is the direct responsibil- www.astm.org.
4
ity of Subcommittee E50.04 on Corrective Action. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2020. Published January 2021. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E1848 – 96(2014). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/E1848-20. the ASTM website.
2 5
The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to a list of references at the A bibliography of related references and documents is provided in Appendix
end of the text. X2.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1848 − 20
Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) Ecologi- of a stressor on another ecological receptor (for example,
cal Risk Assessment Guidance, Government of Canada, reduction in food supply or habitat).
March 2012
3.2.9 indicator species—an organism that is typically com-
mon and represents a broad class of species presen
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1848 − 96 (Reapproved 2014) E1848 − 20
Standard Guide for
Selecting and Using Ecological Endpoints for Contaminated
1
Sites
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1848; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide covers an approach to identification, selection, and use of ecological endpoints (both assessment and measurement
2
endpoints) (1-8) 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).
1.2 This 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.
1.3 This 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.
1.4 This guide is intended to be used by trained biologists, ecologists, and ecotoxicologists familiar with risk assessment, and
ecological and ecotoxicological concepts.
1.5 This 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
3
Committees.
1.6 This 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This 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.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee E50.05 on Environmental Risk Management.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2014Nov. 1, 2020. Published March 2014January 2021. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20082014 as
E1848 – 96(2008).(2014). DOI: 10.1520/E1848-96R14.10.1520/E1848-20.
2
The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of the text.
3
Available from ASTM International Headquarters and the ASTM website, www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1848 − 20
2. Referenced Documents
4,5
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E943 Terminology Relating to Biological Effects and Environmental Fate
E1689 Guide for Developing Conceptual Site Models for Contaminated Sites
2.2 Other Documents:
EPA/100/F15/005 Generic Ecological Assessment Endpoints (GEAEs)For Ecological Risk Assessment: Second Edition With
Generic Ecosystem Services Endpoints Added, July 2016
Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance, Government of Canada, March 2012
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions are provided specifically for use with this guide. Many of the terms listed in this section have been
modified from those defined in other publications (1-8).
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 assessment endpoint—a
...