Scientific Issues in the US EPA Framework for Metals Risk Assessment

This article on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency document, oFramework for Metals Risk Assessmento (U.S. EPA, 2007a) was presented at the oHealth Risk Assessment of Essential Metalso Workshop held at the University of Ottawa in May 2008. This article discusses the basic principles included in the Framework for Metals Risk Assessment and outlines how these principles need to be considered in human health and ecological risk assessment practices. Recognizing that metals present unique risk assessment issues, the article includes discussion of the various scientific issues related to metals assessments, such as environmental chemistry, bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and essentiality.