Toxicology & Risk Management

Vertex has extensive experience implementing risk-based approaches for contaminated sites. Risk-based approaches are founded on the risk assessment paradigm, wherein it is recognized that for risk from chemical contamination to exist all of the following elements must be present – a toxic substance, receptor, and active exposure pathway. The approaches used by Vertex generally fall within three separate categories:

1. Modifying generic remediation guidelines based on the exclusion of exposure pathways and/or receptors that may not be operable at a particular site.
2. Adjusting generic remediation guidelines using site-specific values for certain parameters (e.g. soil characteristics such as bulk density and fraction organic carbon).
3. Developing site-specific remediation guidelines using quantitative environmental risk assessment.

Ultimately, risk-based approaches result in the development of site-specific remediation guidelines that are generally less stringent (i.e. higher) than generic guidelines. As such, sites can be managed with less effort and less cost while maintaining the same level of human health and environmental protection.