Assessment Endpoint

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-002245",
  "term": "Assessment Endpoint",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. An explicit expression of the environmental value that is to be protected, operationally defined by an ecological entity and its attributes. For example, salmon are valued ecological entities; reproduction and age class structure are some of their important attributes. Together \"salmon reproduction and age class structure\" form an assessment endpoint. (Pertains to Ecological Risk Assessments)\n\n2. As used in ecological risk assessment, an explicit expression of the environmental value [i.e., something important to decision makers and/or stakeholders] that is to be protected, operationally defined by an ecological entity and its attributes. For example, salmon populations are valued ecological entities, and age class structure is one of their important attributes. Together, \"salmon population age class structure\" forms an assessment endpoint. An assessment endpoint involving an ecosystem service and its quality or quantity is called an \"ecosystem service assessment endpoint.\" (adopted from: U.S. EPA 1998; also see Munns et al. 2009)\n\n3. \"An explicit expression of the environmental value that is to be protected\" (U.S. EPA 1997 http://www.epa.gov/oswer/riskassessment/ecorisk/ecorisk.htm). In other words, what part(s) of an ecosystem should be protected at a particular Superfund site; this is generally some characteristic(s) of a species of plant or animal, such as reproduction, that can be described numerically. (See Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance Step 3 http://www.epa.gov/region5superfund/ecology/html/erasteps/erastep3.html#endpoints for additional information.)\n\n4. In ecological risk assessment, an explicit expression of the environmental value to be protected; includes both an ecological entity and specific attributed thereof entity (e.g. salmon are a valued ecological entity; reproduction and population maintenance--the attribute--form an assessment endpoint).\n\n5. Formal expressions of the actual environmental value that is to be protected (Suter 1990). Risk Assessment Forum defines this as an \"explicit expression of the environmental value that is to be protected (RAF 1992, 37). Operationally in EMAP, an assessment endpoint is the range, proportion, or percentage of a resource that is known with statistical confidence to be in a specified condition.\n\n6. An explicit expression of the environmental value to be protected. An assessment endpoint includes both an ecological entity and specific attributes of that entity. For example, salmon are a valued ecological entity; reproduction and population maintenance (i.e., the attribute) form an assessment endpoint.\n\n7. A term usually associated with ecological risk assessment; an explicit expression of an environmental value (ecological resource) that is to be protected, operationally defined by risk managers and risk assessors as valuable attributes of an ecological entity. Examples include 1) sustained aquatic community structure, including species composition and relative abundance and tro phic structure; 2) reductions in populations of fish-eating birds; and 3) reductions in survival, reproduction or species diversity of indigenous benthic communities (U.S. EPA, 1997c, 1999a).\n\n8. Qualitative/quantitative expression of a specific factor with which a risk may be associated as determined through an appropriate risk assessment. [IPCS/OECD 2004]\n\n9. An explicit expression of the environmental value to be protected. An assessment endpoint includes both an ecological entity and specific attributes of that entity. For example, salmon are a valued ecological entity; reproduction and population maintenance (i.e., the attribute) form an assessment endpoint. [EPA 2004]\n\n10. Explicit expression of the environmental value that is to be protected, operationally defined by an ecological entity and its attributes. For example, salmon are valued ecological entities; reproduction and age class structure are some of their important attributes. Together \"salmon reproduction and age class structure\" form an assessment endpoint. [EPA 1998a]\n\n11. Explicit expressions of the actual environmental value that is to be protected, operationally defined by an ecological entity and its attributes.",
  "subject": "Science and research",
  "references": [
    "Waste and Cleanup Risk Assessment Glossary",
    "Core Ecosystem Services Research Program Standard Lexicon",
    "Ecological Risk Assessment Glossary of Terms",
    "Terms of Environment",
    "Environmental Modeling and Assessment Program (EMAP) Master Glossary; EMAP Master Glossary",
    "EPA 2004",
    "Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "NSTEP Glossary; N-STEPS Online Glossary of Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/assessment-endpoint/"
}