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AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Jul 31, 2007
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September 2007, Vol 97, No. 9 | American Journal of Public Health 1572-1578
© 2007 American Public Health Association
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.098814

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

The Effect on Ecological Systems of Remediation to Protect Human Health

Joanna Burger, PhD

The author is with the Division of Life Sciences, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscat-away, NJ.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Joanna Burger, Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Rd, Piscat-away, NJ 08854 (e-mail: burger{at}biology.rutgers.edu).

ABSTRACT

Environmental remediation of contaminated eco-sytems reduces stresses to these ecosystems, including stresses caused by the production, use, and storage of weapons of mass destruction. The effects of these various stressors on humans can be reduced by remediation or by blocking the exposure of humans, but blocking the exposure of resident biota is almost impossible.

Remediation may involve trade-offs between reducing a minor risk to public health and increasing risks to workers and ecosystems. Remediation practices such as soil removal disrupt ecosystems, which take decades to recover. Without further human disturbances, and with low levels of exposure to stress-ors, ecosystems can recover from physical disruptions and spills.

Remediation to remove negligible risk to humans can destroy delicate ecosystems for very little gain in public health.






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