Risk assessments provide a qualitative or quantitative evaluation of the risk posed to human health and the environment by the actual or potential presence of pollutants. Risk assessments are conducted for a number of reasons, including: to establish whether an ecological risk exists or not; to identify the need for additional data collection; to focus on the dangers of a specific pollutant or the risks posed to a specific site; to help develop contingency plans and other responses to pollutant releases. Risk assessments are an important part of the Agency's Superfund program and play a key role in the development and implementation of new environmental regulations.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• National Center for Environmental Assessment
  NCEA serves as the national resource center for the overall process of human health and ecological risk assessments.
• Superfund Risk Assessment
  Provides information about Superfund risk assessment.