Keywords
software tool, weight-of-evidence, toxicity, model
Start Date
1-7-2012 12:00 AM
Abstract
Weight-of-evidence (WOE) approach is a requirement for comprehensive integrated sediment quality assessment and management worldwide. WOE is a system approach based on collection of several lines of evidences that are able to derive multi-aspect characterization of availability and adverse effects of contaminants for living organisms in water environments. A software tool addressing this approach is already available and based on the statistical package STATISTICA 6.0. The tool provided user-friendly and user-assisting interface for entering and analyzing of data, as well as presented a summary of the results of the conducted analysis. It was designed for environmental scientists and managers, academia and all those who are interested in integrated sediment quality assessment. The present work is the new version of the software based on another statistical package - SPSS 11. This increases usability of the tool for different users. The present work also demonstrates a case study: WOE approach used in sediment quality assessment for River São Francisco, Brazil. Holistic analysis of sediment contamination status along the riverside was performed by integrating different lines of evidences collected at different contaminant loads in the environment. The outcome of this analysis is a summary of the harmful effects caused by contaminants at different studied sections. The results can be used by environmental managers and decision makers for selecting best management option for reducing contamination level in the sediment and preserving healthy status of the river.
Weight-Of-Evidence-based Assessment of Sediment Quality of the São Francisco River (Brazil) with the Help of Software Tool SQA
Weight-of-evidence (WOE) approach is a requirement for comprehensive integrated sediment quality assessment and management worldwide. WOE is a system approach based on collection of several lines of evidences that are able to derive multi-aspect characterization of availability and adverse effects of contaminants for living organisms in water environments. A software tool addressing this approach is already available and based on the statistical package STATISTICA 6.0. The tool provided user-friendly and user-assisting interface for entering and analyzing of data, as well as presented a summary of the results of the conducted analysis. It was designed for environmental scientists and managers, academia and all those who are interested in integrated sediment quality assessment. The present work is the new version of the software based on another statistical package - SPSS 11. This increases usability of the tool for different users. The present work also demonstrates a case study: WOE approach used in sediment quality assessment for River São Francisco, Brazil. Holistic analysis of sediment contamination status along the riverside was performed by integrating different lines of evidences collected at different contaminant loads in the environment. The outcome of this analysis is a summary of the harmful effects caused by contaminants at different studied sections. The results can be used by environmental managers and decision makers for selecting best management option for reducing contamination level in the sediment and preserving healthy status of the river.
