Joanna Burger ^1*

¹ Rutgers University

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: burger{at}biology.rutgers.edu.

	Abstract

Environmental remediation of contaminated ecosytems 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 stressors, 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.

Key Words: Community Health, Environment