ABSTRACT
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“Numerical models are increasingly being used in the public arena, in some cases to justify highly controversial decisions. Therefore, the implication of ‘truth’ is a serious matter” (Oreskes et al., 1994). This citation comes from a paper on the level of truth in numerical earth science models that are used to predict the safety level of nuclear waste repositories in the Earth’s crust. Public interest is obviously related to long-term public protection against radioactive contamination. Ecological risk assessment (ERA) models are often numerical models as well (Suter, 1993), with the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) concept just one example. This chapter concerns the level of truth that should be envisaged when the results obtained from the application of the SSD concept are used for environmental decision making.
