Total Risk Integrated Methodology (TRIM) - Peer Review and Publications

Consistent with Agency peer review policy, and the 1994 Agency Task Force on Environmental Regulatory Modeling (PDF) (86 pp, 3.7 MB, About PDF), internal and external peer review has been an integral part of the TRIM development plan.

Following the first phase of TRIM development, OAQPS submitted TRIM to SAB (EPA's Science Advisory Board) under their advisory method of review. In May 1998 in Washington, DC, the Environmental Models Subcommittee (Subcommittee) of the Executive Committee of SAB reviewed the TRIM project, assessing the overall conceptual approach of TRIM and the specific approach of TRIM.FaTE. The Subcommittee reported (PDF) (38 pp, 85 K, About PDF)  that the development of TRIM and the TRIM.FaTE module was conceptually sound and scientifically based and provided specific recommendations related to six specific charge questions.

The TRIM technical support documentation also underwent internal Agency peer review, involving reviewers across the Agency from major program offices, the Office of Research and Development, and staff involved in the Agency's Models 2000 efforts.

TRIM was again submitted to SAB advisory review in December 1999, when the Subcommittee met to review progress on TRIM (see 1999 historical documents). In providing comments and recommendations, the Subcommittee (PDF) (40 pp, 87 K, About PDF)  found "ongoing efforts to develop TRIM as a flexible, state-of-the-art system for evaluation multimedia chemical fate, transport, exposure and risk, to be effective and innovative".

In consideration of SAB's comments and recommendations, the TRIM modules and documents (go to individual module pages for current documentation) were refined, and various evaluation activities have been and continue to be performed.

In addition to consulting with Agency scientists during future TRIM development (i.e., peer involvement), OAQPS will, as appropriate, seek peer review of new aspects in TRIM development. In addition to the SAB, which provides the Agency with reviews, advisories, and consultations, other external peer review mechanisms consistent with Agency policy include the use of a group of independent experts from outside the Agency (e.g., a letter review by outside scientists), an ad hoc panel of independent experts, and peer review workshops. The OAQPS intends to seek the peer review mechanism appropriate to the importance, nature, and complexity of the material for review.

TRIM has been presented in scientific journals and at scientific meetings.

Peer Reviewed Publications

• Efroymson RE and Murphy DL. 2001. Ecological Risk Assessment of Multimedia Hazardous Air Pollutants: Estimating Exposure and Effects. Sci Total Environ 274:219-230.
• Palma, Ted., Amy B. Vasu, and Robert G. Hetes, 1999. "Total Risk Integrated Methodology (TRIM)", Air and Waste Management Association - EM Magazine, March 1999, Pg 30-34.

External Scientific Meetings

• Joint Meeting of the Society of Exposure Analysis and International Society of Environmental Epidemiology. 11-15 August, 2002. Vancouver, Canada.

  • Evaluation of the TRIM.FaTE multi-media model - A mercury case study.  Murphy DL, Maddalena R, Langstaff J, Jones DS, Lee LM, Eyth A, Lyon BF, McVey M, Laniak G.
  • Further Refinements and Testing of APEX (3.0): EPA's Population Exposure Model for Criteria and Air Toxic Inhalation Exposures. Richmond HM, Palma T, Langstaff J, McCurdy T, Glenn G, Smith L.

• Annual Meeting of the International Society of Exposure Analysis, 4-8 November, 2001. Charleston, South Carolina

  • Overview of APEX (2.0): EPA's Pollutant Exposure Model for Criteria and Air Toxic Inhalation Exposures. Richmond H, Palma T, Glen G, Smith L.

• 21st Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 12-16 November, 2000. Nashville, TN.

  • Total Risk Integrated Methodology (TRIM): Focus on the Fate, Transport and Ecological Exposure Module (TRIM.FaTE). Murphy DL, Palma T, Hetes RG, Richmond HM, Vasu AB.
  • Conceptual design and mass balance framework for TRIM.FaTE. Lyon BF, McKone TE and Bennett DH.
  • Evaluation of a Complex Environmental Model: The TRIM.FaTE Example. Maddalena RL, Bennett DH, Murphy D, Hetes R.
  • Biotic Compartments in TRIM.FaTE, a Fate, Transport and Ecological Exposure Model for Air Pollutants. Efroymson RA, Jones DS, Lyon BF, Bennett DH, Maddalena, RL, Murphy DL.
  • Determining the appropriate level of model complexity. Bennett DH, McKone, TE, Hetes R.
  • Model performance evaluation of TRIM.FaTE, a fate, transport and ecological exposure model for air pollutants. Burch DF, Lee RM, Lyon BF, Murphy DL.
  • Estimation of uncertainty and variability within the total risk integrated methodology (TRIM). Hetes RG and Langstaff JE.
  • The TRIM Computer Framework. Fine SS, Eyth AM, Lyon BF, Palma T.,
  • Spatial resolution of TRIM.FaTE, a Fate, Transport and Ecological Exposure model for air pollutants. Bennett DH, Burch DF, Lee RM, Lyon BF, Murphy DL.

• 20th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 14-18 November, 1999. Philadelphia, PA.

  • An Ecological Risk Assessment Methodology for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Efroymson, R.A., Jones, D.S., Vasu, A.

• International Life Sciences Institute's "Aggregate Exposure Assessment Model Evaluation and Refinement Workshop". 19-21 October, 1999. Baltimore, Maryland.

  • Total Risk Integrated Methodology (TRIM). Richmond, H., McKone, T.

• 19th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 15-19 November, 1998. Charlotte, NC.

  • TRIM: A Multimedia, Multipathway Framework for Assessing Human and Ecological Exposure and Risk. Vasu, A.B., Hetes, R.G., Palma, T., McKone, T.E.

• 91st Annual Conference of the Air and Waste Management Association. 14-18 June, 1998. San Diego, CA.

  • An Introduction to the Total Risk Integrated Methodology (TRIM). Palma, Ted, Amy B. Vasu, and Robert G. Hetes.

• Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis. December 7-10, 1997. Washington, DC.

  • Introduction to the Total Risk Integrated Model. A.B. Vasu, T.R. Johnson, T.E. McKone, T. Palma, M.G. Dusetzina.
  • EcoFaTE: A TRIM Module for Linking Multimedia Environmental Systems with Biotic Domains. T. R. Johnson, G.W. Suter II, T. Palma.
  • A Generalized , Mass-Conserving Multimedia Transport and Transformation Model: Development of Transfer Factors. S. Guha T.E. McKone, D.H. Bennett, B.F. Lyon
  • TRIM: Mathematical and Numerical Aspects. B.F. Lyon, S. Guha, T.E. McKone.
  • Building Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis into the TRIM Framework. D.H. Bennett, T.E. McKone, M.G. Dusetzina.
  • A Dynamic Model for Terrestrial Ecological Exposure to Toxic Air Pollutants. R.A. Efroymson, B.E. Sample, B.F. Lyon, G.W. Suter II, C.T. Hunsaker, A.W. Simcock, and D.H. Bennett.
  • Predicting Pollutant Mass Transfers within Aquatic Systems using the EcoFaTE Model. R.D. Zimmer, J.Dee, D.S. Jones.
  • Estimating Multi-pathway human and ecosystem exposures within the Total Risk Integrated Model (TRIM). T.E. McKone, Ted Johnson, G.W. Suter II.
  • EcoFaTE Model Parameterization and Verification. C.T. Hunsaker, B.F. Lyon, T.E. McKone, V. Kilaru, A. W. Simcock.

• 18th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 16-20 November, 1997. San Francisco, CA.

  • A Multimedia Health and Ecological Risk Assessment Methodology for Air Pollutants. T. McKone, S. Guha, T. Johnson, B. Lyon, G. Suter, A. Vasu.
  • Use of EcoFaTE in Modeling Pollutant Mass Transfers and Subsequent Risks within Aquatic Systems. R. Zimmer, J. Dee, D. Jones, B. Sample, G. Suter.
  • A Dynamic Model for Terrestrial Ecological Exposure to Toxic Air Pollutants. R. Efroymson, B. Sample, C. Hunsaker, B. Lyon, A. Simcock, and G. Suter.