IMES: A System for Identifying and Evaluating Computer Models for Exposure Assessment

Although IMES is apparently a marriage of independently developed modules, the blend is nearly seamless‐there are only minor differences in “feel” between the three modules. IMES is well organized and easy to use. There are help screens at every stage in each module. Selection is efficient‐queries rarely take more than a few seconds on a 386 machine before a report can be generated. There are a few pitfalls in model selection which are difficult to avoid. Improper classification is one of them. For example, IMES lists MINTEQ as a multimedia model. It would be more appropriate from this reviewer's perspective to classify MINTEQ as a geo‐chemical model (for which this version of IMES has no classification category.)One minor concern is that in two modules (Selection and Validation)IMES queries the operator “Do you really want to exit?” or “Exit?” when one simply wants to go back one level in the screening process. It would be less disconcerting to be consistently presented (as is done in the Uncertainty module)with a pop‐up menu selection like “Do you want to return to the previous screen?” IMES was an ambitious undertaking that resulted in a useful and important contribution to Exposure Assessment Model community.