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Problem Formulation For Human Health Risk Assessments Of Pathogens In Land-Applied Biosolids (Final Report)
EPA is announcing the release of the final report,Problem Formulation for Human Health Risk Assessments of Pathogens in Land-Applied Biosolids.
Citation:
U.S. EPA. Problem Formulation For Human Health Risk Assessments Of Pathogens In Land-Applied Biosolids (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-08/035F, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
Problem formulation is a systematic planning step that identifies the major factors to be considered in a particular assessment. It was developed for ecological risk assessment.
Description:
Millions of tons of treated sewage sludges or “biosolids” are applied annually to farms, forests, rangelands, mine lands and other types of land in the United States. Biosolids are defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “the primarily organic solid product yielded by municipal wastewater treatment processes that can be beneficially recycled” (e.g., as an amendment to soil). Concerns about the potential human health effects from land applied biosolids can be addressed through a risk assessment. This report focuses on the systematic planning step (a “problem formulation,” which defines the major factors to be considered) in risk assessments of pathogens in land applied biosolids. The report follows the common problem formulation steps of hazard identification, conceptual model development and the development of an analysis plan. A study of peer-reviewed literature on pathogens in biosolids (including likely stressors, pathways and health responses of concern; available risk assessment data, tools and methodologies; and gaps in knowledge and research needs) forms the basis of the report. It is intended to assist anyone involved in risk assessments or the management of pathogens in biosolids (e.g., at a local level or on a case-by-case basis) and researchers advancing the science in this topic area.
URLs/Downloads:
Problem Formulation for Human Health Risk Assessments of Pathogens in Land-applied Biosolids (PDF, 168 pp, 1116 KB, about PDF)Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practice (NRC, 2002)
Final Response to the National Research Council Report Report on Biosolids Applied to Land and the Results of the Review of Existing Sewage Sludge Regulations
FR Notice: May 26, 2011