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Risk Assessment of Virus in Drinking Water
Author(s) -
Haas Charles N.,
Rose Joan B.,
Gerba Charles,
Regli Stig
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1993.tb00013.x
Subject(s) - environmental health , public health , risk assessment , estimation , risk analysis (engineering) , epidemiology , environmental science , environmental engineering , business , medicine , engineering , computer science , computer security , nursing , systems engineering
The reevaluation of drinking water treatment practices in a desire to minimize the formation of disinfection byproducts while assuring minimum levels of public health protection against infectious organisms has caused it to become necessary to consider the problem of estimation of risks posed from exposure to low levels of microorganisms, such as virus or protozoans, found in treated drinking water. This paper outlines a methodology based on risk assessment principles to approach the problem. The methodology is validated by comparison with results obtained in a prospective epidemiological study. It is feasible to produce both point and interval estimates of infection, illness and perhaps mortality by this methodology. Areas of uncertainty which require future data are indicated.