title: Risk assessment of virus in drinking water.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Environmental Studies Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regli
mesh_terms: D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply