title: Climate change impact on infection risks during bathing downstream of sewage emissions from CSOs or WWTPs.
abstract: Climate change is expected to influence infection risks while bathing downstream of sewage emissions from combined sewage overflows (CSOs) or waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) due to changes in pathogen influx, rising temperatures and changing flow rates of the receiving waters. In this study, climate change impacts on the surface water concentrations of Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium and norovirus originating from sewage were modelled. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was used to assess changes in risks of infection. In general, infection risks downstream of WWTPs are higher than downstream CSOs. Even though model outputs show an increase in CSO influxes, in combination with changes in pathogen survival, dilution within the sewage system and bathing behaviour, the effects on the infection risks are limited. However, a decrease in dilution capacity of surface waters could have significant impact on the infection risks of relatively stable pathogens like Cryptosporidium and norovirus. Overall, average risks are found to be higher downstream WWTPs compared to CSOs. Especially with regard to decreased flow rates, adaptation measures on treatment at WWTPs may be more beneficial for human health than decreasing CSO events.
authors: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Electronic address: ankie.sterk@rivm.nl.
authors: Ankie
authors: A
authors: Sterk
authors: Sanitas Water, Zeist, the Netherlands.
authors: Heleen
authors: H
authors: de Man
authors: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Jack F
authors: JF
authors: Schijven
authors: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors: Ton
authors: T
authors: de Nijs
authors: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Ana Maria
authors: AM
authors: de Roda Husman
mesh_terms: D057231:Climate Change; D006801:Humans; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014867:Water; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014867:Water
keywords: CSO; Climate change; Pathogen transport; Quantitative microbial risk assessment; Sewage