The Ministry for the Environment commissioned PHF Science to undertake a programme of work to update freshwater microbiological research.
The Freshwater QMRA study had four aims:
- to generate quantitative data on the concentrations of a range of pathogenic microorganisms and indicator microorganisms from a nationally representative survey of sites that were geographically spread, covered a range of climatic conditions, and had adjacent land uses or activities likely to impact freshwater quality
- to supplement these data with information on potential contamination sources (faecal source tracking) and ancillary environmental data from sampling sites
- to determine the relationships between pathogen and indicator presence and concentration
- to incorporate the survey data into a QMRA providing human health risk estimates from recreational activity exposures to pathogens.
The Ministry for the Environment commissioned PHF Science to undertake a programme of work to update freshwater microbiological research.
The Freshwater QMRA study had four aims:
- to generate quantitative data on the concentrations of a range of pathogenic microorganisms and indicator microorganisms from a nationally representative survey of sites that were geographically spread, covered a range of climatic conditions, and had adjacent land uses or activities likely to impact freshwater quality
- to supplement these data with information on potential contamination sources (faecal source tracking) and ancillary environmental data from sampling sites
- to determine the relationships between pathogen and indicator presence and concentration
- to incorporate the survey data into a QMRA providing human health risk estimates from recreational activity exposures to pathogens.