Estimation of norovirus infection risks to consumers of wastewater-irrigated food crops eaten raw

A quantitative microbial risk analysis-Monte Carlo method was used to estimate norovirus infection risks to consumers of wastewater-irrigated lettuce. Using the same assumptions as used in the 2006 WHO guidelines for the safe use of wastewater in agriculture, a norovirus reduction of 6 log units was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of water and health 2010-03, Vol.8 (1), p.39-43
Main Authors: Mara, Duncan, Sleigh, Andrew
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural wastes
Caliciviridae Infections - virology
Cold water
Consumers
Cooking
Disinfection
Food
Food Microbiology
Guidelines
Health risks
Humans
Infections
Lactuca - virology
Lava
Microorganisms
Models, Biological
Monte Carlo Method
Monte Carlo simulation
Norovirus
Pathogens
Reduction
Risk
Risk analysis
Risk Factors
Statistical methods
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Wastewater
Wastewater irrigation
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Summary:A quantitative microbial risk analysis-Monte Carlo method was used to estimate norovirus infection risks to consumers of wastewater-irrigated lettuce. Using the same assumptions as used in the 2006 WHO guidelines for the safe use of wastewater in agriculture, a norovirus reduction of 6 log units was required to achieve a norovirus infection risk of approximately 10(-3) per person per year (pppy), but for a lower consumption of lettuce (40-48 g per week vs. 350 g per week) the required reduction was 5 log units. If the tolerable additional disease burden is increased from a DALY (disability-adjusted life year) loss of 10(-6) pppy (the value used in the WHO guidelines) to 10(-5) pppy, the required pathogen reduction is one order of magnitude lower. Reductions of 4-6 log units can be achieved by very simple partial treatment (principally settling to achieve a 1-log unit reduction) supplemented by very reliable post-treatment health-protection control measures such as pathogen die-off (1-2 log units), produce washing in cold water (1 log unit) and produce disinfection (3 log units).
ISSN:1477-8920
1996-7829
DOI:10.2166/wh.2009.140