Using quantitative microbial risk assessment and life cycle assessment to assess management options in urban water and sanitation infrastructures: Opportunities and unresolved issues

摘要: Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) and life cycle (LCA) are two distinct environmental management techniques that can provide complementary perspectives when assessing options for urban water sanitation infrastructure. While QMRA per definition concerns risks, accounting pathogens in LCA has received little attention. A few case studies, however, have explored the concurrent use of LCA. These studies were motivated by perceived need to address trade-offs between local health burdens associated with global other stressors at different spatial temporal scales. Along LCA, results sought basis addressing such trade-offs, rather than deciding whether pathogen-related adverse effects experienced specific individuals or populations acceptable, which scenario leads highest overall burden a given community, as is traditionally QMRA. This paper highlights opportunities unresolved issues related assumptions translating chemical pathogen impacts common metric mode structure parameterisation aspects. Our aim facilitate more consistent design transparent communication future this type, highlight experts contribute method development so include impacts. most examples provided focus on reuse, findings apply broadly also be extrapolated exposures context systems well contexts.