Problem Formulation for Human Health Risk Assessments of Pathogens in Land-Applied Biosolids (External Review Draft)

In 2002 the National Research Council released a report entitled, Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practice. To address the issues raised by that report, in January 2004, EPA released an "Action Plan" for setting new priorities for the biosolids program. This draft document is an important step in that action plan because it provides concepts and planning methods for consideration and possible use in the conduct of risk assessments focusing on pathogens in land-applied biosolids. The document summarizes the existing literature; defines critical pathogen stressors; develops conceptual models linking the most likely stressors, pathways and health responses of concern; evaluates the overall quality and utility of available risk assessment data, tools and methodologies; and outlines an analysis plan that identifies research and methods for conducting a scientifically defensible risk assessment relevant to EPA’s decision needs.

EPA intends to release all public comments received by the due date posted in the Federal Register Notice, for use by the external review panel during the peer-review workshop.

EPA intends to review comments from both the general public and the external peer-review workshop when publishing the final document.