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Background
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a powerful tool to track public health threats through environmental monitoring. This work began over 15 years ago, supported by the UKRI's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Welsh Government, UKHSA, Defra and DHSC. The Food Standards Agency also supports the PathSafe project, investigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and viral dispersal from healthcare facilities and the launch of the BlueAdapt project examines viral and AMR dispersal in coasted environments and the future impact of climate change.
Through collaborations with Cardiff University, Arup, Public Health Wales, and others, WBE was part of the national response to COVID-19 and continues to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other health concerns.
The emergence of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), norovirus, and AMR pathogens represents significant public health threats. These pathogens are transmitted via water and food, often through contamination from human sewage. Viral outbreaks, such as norovirus, result in millions of illnesses each year, incurring substantial economic costs in healthcare and lost productivity. Meanwhile, AMR alone is projected to cost the global economy up to £100 trillion by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for effective surveillance strategies.
Climate change is expected to further impact the prevalence of waterborne diseases, with increased storm events, flooding, and rising populations putting additional strain on wastewater infrastructure. As new viruses emerge, particularly those that can evade vaccines or are linked to environmental contaminants (e.g., rotavirus and human papillomaviruses), mitigation strategies are crucial.
In response to these growing challenges, Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) offers an effective and emerging solution to monitor pathogenic organisms in wastewater and assess the risks they pose to public health. Our team, supported by UKRI, government bodies, the water industry, and the EU, is focused on refining these methods to ensure they provide the rapid, reliable data needed to safeguard public health.
Methods
To quantify viral populations in seawater, freshwater, sediments, wastewater influent and effluent and shellfish. We are also looking at using these tools to simultaneously monitor the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes.
(i) whether viruses in the environment still remain infective to humans.
(ii) the rate of spread and dispersal of viruses and AMR in the environment.
(iii) whether wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can aid in public health surveillance.
(iv) what is the best way to communicate WBE to stakeholders.
To Predict:
(i) the flow of viruses and AMR through the wastewater plant.
(ii) their flow through the river network and coastal zone.
(iii) the impact of climate change and tidal cycles on pathogen flow.
(iv) the coupling of these models with weather and clinical data for quasi real-time prediction of pathogen concentrations in the environment (for active risk management).
To assess the number of infections in the community (public health surveillance) and guidance to reduce the infection risk (e.g. bathing waters, beaches & shellfisheries) for protecting human health.