Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Including pathogen risk in life cycle assessment: the effect of modelling choices in the context of sewage sludge management

  • LCIA OF IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEMS
  • Published:
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Recent attempts to include adverse effects of pathogens on human health in life cycle assessment (LCA) have focused on integrating results obtained through quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) as an impact category in LCA. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of QMRA can be an adequate way of integrating pathogen impact potential in LCA and to quantify how pathogen impact potential is affected by choices regarding model structure and mathematical relationships used.

Methods

This study was performed for the context of sewage sludge management and is based on pathogen concentrations in treated sludge reported in the literature. Eight reference pathogens were included in order to address important microbial groups. The pathogen impact potential associated with land application of sewage sludge was quantified based on a QMRA model for eight distinct exposure pathways. The modelling choices investigated were linearisation of dose-response and severity assessment and different modelling approaches and parameter choices in fate and exposure assessment.

Results and discussion

The linearisation of effect and severity assessment had a minor impact on the results for exposure pathways where pathogen doses were low but had a major impact where pathogen doses were high. The assumptions regarding fate and exposure conditions, such as pathogen decay time, number of individuals exposed and frequency of exposure, had a significant effect on overall pathogen impact potential. If pathogen impact potential is to be integrated in LCA, a range of different parameterisations for each exposure event may be warranted rather than only the one with the highest risk per individual exposed as commonly reported for QMRAs. This is also in line with the ordinary LCA practice of focusing on average rather than extreme conditions.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the use of QMRA can be an adequate way of integrating adverse effects of pathogens on human health in LCA. However, analysts should be careful when choosing model parameters such as the number of people exposed or the frequency of exposure, as LCA may require a different parameterisation than an ordinary risk assessment (RA). Therefore, a direct integration of the results of a QMRA study into LCA may be problematic. Also, in order to avoid potential bias, analysts should carefully consider whether or not pathogen impact potential and human toxicity potential need to be estimated based on a similar set of exposure pathways.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aramaki T, Galal M, Hanaki K (2006) Estimation of reduced and increasing health risks by installation of urban wastewater systems. Water Sci Technol 53(9):247–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson M, Tillman A-M (2004) Actors and interpretations in an environmental controversy: the Swedish debate on sewage sludge use in agriculture. Resour Conserv Recycl 42:65–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bofill-Mas S, Albinana-Gimenez N, Clemente-Casares P, Hundesa A, Rodriguez-Manzano J, Allard A, Calvo M, Girones R (2006) Quantification and stability of human adenoviruses and polyomavirus JCPyV in wastewater matrices. Appl Environ Microbiol 72(12):7894–7896

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks JP, McLaughlin MR, Gerba CP, Pepper IL (2012) Land application of manure and class B biosolids: an occupational and public quantitative microbial risk assessment. J Environ Qual 41:2009–2023

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corominas L, Foley J, Guest JS, Hospido A, Larsen HF, Morera S, Shaw A (2013) Life cycle assessment applied to wastewater treatment: state of the art. Water Res 47:5480–5492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg JN, Brookhart A, Rice G, Brown M, Colford JM Jr (2002) Disease transmission models for public health decision making: analysis of epidemic and endemic conditions caused by waterborne pathogens. Environ Health Perspect 110(8):783–790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg JN, Soller JA, Scott J, Eisenberg DM, Colford JM Jr (2004) A dynamic model to assess microbial health risks associated with beneficial uses of biosolids. Risk Anal 24(1):221–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg JN, Moore K, Soller JA, Eisenberg DM, Colford JM Jr (2008) Microbial risk assessment framework for exposure to amended sludge projects. Environ Health Perspect 116(6):727–733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gale P (2005) Land application of treated sewage sludge: quantifying pathogen risks from consumption of crops. J Appl Microbiol 98:380–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao T, Wang XC, Chen R, Ngo HH, Guo W (2015) Disability adjusted life year (DALY): a useful tool for quantitative assessment of environmental pollution. Sci Total Environ 511:268–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goedkoop MJ, Heijungs R, Huijbregts M, De Schryver A, Struijs J, Van Zelm R (2009) ReCiPe 2008 A life cycle impact assessment method which comprises harmonised category indicators at the midpoint and the endpoint level. First edition Report I: Characterisation

  • Haas CN, Rose JB, Gerba CP (2014) Quantitative microbial risk assessment, 2nd edn. Wiley

  • Harder R, Heimersson S, Svanström M, Peters GM (2014) Including pathogen risk in life cycle assessment of wastewater management—part 1: estimating the burden of disease associated with pathogens. Environ Sci Technol 48(16):9338–9445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harder R, Schoen M, Peters G (2015) Including pathogen risk in life cycle assessment of wastewater management. Implications for the choice of functional unit. Environ Sci Technol 49:14−15

  • Hauschild MZ, Goedkoop M, Guinée J, Heijungs R, Huijbregts M, Jolliet O, Margni M, De Schryver A, Humbert S, Laurent A, Sala S, Pant R (2013) Identifying best existing practice for characterization modeling in life cycle impact assessment. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18(3):683–697

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heimersson S, Harder R, Peters GM, Svanström M (2014) Including pathogen risk in life cycle assessment of wastewater management—part 2: quantitative comparison of potential impacts of pathogens to other impacts on human health. Environ Sci Technol 48(16):9446–9453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson AD, Hauschild MZ, Van de Meent D, Huibregts MAJ, Larsen HF, Margni M, McKone TE, Payet J, Rosenbaum RK, Jolliet O (2011) USEtox fate and ecotoxicity factors for comparative assessment of toxic emissions in life cycle analysis: sensitivity to key chemical properties. Int J Life Cycle Ass 16:701–709

  • Huijbregts M, Hauschild M, Jolliet O, Margni M, McKone T, Rosenbaum RK, van de Meent D (2010) USEtox™ user manual

  • Kobayashi Y, Peters GM, Ashbolt NJ, Heimersson S, Svanström M, Khan SJ (2015) Global and local health burden trade-off through the hybridisation of quantitative microbial risk assessment and life cycle assessment to aid water management. Water Res 79:26–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen HF, Olsen SI, Hauschild M, Laurent A (2009) NEPTUNE, new sustainable concepts and processes for optimization and upgrading municipal wastewater and sludge treatment, Work Package 4—Assessment of environmental sustainability and best practice, Deliverable 4.2—Methodology for including specific biological effects and pathogen aspects into LCA. Lyngby, Denmark: Technical University of Denmark

  • Murray C (1994) Quantifying the burden of disease: the technical basis for disability-adjusted life years. B World Health Organ 72:429–445

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum RK, Huijbregts MAJ, Henderson AD, Margni M, McKone TE, Van de Meent D, Hauschild MZ, Shaked S, Li DS, Gold LS, Jolliet O (2011) USEtox human exposure and toxicity factors for comparative assessment of toxic emissions in life cycle analysis: sensitivity analysis to key chemical properties. Int J Life Cycle Assess 16:710–727

  • Sales-Ortells H, Medema G (2015) Microbial health risks associated with exposure to stormwater in a water plaza. Water Res 74:34–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schoen ME, Xue X, Hawkins TR, Ashbolt NJ (2014) Comparative human health risk analysis of coastal community water and waste service options. Environ Sci Technol 48(16):9728–9736

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soller JA (2009) The potential implications of person-to-person transmission of viral infection for US EPA’s Groundwater Rule. J Water Health 7(2):208–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Westrell T, Schönning C, Stenström TA, Ashbolt NJ (2004) QMRA (quantitative microbial risk assessment) and HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points) for management of pathogens in wastewater and sewage sludge treatment and reuse. Water Sci Technol 50(2):23–30

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida H, Christensen TH, Scheutz C (2013) Life cycle assessment of sewage sludge management: a review. Waste Manag Res 31(11):1083–1101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research, technological development, and demonstration under grant agreement no. 265156 ROUTES and from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS) under grant agreement no. 2012-1122.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Environmental Science, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Robin Harder, Gregory M. Peters & Magdalena Svanström

  2. Environmental Systems Analysis, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Sverker Molander

  3. School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G7, Canada

    Nicholas J. Ashbolt

Authors
  1. Robin Harder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gregory M. Peters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sverker Molander
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicholas J. Ashbolt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Magdalena Svanström
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robin Harder.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Ralph K. Rosenbaum

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 946 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Harder, R., Peters, G.M., Molander, S. et al. Including pathogen risk in life cycle assessment: the effect of modelling choices in the context of sewage sludge management. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21, 60–69 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-015-0996-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-015-0996-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation