A Framework for Public Health Authorities to Evaluate Health Determinants for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology

Abstract

Background: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is rapidly developing as a powerful public health tool. It can provide information about a wide range of health determinants (HDs), including community exposure to environmental hazards, trends in consumption of licit and illicit substances, spread of infectious diseases, and general community health. As such, the list of possible candidate HDs for WBE is almost limitless. Consequently, a means to evaluate and prioritize suitable candidates for WBE is useful, particularly for public health authorities, who often face resource constraints. Objectives: We have developed a framework to assist public health authorities to decide what HDs may be appropriate for WBE and what biomarkers could be used. This commentary reflects the experience of the authors, who work at the interface of research and public health implementation. Discussion: To be suitable for WBE, a candidate HD should address a public health or scientific issue that would benefit from better understanding at the population level. For HDs where information on individual exposures or stratification by population subgroups is required, WBE is less suitable. Where other methodologies are already used to monitor the candidate HD, consideration must be given to whether WBE could provide better or complementary information to the current approach. An essential requirement of WBE is a biomarker specific for the candidate HD. A biomarker in this context refers to any human-excreted chemical or biological that could act as an indicator of consumption or exposure to an environmental hazard or of the human health state. Suitable biomarkers should meet several criteria outlined in this commentary, which requires background knowledge for both the biomarker and the HD. An evaluation tree summarizing key considerations for public health authorities when assessing the suitability of candidate HDs for WBE and an example evaluation are presented. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11115

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“…Establishing correlations between concentrations in wastewater and human biological samples can help to forge these crucial links. Notably, Eaton et al (2022) developed a framework to help public health authorities decide which HDs may be appropriate for WBE and which biomarkers could be used. This framework consists of an assessment tree that summarizes 1) the requirement for individual-or population-level information, 2) alternative methodologies for monitoring the HD, 3) the availability of a suitable biomarker, and 4) the requirement for changes in biomarker levels to be reflective of changes in the prevalence of the HD.…”