Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-making
In the 5 years since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has dramatically expanded with programs implemented across the globe to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of public health concern. However, the best way to use wastewater surveillanc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1562659/full |
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| author | Anna Gitter Anna Gitter Valeria Ruvalcaba Katelyn Clark Katelyn Clark Theresa Tran Carapucci Theresa Tran Carapucci Theresa Tran Carapucci Fuqing Wu Fuqing Wu Blake M. Hanson Blake M. Hanson Jennifer Deegan Jennifer Deegan John Balliew Eric Boerwinkle Eric Boerwinkle Eric Boerwinkle Anthony W. Maresso Anthony W. Maresso Anthony W. Maresso Kristina D. Mena Kristina D. Mena Kristina D. Mena |
| author_facet | Anna Gitter Anna Gitter Valeria Ruvalcaba Katelyn Clark Katelyn Clark Theresa Tran Carapucci Theresa Tran Carapucci Theresa Tran Carapucci Fuqing Wu Fuqing Wu Blake M. Hanson Blake M. Hanson Jennifer Deegan Jennifer Deegan John Balliew Eric Boerwinkle Eric Boerwinkle Eric Boerwinkle Anthony W. Maresso Anthony W. Maresso Anthony W. Maresso Kristina D. Mena Kristina D. Mena Kristina D. Mena |
| author_sort | Anna Gitter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the 5 years since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has dramatically expanded with programs implemented across the globe to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of public health concern. However, the best way to use wastewater surveillance data and inform local communities of the utility of wastewater science remains limited and sporadically discussed. Specifically, there is vague guidance regarding interpreting varying levels of viral loads in wastewater for public health significance. While collaborative efforts are key to implementing these community-specific wastewater surveillance programs, effectively using the data for public health decision-making still needs significant refinement. Aligned with recent calls for advancing the science of wastewater surveillance, the experiences described in this article examine the critical need to advance other aspects of WBE programs, including communication, ethics, and decision-making. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7127ef5b7da54e0b8840a5fa7cc8afa5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-7127ef5b7da54e0b8840a5fa7cc8afa52025-08-20T01:55:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15626591562659Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-makingAnna Gitter0Anna Gitter1Valeria Ruvalcaba2Katelyn Clark3Katelyn Clark4Theresa Tran Carapucci5Theresa Tran Carapucci6Theresa Tran Carapucci7Fuqing Wu8Fuqing Wu9Blake M. Hanson10Blake M. Hanson11Jennifer Deegan12Jennifer Deegan13John Balliew14Eric Boerwinkle15Eric Boerwinkle16Eric Boerwinkle17Anthony W. Maresso18Anthony W. Maresso19Anthony W. Maresso20Kristina D. Mena21Kristina D. Mena22Kristina D. Mena23Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United StatesTexas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United StatesTexas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Management, Policy and Community Health, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Emergency Medicine, UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United StatesUTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United StatesTexas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesTexas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United StatesTexas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesUTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesEl Paso Water Utility, El Paso, TX, United StatesTexas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United StatesUTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesTexas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesTAILOR Labs, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United StatesTexas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesUTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesIn the 5 years since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has dramatically expanded with programs implemented across the globe to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of public health concern. However, the best way to use wastewater surveillance data and inform local communities of the utility of wastewater science remains limited and sporadically discussed. Specifically, there is vague guidance regarding interpreting varying levels of viral loads in wastewater for public health significance. While collaborative efforts are key to implementing these community-specific wastewater surveillance programs, effectively using the data for public health decision-making still needs significant refinement. Aligned with recent calls for advancing the science of wastewater surveillance, the experiences described in this article examine the critical need to advance other aspects of WBE programs, including communication, ethics, and decision-making.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1562659/fullepidemiologyhuman healthvirusesquantitative microbial risk assessmentpandemic preparedness |
| spellingShingle | Anna Gitter Anna Gitter Valeria Ruvalcaba Katelyn Clark Katelyn Clark Theresa Tran Carapucci Theresa Tran Carapucci Theresa Tran Carapucci Fuqing Wu Fuqing Wu Blake M. Hanson Blake M. Hanson Jennifer Deegan Jennifer Deegan John Balliew Eric Boerwinkle Eric Boerwinkle Eric Boerwinkle Anthony W. Maresso Anthony W. Maresso Anthony W. Maresso Kristina D. Mena Kristina D. Mena Kristina D. Mena Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-making Frontiers in Public Health epidemiology human health viruses quantitative microbial risk assessment pandemic preparedness |
| title | Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-making |
| title_full | Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-making |
| title_fullStr | Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-making |
| title_full_unstemmed | Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-making |
| title_short | Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-making |
| title_sort | turning analysis into action opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision making |
| topic | epidemiology human health viruses quantitative microbial risk assessment pandemic preparedness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1562659/full |
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