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Microbial Risk Assessment Compendium of Methods

Image: Dose-Response Curve
EPA has created a report entitled the “Compendium of Prior and Current Risk Assessment Methods” to accelerate risk assessment, which in turn supports rapid response. The compendium contains an extensive compilation of literature and data derived from biological risk assessment methods employed by various industries, such as food safety, drinking water, and public health.

Information Included in the Compendium

Many studies have been examined to ensure that the compilation is a comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to microbial risk assessment. The compilation effort was initiated in 2004 and presently includes information from 135 studies published between 1994 and 2004, with major sections on exposure assessment, dose‑response, and risk characterization. Of the relevant studies, 44 were related to exposure assessment, 31 to dose-response, and 60 to risk characterization. The information was originally compiled into a report and subsequently transferred to a database that is undergoing internal review.

Fields of information included in the compendium are:

  1. Study Identification
  2. Objectives and Type of Study
  3. Publication Attributes
  4. Data and Study Design (i.e., type of data, source, extent of data, sampling plan, sample size, performance characteristics, and relevance)
  5. Method/Model/Approach (i.e., characteristics, assumptions, limitations, and relevance)
  6. Study Conclusions
  7. Data Gaps and Proposed Solutions
  8. Reviewer Comments

Schedule for the Compendium Availability

The report is available and additional literature (post-2004) will be reviewed for inclusion in 2008. By periodically updating with new information, the compendium will continually serve as a resource tool for improving risk assessment methodologies. It is anticipated that the compendium database will be available in 2008 for limited access. Please contact Tonya Nichols (information provided below) to gain access.

See Also
A Compendium of Prior and Current Microbial Risk Assessment Methods (PDF) (444 pp, 7.6 MB) (EPA/600/R-07/129)


Contact: Tonya Nichols

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