Impact of climate change on the transport, fate and risk management of viral pathogens in water

Objective

The use of hydrological models to determine the effects of climate change on the variation in viral flux, and therefore in risk associated with viral disease, constitutes a novel approach to the management of water-related disease. Tools developed in previous EU Projects will be used to conduct case studies on five selected sites (in Sweden, Spain, Hungary, Greece and Brazil) vulnerable to climate change (principally rainfall events), and the empirical baseline data accrued will be used in mathematical models constructed to estimate changes in exposure under defined conditions. Exposure levels will then be used to estimate risk of disease associated with such changes. Tools will include novel methods for processing of sewage, effluent and water samples, for quantitative detection of the target viruses, and for the determination of the source (human or animal) of viral pollution. Models will be adapted from existing epidemiological models for viral disease in the community, or will be generated de novo as required. Bacterial faecal indicator analysis will permit the determination of any relationships between virus levels and water quality standards, and also between changes in virus concentration in water and risk to public health activities, such as bathing in polluted water or consumption of shellfish.

Field of science

• /natural sciences/earth and related environmental sciences/hydrology
• /medical and health sciences/health sciences/public and environmental health
• /natural sciences/biological sciences/microbiology/virology
• /natural sciences/mathematics/applied mathematics/mathematical model
• /social sciences/sociology/governance/crisis management
• /natural sciences/earth and related environmental sciences/atmospheric sciences/climatology/climatic changes

Programme(s)

• FP7-ENVIRONMENT - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Environment (including Climate Change)

Topic(s)

• ENV.2009.1.2.1.1 - Climate change and water related health issues in Europe

Call for proposal

FP7-ENV-2009-1
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project

Coordinator

ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY

Address

Visualisation Centre Penglais
SY23 3BF Aberystwyth
United Kingdom

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 537 664,40

Administrative Contact

Emyr Huw Reynolds (Mr.)

Participants (7)

UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA

Spain

EU contribution

€ 398 116

Address

Gran Via De Les Corts Catalanes 585
08007 Barcelona

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Rosina Girones (Prof.)

VELINDRE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE TRUST

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 45 000

Address

Parc Nantgarw-charnwood Court 2
CF15 7QZ Cardiff

Activity type

Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments)

Administrative Contact

Roland Salmon (Dr.)

PANEPISTIMIO PATRON

Greece

EU contribution

€ 302 004

Address

University Campus Rio Patras
265 04 Rio Patras

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Apostolos Vantarakis (Prof.)

UMEA UNIVERSITET

Sweden

EU contribution

€ 494 624

Address

Universitetomradet
901 87 Umea

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Annika Allard (Dr.)

FUNDACAO OSWALDO CRUZ

Brazil

EU contribution

€ 245 604

Address

Avenida Brasil 4365
21040 900 Rio De Janeiro

Activity type

Research Organisations

Administrative Contact

Pedro Ribeiro Barbosa (Dr.)

NEMZETI NEPEGESZSEGUGYI KOZPONT

Hungary

EU contribution

€ 242 004

Address

Albert Florian Ut 2-6
1097 Budapest

Activity type

Research Organisations

Administrative Contact

Mihaly Kadar (Dr.)

FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA DE CIENCIES DEL CLIMA

Spain

EU contribution

€ 156 000

Address

Carrer Doctor Trueta 203 3R Pis
08005 Barcelona

Activity type

Research Organisations

Administrative Contact

Oriol Palom (Mr.)