The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) has changed its name to the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) as of 1 July 2025. The new website address is www.phfscience.nz. Visitors will automatically be redirected to the new address. Please check and update any links and bookmarks after this change.

Wastewater-based epidemiology: A framework to identify and prioritise health determinants for wastewater monitoring

Please note: As of 1 July 2025, the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) is the new name for the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR). Research and reports published prior to this date may reference the organisation’s former name.

Summary

This report describes a framework that could support the Ministry of Health in identifying and prioritising health determinants that could be monitored through wastewater surveillance. It includes information that has been gathered from published scientific literature, organisational and technical reports, grey literature and discussion with experts in the field of wastewater based epidemiology (WBE). WBE has the potential to provide valuable insight into a wide range of other health determinants, including consumption of new psychoactive substances and a range of legal substances, including alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, over-the-counter pain relievers and antimicrobials, as well as exposure to environmental contaminants and infectious diseases.

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