Key uncertainties in risk informed standards for B. anthracis

摘要

After a series of bioterrorism-related anthrax attacks in 2001, how to accurately estimate the risk of mortality after exposure to B. anthracis is a major concern. Since in many cases human health risk from biological agents is associated with aerosol exposures, concentrations found on surfaces may be used to infer future or past aerosol exposures. In this paper, we assume that B. anthracis spores were released in a one compartment office suite which was connected by HVAC system. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to indentify the key parameters and uncertainties in assessing surface concentration corresponding to certain risk. This provides a background analysis for prioritizing research aimed at reducing these uncertainties.