Evaluating the quality of bioaerosol risk assessments for composting facilitiesin England and Wales

摘要

A critical evaluation of 44 environmental risk assessments for compostingfacilities, submitted in support of environmental permits or exemption fromlicensing is presented. Assessments were scored semi-quantitatively, intriplicate, by reference to 11 generic and 11 bioaerosol-specific riskassessment attributes developed from existing regulatory guidance. Radar plotsof the two attribute groups illustrate where opportunities for improvementsexist, and are being used to inform regulatory guidance to the operators ofcomposting facilities and their professional advisors. Aspects of the regulatoryrisk assessments requiring attention include (i) descriptions of the limitationsand uncertainties within risk analyses, (ii) presentation of methodologicaldetails of sampling and analysis, and (iii) the provision of backgroundinformation.