Public Health Criteria for the Aquatic Environment: Recent WHO Guidelines and Their Application

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Helmer ◽  
I. Hespanhol ◽  
L. J. Saliba
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Wastewater Reuse ◽  
World Health ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Bathing Waters ◽  
Guideline Values

Over the past Decade, the World Health Organization has developed a series of microbiological guidelines covering different aspects of the aquatic environment. Transmission pathways of human pathogens from their faecal origin back to man via drinking-water, bathing waters, shellfish and sewage-irrigated crops were investigated and epidemiology-based health criteria established. The total and faecal coliform guideline values for drinking-water are generally complied with in urban water supplies but difficult to meet in rural areas of developing countries. The Mediterranean serves as the major study area for assessing health risks from bathing in coastal waters and from the consumption of shellfish eaten uncooked. Wastewater reuse for crop irrigation is rapidly expanding due to water shortages but poses health risks to farm workers and consumers. New guidelines for control of helminths were recently issued by a WHO Scientific Group. A comparative evaluation of the above guidelines follows.

scholarly journals Physico-chemical quality of drinking water in the Njoro sub-county in Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-507
Author(s):  
Philip Ruciaka Kirianki ◽  
Edward Muchiri ◽  
Natasha Potgieter
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Water Source ◽  
World Health ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Storage Container ◽  
Standard Assessment ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Study Support ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Njoro sub-county in Kenya suffers from constant water shortages causing the residents to rely on both improved and unimproved water sources in the area. The households in the sub-county also use different household storage containers to store drinking water in times when water is not readily available. This study was therefore undertaken to assess selective physico-chemical parameters of water used by the population for drinking purposes using standard assessment methods. A total of 372 water source samples and 162 storage container water samples were tested over a period of three months. Turbidity (0.70–273.85 NTU), iron (0.7–2.10 mg/L), fluoride (0.15–4.01 mg/L), manganese (0.01–0.37 mg/L), and nitrate (0.09–27.90 mg/L) levels in water samples were generally higher than the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and/or the World Health Organization (WHO) water quality recommendations for safe drinkable water. The results from this study support the need for continuous monitoring and treating drinking water at the points of collection and of consumption to minimize the long-term health effects on communities consuming this water.

scholarly journals Self-supply as an alternative approach to water access in rural scattered regions: evidence from a rural microcatchment in Colombia

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilmar Torres-López ◽  
Inés Restrepo-Tarquino ◽  
Charlotte Patterson ◽  
John Gowing ◽  
Isabel Dominguez Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
External Support ◽  
World Health ◽  
Unfinished Business ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽  
Health Organization

<p>Globally, access to improved water sources is lower in rural areas compared to urban areas. Furthermore, in rural areas many people use water from individual systems they have developed with their investments, often without external support. This phenomenon has been called Self-supply. Self-supply ranges from simple to complex systems and different water sources. Water quality varies, from achieving World Health Organization (WHO) standards (0 CFU/100 ml) to systems that provide water posing high risks to human health. While most studies in Self-supply have been developed in Africa, little is known in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This research explores Self-supply in a rural microcatchment in Colombia (LAC). Data was collected through household and drinking water surveys and analysed. Results showed that 40% of households used Self-supply systems taking water from springs and brooks. Thermotolerant Coliforms were below 50 CFU/100 ml, both in dry and rainy season, and between 5 to 7% of samples achieved the WHO standard. These results suggest that Self-supply has potential to offer safe drinking water, provided improvements on source protection and institutional support. Therefore, Self-supply could contribute to address “unfinished business”, including ensuring access for the hardest-to-reach people, as stated in the post-2015 development agenda.</p>

Source and mobilization mechanism of arsenic contamination in Manipur, Northeast India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandra Shekhar Azad Kashyap ◽  
Swati Singh
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Northeast India ◽  
World Health ◽  
Arsenic Content ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Paddy Crop ◽  
Waterlogging Condition

&lt;p&gt;India is one of the fastest economic growing and second-largest country by population. More than 75% people are living in rural areas and engage with agricultural activities for livelihood. A significant portion of the revenue comes from agriculture which cause ignorance in follow the guideline to get more yield. The supply of good quality food and drinking water are the necessity for economic and social health welfare of urban and rural population. In this study, we have observed that the groundwater quality is being degrading due to improper implementation of the rules and regulation. Twenty three groundwater sample were analyze for arsenic and trace elements contamination. The arsenic content in groundwater ranging from 10 to 780 &amp;#181;g/L, which is far above the levels for drinking water standards prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO). For identify the provable source of the contamination, four soil sample were analyzed and observed arsenic content ranging from 110 to 190 mg/kg. Rice is the staple food and ultimately cultivating the paddy crop on more over 80% of the agricultural land. The Paddy crop requires a large amount of water, ultimately maintain the waterlogging condition in the agricultural field. This waterlogging condition is providing a long time to get dissolution of the arsenic bearing minerals present in the soil. This study concluded that the traditional practicing of continuous growing paddy crop in the same field leading to groundwater contamination. The crops cycling could be a better option for reducing the contamination at a local scale.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Arsenic and heavy metals contamination, risk assessment and their source in drinking water of the Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1073-1084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nida Gul ◽  
Mohammad Tahir Shah ◽  
Sardar Khan ◽  
Nimat Ullah Khattak ◽  
Said Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
World Health ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Chemical Parameters ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Guideline Values

The present study was conducted to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics in drinking water of Mardan District, Pakistan. Furthermore, water quality was evaluated for the risk assessment of arsenic and heavy metals (HMs) and their contamination sources. Representative groundwater samples of shallow and deep sources were collected in the study area. These samples were analyzed for physical parameters, anions, light metals (LMs) and HMs. Results were compared with the drinking water guideline values set by the World Health Organization and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Average concentrations of anions, LMs and HMs were found within the maximum allowable contaminant levels except for bicarbonates, Fe, Cu, and Pb. Results revealed that hazard quotients &gt;1 were observed for shallow groundwater for 10% samples only, suggesting potential health risk from water consumption. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed a relationship among various physico-chemical parameters in both shallow and deep groundwater. Statistical analyses suggested the geogenic and anthropogenic sources for possible enhancement of various physico-chemical parameters in the aquifer system of the study area.

scholarly journals Quality and Health Risk Assessment Associated with Water Consumption—A Case Study on Karstic Springs

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3510
Author(s):  
Ana Moldovan ◽  
Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia ◽  
Eniko Kovacs ◽  
Ionuț Cornel Mirea ◽  
Marius Kenesz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
World Health ◽  
Oral Exposure ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Drinking Water Source ◽  
Guideline Value ◽  
Guideline Values

In rural areas without centralized water supply systems, inhabitants often use groundwater of unknown quality as drinking water, without understanding the possible negative consequences on their health. Karstic spring waters from Dobrogea region in Romania were assessed for their potential to be used as drinking water source, according to their quality and seasonal variation. The physico-chemical parameters of waters were compared with the guideline values for drinking water established by the World Health Organization and the Directive 98/83/EC. The nitrate and Cr concentrations exceeded the guideline value in the springs from Southern Dobrogea, but met the quality criteria in those from Northern Dobrogea, thus, to be used as drinking water, the karstic springs located in Southern Dobrogea require treatment for nitrates removal. Heavy metals pollution indices showed low to medium cumulative heavy metal pollution in all springs, while the human health risk assessment by oral exposure indicated possible noncarcinogenic risks of nitrates, both for adults and children in springs from South Dobrogea. A rigorous monitoring of the water quality before human consumption is recommended for all four studied water sources.

scholarly journals Detection of enteric viruses in Hungarian surface waters: first steps towards environmental surveillance

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 772-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Kern ◽  
Mihaly Kadar ◽  
Katalin Szomor ◽  
György Berencsi ◽  
Beatrix Kapusinszky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Virus Detection ◽  
Water Concentration ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Bathing Waters

Waterborne viruses infect the human population through the consumption of contaminated drinking water and by direct contact with polluted surface water during recreational activity. Although water related viral outbreaks are a major public health concern, virus detection is not a part of the water quality monitoring scheme, mainly due to the absence of routine analysis methods. In the present study, we implemented various approaches for water concentration and virus detection, and tested on Hungarian surface water samples. Eighty samples were collected from 16 sites in Hungary. Samples were concentrated by glass wool and membrane filtration. Human adenoviruses were detected by conventional and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods in 56% (45/80) of the samples; viral titers ranged from 8.60 × 101 to 3.91 × 104 genome copies per liter. Noroviruses and enteroviruses were detected in 30% (24/80) and 13% (10/80) of samples, respectively, by reverse transcription-PCR assays. Results indicate a high prevalence of viral human pathogens in surface waters, suggesting the necessity of a detailed survey focusing on the quality of natural bathing waters and drinking water sources.

An analysis of ground water quality in a water stressed urban centre: a case of Gweru city, Zimbabwe

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-341
Author(s):  
C. Mukanga ◽  
T. Chitata ◽  
B. T. Mudereri
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Ground Water ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
World Health ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Biological Parameters ◽  
Ground Water Quality ◽  
Filtration Method

Ground water quality conformance to the World Health Organisation standards for drinking water was carried out and inferred to the health risks associated with use of such quality of water. Water samples were collected thrice a month, from nine boreholes, over a period of twelve months and analysed for physical, chemical and biological parameters. Chemical parameters were tested using UV-Vis photometry. Physical parameters were measured using HI9829 waterproof portable logging multi-parameter meter and biological parameters were determined using the Minimal Media ONRG-MUG test and the Membrane Filtration Method (MF). Results shows that total hardness and Fe concentration were above limit in 78% and 56% of the sampled boreholes, respectively. pH, EC, Ca, Cl, Fl, Mn, Mg and Turbidity were within the acceptable WHO limits. Of the sampled boreholes, 67% were not conforming to the Escherichia coli loads recommended for drinking water. Parametric correlations showed strong and significant correlations between chlorides and fluorides (r = 0.68; p &lt; 0.05), Nitrates and Sulphates (r = 0.78; p &lt; 0.05). There is need to treat borehole water to eliminate E. coli and reduce nitrates and total hardness. Furthermore, analysis and monitoring systems to determine temporal variability and health risks, respectively, needs to be put in place.

scholarly journals Drinking water quality, exposure and health risk assessment for the school-going children at school time in the southwest coastal of Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Aminur Rahman ◽  
Md. Rashidul Islam ◽  
Sazal Kumar ◽  
Sharif M. Al-Reza
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
World Health ◽  
Lifetime Cancer Risk ◽  
School Time ◽  
Fe Content ◽  
Guideline Values ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Scarcity of safe drinking water in the coastal regions throughout the world has long been recognized due to hydrological vulnerability and natural disaster, which is severe in developing countries like Bangladesh. This study focuses on trace metal(loid)s contamination and their associated health risks for primary school children from the consumption of tubewell water at school time in the vulnerable southwest coastal region of Bangladesh. The average content of electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, chloride, total dissolved solids (TDSs), hardness, iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) were 1,983.6 ± 1,434.6 μS cm−1, 10.46 ± 10.3 NTU, 676.3 ± 648.1, 1,089.1 ± 788.6, 560.6 ± 326.6, 2.18 ± 1.99, and 0.19 ± 0.36 mg L−1, respectively, which exceeded their respective health-based guideline values. The concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were lower than the World Health Organization provisional guideline values. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the EC of groundwater is dependent on TDS, chlorides, and other cations contributing to hardness, while turbidity results from the Fe content in groundwater. The hazard quotients (HQs) of As, Fe, Mn, and Zn intake were lower than unity for both boys and girls, indicating no non-carcinogenic risks to the children. However, cancer risks (CRs) from As exposure through drinking water were 1.5 and 1.8 times higher than the provisional safe value of 10−4 for boys and girls, indicating a lifetime cancer risk to the school-going children. Therefore, prompt and effective monitoring is a crying need to ensure water's continuous usability for drinking purposes in the study area.

scholarly journals Diarrhoeal Disease in Relation to Possible Household Risk Factors in South African Villages

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thandi Kapwata ◽  
Angela Mathee ◽  
Wouter le Roux ◽  
Caradee Wright
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Diarrhoeal Disease ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Guideline Values

Diarrhoeal disease is a significant contributor to child morbidity and mortality, particularly in the developing world. Poor sanitation, a lack of personal hygiene and inadequate water supplies are known risk factors for diarrhoeal disease. Since risk factors may vary by population or setting, we evaluated the prevalence of diarrhoeal disease at the household level using a questionnaire to better understand household-level risk factors for diarrhoea in selected rural areas in South Africa. In a sub-sample of dwellings, we measured the microbial quality of drinking water. One in five households had at least one case of diarrhoea during the previous summer. The most widespread source of drinking water was a stand-pipe (inside yard) (45%) followed by an indoor tap inside the dwelling (29%). Storage of water was common (97%) with around half of households storing water in plastic containers with an opening large enough to fit a hand through. After adjusting for confounders, the occurrence of diarrhoea was statistically significantly associated with sourcing water from an indoor tap (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.73, 95% CI: 2.73, 1.14–6.56) and storing cooked/perishable food in non-refrigerated conditions (AOR: 2.17, 95% CI: 2.17, 1.44–3.26). The highest total coliform counts were found in water samples from kitchen containers followed by stand-pipes. Escherichia coli were most often detected in samples from stand-pipes and kitchen containers. One in four households were at risk of exposure to contaminated drinking water, increasing the susceptibility of the study participants to episodes of diarrhoea. It is imperative that water quality meets guideline values and routine monitoring of quality of drinking water is done to minimise diarrhoea risk in relevant rural communities. The security of water supply in rural areas should be addressed as a matter of public health urgency to avoid the need for water storage.

scholarly journals 17.D. Workshop: Healthier populations through addressing environmental health topics and the SDGs

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
The World

Abstract The strategic priority of promoting healthier populations with 1 billion more people enjoying better health and well-being as expressed in the General Programme of Work (GPW) 13 by the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need of multisectoral action to address the social and environmental determinants of health including climate change. WHO data from 2016 show that approximately one quarter of the global burden of disease are caused by known avoidable environmental risks to health, with at least 12.6 million premature deaths every year. Out of this total, 7 million deaths a year are attributable to both ambient and household air pollution, placing it among the top global preventable health risks. As human influence on the environment continues to grow, global environmental challenges will escalate, including climate change and rapid urbanization. Many of the resulting risks exacerbate disease and injuries, while impacting our quality of life, reducing our productivity, and weighing on our health systems. The global endorsement of the sustainable development agenda with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides a clear signal that the world expects greater cohesion between people and the planet, with benefits for health and health equity. More sustainable ways of functioning go hand in hand with creating healthier and more sustainable environments, with enhanced focus on prevention through action on the root causes of disease. The SDGs set a broad agenda to advance health and equity by 2030. Health is centrally positioned within the SDGs, with SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. However, achieving this goal means more than just improving health care. It involves action in key economic development sectors, like housing and transport, as well as in the settings where people live and work in cities and rural areas. These areas are covered by SDGs such as: Achieving Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Climate action (SDG 13). Progress on these SDGs will not only significantly reduce but also support primary prevention of some of the world's most serious disease threats - including heart and lung diseases, cancers, stroke, injuries, and more. At the workshop different topics and tools that support the achievement of WHOs one billion goal of achieving healthier populations and through this the SDGs will be discussed. Key messages By addressing environmental health risks through progress on SDGs supports also the 1 billion goal to achieve healthier populations. Multisectoral action and turning this action into everyday practice is needed to support achieving the SDGs and the 1 billion goal of WHO.

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