scholarly journals Perceived Water Quality and Reported Health among Adults during the Flint, MI Water Crisis

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Kruger ◽  
Suzanne Cupal ◽  
Gergana D. Kodjebacheva ◽  
Thomas V. Fockler

Background and Purpose: In April 2014, the municipal water source for Flint, Michigan was changed from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Although residents reported concerns about the quality of tap water and resulting health problems, officials insisted that the water was safe. This study examined relationships between self-reported tap water quality during the water crisis and health conditions among Flint residents. Methods: Participants from each residential Census Tract in the City of Flint were recruited via address lists, online social media, and community-based events. The survey included mental and physical health items from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and an item on tap water quarter quality experiences. Analyses were weighted to be demographically representative. Results: Participants (N = 277) rated their tap water quality (taste, smell, appearance) as Poor (57%), Fair (20%), Good (13%), Very Good (6%), and Excellent (3%). Controlling for age, gender, years of education, whether respondents were African American or Hispanic/Latino/a, and population demographics, lower perceived tap water quality was associated with worse mental and physical health across all indicators. Conclusion: This study demonstrates associations of tap water quality experiences with reported poor physical and mental health among adults in Flint during the Flint Water Crisis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Nikhar ◽  
Daniel Kruger

Between 2014 to 2015, the city of Flint suffered from critically contaminated water that caused long-term adverse health effects for many of its residents. In 2017, the “Speak to Your Health!” Community Survey assessed various aspects of adult Flint residents’ health. In addition to the health-related assessments, there were also questions about residents’ tap water quality, including during the times of Flint’s water crisis. This project used results from the survey on how water turbidity levels affected the number of days when poor mental and physical health interfered with daily activities. Diagramming software was used to create images representing this relationship in intuitive formats. These data visualizations are intended to boost data literacy among non-researchers, particularly the people and policymakers of Flint. Given that the crisis ensued after Flint’s water source was switched without proper infrastructure in place to ensure appropriate water quality, causing the population to suffer long term health, social, and economic complications, it is hoped that these results will be used to empower the population of Flint to advocate for continued investment in remediation and prevent future similar health crises.  


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3841
Author(s):  
Józef Ober ◽  
Janusz Karwot

Security of supply of water, which meets the quality parameters specified in applicable standards, is now the basis for the functioning of most societies. In addition to climatic, biological, chemical, and physical hazards, it is worth paying attention to consumers’ subjective perception of the quality of tap water supplied in the area of Poland. The article discusses various activities related to water resources management and analyses the results of an evaluation of selected quality parameters of tap water in Poland. A novelty on a European scale here is an examination of the evaluation of these parameters based on potential seasonal differences (spring, summer, autumn, winter). For the first time in the world literature, PROFIT analysis was used to evaluate selected parameters of tap water quality. The aim of the article was to present a model for the evaluation of the parameters of tap water supplied in different seasons of the year in Poland. Due to the complexity of the research aspects, a mixed-methods research procedure was used in which a literature review was combined with a survey and statistical analysis. For the purpose of the survey, an original survey questionnaire called “Survey of customer opinions on selected parameters of tap water supplied in Poland” was developed especially for this study. The conducted research confirmed the adopted hypothesis that the results of evaluation of selected tap water parameters vary depending on the period (spring, summer, autumn, winter) in Poland. The model developed by means of PROFIT analysis makes it possible to highlight to water suppliers the specific quality parameters in particular seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter), which may improve the quality of water supplied in Poland and thus, in the long-term perspective, increase the level of satisfaction of water recipients and confidence in drinking tap water in Poland.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Eileen Vizard ◽  
Jenny Gray ◽  
Arnon Bentovim

SUMMARY This article gives a general overview of the current situation in relation to a range of widely recognised and also newly identified types of child maltreatment. The academic and clinical evidence relating to the impact of child maltreatment on the mental and physical health of child victims is substantial and steadily increasing in volume. New types of abuse are being identified, and changing environmental circumstances, which exacerbate the possibility of widely recognised types of child maltreatment occurring, are also being described. These include multi-type maltreatment, female genital mutilation and online child maltreatment. Serious questions may arise regarding neglect of the moral and social development of children and young people who become addicted to online gaming and pornography. Multiple national and local definitions of each of these existing and new forms of maltreatment have been created, some of which are covered here. The impact of these abuses on the physical and mental health and development of child victims in families or settings where abuse or neglect has occurred is discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Beaudeau ◽  
Pierre Payment ◽  
Dominique Bourderont ◽  
Francois Mansotte ◽  
Onealy Boudhabay ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Dyg Sperling ◽  
Nina Dalkner ◽  
Christina Berndt ◽  
Eva Fleischmann ◽  
Michaela Ratzenhofer ◽  
...  

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased psychological strain on public mental health and may impact behavioral, mental, and physical health, presumably with effects on patients with severe mental disorders. This study examines pandemic-related physical and mental health and (compensatory) behavioral changes, in patients with BD as compared to healthy control individuals.Method: Physical and mental health and self-reported changes in daily structure and behavior due to the pandemic were assessed using a self-constructed questionnaire and the brief symptom inventory (BSI) in Germany, Austria, and Denmark in individuals with BD and a healthy control group.Results: The present study included 118 individuals with BD and 215 healthy controls. Individuals with BD reported statistically significant higher physical risk burden, increased weight gain, more physical comorbidities, and a decrease in physical activity and they further reported higher rates of COVID-19 testing, had more worries concerning health, and experienced more anxiety but less social distancing.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a greater impact on physical health in individuals with BD than in healthy controls. Individuals with BD appear to be having more difficulties compensating their behavior due to the pandemic which could amplify the effect of risk factors associated with poorer physical health. This highlights the necessity for optimizing and targeting the overall treatment of both mental and physical health in patients with BD during periods with far-reaching changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic.Limitations: Sampling issues and self-report forms, selectivity (missing elderly, and those lacking access or knowledge of technology).


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-196
Author(s):  
HO Salah ◽  
IM Sujaul ◽  
Md Abdul Karim ◽  
MH Mohd Nasir ◽  
A Abdalmnam ◽  
...  

Assessment of the quality of tap water at Kuantan area of Pahang, Malaysia was investigated. The parameters analyzed were total coliform, Escherichia coli, pH, total hardness, sulfate, and selected heavy metal based on drinking water quality standard Malaysia and WHO. The results showed that the fungi in the tap water in Kuantan area in different concentrations were Aspergillus sp., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Penicillium citrinum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cerrena sp., Aspergillus aculeatus, A. flavus, Cryptococcus sp., Cladosporium perangustum, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Candida catenulata. The residual free chlorine varied from 0.05 to 1.97 mg/l.


1992 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 949-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W Dabeka ◽  
Henry B S Conacher ◽  
John Salminen ◽  
Gerald R Nixon ◽  
Gunther Riedel ◽  
...  

Abstract Samples of bottled water (n = 172) offered for sale in Canada were analyzed for lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and fluoride: means and ranges (μg/g) found were, respectively, 0.0026 (<0.0010- 0.074), 0.00018 (<0.0001-0.0004), 0.0030 (<0.001- 0.048), 0.027 (<0.010-0.568), and 0.543 (<0.050- 5.85). Comparison of levels among mineral waters (n = 64), spring waters (n = 77), and miscellaneous waters (n = 31) indicated appreciable differences only in the case of fluoride. For fluoride, the means and medians (μg/g) for mineral, spring, and miscellaneous waters were 1.179 and 0.455, 0.152 and 0.090, and 0.201 and <0.050, respectively. No samples were found in violation of the tolerances in the Canadian Food and Drug Regulations; however, 1 sample (in a lead-soldered can) contained lead and 15 samples contained fluoride at levels above the limits recommended by the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water (tap-water) Quality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.20) ◽  
pp. 477
Author(s):  
Zahraa Ali Hammood ◽  
Elaf Jassim Mahan ◽  
Halah Kadhim Tayyeh

This research included evaluation quality of water by utilizing Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) by analyzing many chemical and physical properties of tap water (inside houses) for five regions (AL Musayab, AL Kasim, AL kifil, AL Mahawil and Hilla Center) in Babylon Governorate, Iraq. The properties included (PH, temperature, Ec, Hardness, turbidity, T.D.S, Ca, So4, Mg) through three months (January, February, and March) / 2017. The evaluated amounts of CCME WQI proved that the quality of water round five regions were good through study interval and calculated amounts of properties were in Iraqi standards of drinking water (No. 417,2001) except Ca and turbidity.   


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