Journal of water and health最新文献

Access to safe drinking water remains a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with 4.4 billion people lacking safely managed sources. Contaminated water contributes to infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, increasing morbidity and mortality. While interventions guided by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) aim to improve water access, sociocultural factors influencing water use are likely to play a critical role in developing effective interventions. To assess how sociocultural factors can inform water safety interventions, this study combines cultural consensus analysis of drinking water quality with microbiological assessments of water quality in 30 urban and 30 rural households in Quetzaltenango. Water samples were tested for coliforms, Escherichia coli, and antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacterales. Participants ranked bottled water as the safest source, yet laboratory analysis revealed bottled water had the highest coliform contamination (83.3%). Piped household water, another highly ranked source, exhibited high E. coli contamination (27.8%), presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) Enterobacterales (11.1%), and presence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (11.1%). While JMP guidelines are essential for water safety assessments, sociocultural perceptions play a crucial role in shaping water consumption behaviors. Integrating ethnographic methods with water quality assessments can lead to the design of more nuanced water safety interventions.

Despite the various methods used to disinfect swimming pool water, contamination by human health pathogens remains a serious problem. This study aims to compare the physicochemical parameters (residual chlorine level, temperature, and pH) during swimming with the significant contamination of swimming pool water in Blida city, Algeria, by five pathogenic bacteria harmful to human health: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella species. The comparison of pathogenic bacteria averages (colony-forming units (CFU)/100 mL) in the analyzed pool waters with residual chlorine levels (0- < 1 mg/mL) showed that E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus had significant differences (p ≤ 0.05). Similarly, E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa showed significant differences with pH levels (6.9-7.9), and only P. aeruginosa showed significant differences with temperature (24-29 °C). This study precisely highlights the relationship between residual chlorine, temperature, pH variations, and contamination by the five pathogenic bacteria despite proper water treatment before swimming.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) pathotypes, particularly enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic strains, are among the leading causes of moderate-to-severe diarrhea in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These pathogens are commonly transmitted through environmental media such as contaminated water, soil, and hands, often due to poor sanitation and hygiene. In this first phase of an ongoing longitudinal study, we conducted a cross-sectional assessment of E. coli contamination across multiple environmental compartments in 41 rural households in Daro Lebu Woreda, West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Environmental samples were collected from drinking water, indoor and outdoor soil, and hand rinses of children under two and their mothers or caregivers to quantify E. coli levels and explore associations between contamination and household-level risk factors. From the data we collected, the source and risk factors for E. coli contamination are not readily apparent. These findings underscore the complexity of fecal contamination pathways in rural settings and highlight the need for integrated, multi-pathway interventions. Improving household hygiene behaviors, ensuring safe water storage, and upgrading sanitation infrastructure could significantly reduce exposure to enteric pathogens. Further large-scale and longitudinal studies are essential to better understand contamination dynamics and inform transformative WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) interventions.

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to assess the presence of natural radionuclides in water samples from selected towns in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. The study further aims to measure the physical parameters, determine the activity concentration of radionuclides, compute the annual committed effective dose, and assess cancer risk. Methods: The study utilizes gamma spectrometry with a high-purity germanium detector at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. The samples were taken from 5 major rivers and 25 mechanized boreholes selected from 5 Colleges of Education and 21 Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Results: The average activity concentrations were 1.31, 0.65, and 6.72 Bq/L for borehole water, and 1.42, 0.83, and 10.32 Bq/L for surface water, respectively. The average annual committed doses were estimated for the various age groups, less than 1, 1-2, 2-7, 7-12, 12-17, and above 17 years as 2,194, 254, 185.96, 164.68, 22.40, 232.40 μS/y and 1,825, 171, 130, 118, 168, 169 μS/y for surface water and borehole, respectively. Implication: The results suggest continuous monitoring for early detection of any threat to radiological health hazards in the communities under study.

This study addresses limitations in traditional water quality indices (WQIs) by developing a simplified yet accurate WQI model (WQI_min) that captures spatiotemporal dynamics and prioritizes health-risk drivers in ecologically sensitive regions. Monitored over 2021-2023 at 16 stations in Hechi City, China (a globally recognized longevity area), 17 water quality parameters were analyzed. Using multivariate statistics, WQI_min reduced parameters from 17 to 7 key drivers (P < 0.001) while maintaining 99.3% prediction accuracy. Results revealed excellent water quality (overall WQI = 95.10; station range: 93.22-96.44) meeting China's Class I standards. Heavy metal concentrations were in the following order: Zn > As > Cr > Cu > Se > Pb > Cd > Hg, with chromium (Cr) dominating health risks at 73.4% (adults) and 73.41% (children), followed by arsenic (As) at 26.47% (adults) and 26.46% (children). Despite compliance with surface water standards, trace contaminants like Cr and As posed disproportionate risks, highlighting the need for targeted monitoring in longevity regions. This innovative approach resolves conventional WQI aggregation issues, providing policymakers with a cost-effective tool to identify critical pollutants and optimize resource allocation for water protection.

Background: Warming caused by climate change can impact human health risks associated with drinking water. This review aimed to synthesize the evidence about the effects of increasing temperatures in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) on health-related chemical and microbial water quality parameters. We also identified adaptation options. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of quantitative peer-reviewed studies published up to March 2023, and research reports published up to April 2024, specifically looking at a DWDS or comparable experimental conditions. Results: We included 28 studies in this review. Evidence focused on chlorinated systems in higher-income countries. Warming has variable effects on microbial communities within the DWDS. Accumulation and release of heavy metals may increase at higher temperatures, depending on pipe materials. Warming also speeds up the decay of chlorine and chloramine, affecting the formation of disinfectant byproducts and the potential of microbial (re)growth. Multiple effects can occur simultaneously, requiring an integrated adaptation approach. Technical and institutional adaptation options, such as improved removal of dissolved organic carbon during treatment covering the entire DWDS were identified. Discussion: With increasing climate change, the identified effects can become more prominent without adaptation. However, no included studies quantified how these effects would translate into human health impacts.

In Lebanon, polluted water resources are commonly used for various purposes. Hasbayya, a district located in southern Lebanon, is known for being surrounded by the Hasbani River, which serves as the primary source of domestic water for households in the area. This water is used without undergoing any treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of the Hasbani River and domestic water in Hasbayya, South Lebanon. A total of 20 water samples were collected from households and 15 samples from different sites along the river during three seasons. These samples were analyzed for physical parameters (pH, total dissolved solids, and temperature) and bacterial parameters (total bacterial growth and total and fecal coliforms). Microscopy was employed to inspect the presence of the parasitic Entamoeba spp. contamination. The metallic quality of samples was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The findings demonstrated that all samples obtained from Hasbayya and Hasbani exhibited significant bacterial and parasitological contamination. The results of metallic analysis indicated that certain water samples displayed elevated iron levels. In conclusion, the potable water in Hasbayya does not meet the national and international guidelines for safe drinking water and should not be consumed.

Legionella spp. are Gram-negative bacteria present in natural and engineered water systems that can cause legionellosis (Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever). When present in biofilms of healthcare facilities, they are a likely source of legionellosis for immunocompromised patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate an electrochemical water disinfection system to produce and dose hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to reduce this risk in a hospital with systemic Legionella spp. contamination. Furthermore, Legionella spp. colony counts were compared to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results. Before and after implementing the disinfection system, tap water and pipe biofilms were analysed for microbial contamination. Post-implementation monitoring continued for over six months, assessing microbial quality using heterotrophic colony counts, Legionella serotyping, and qPCR targeting total bacteria (16S rRNA) and Legionella spp. By the third sampling event (22 days post-commissioning), water quality consistently improved, with no culture-positive Legionella counts observed thereafter. qPCR analysis confirmed these results, proving more sensitive and reliable than traditional methods. The qPCR assays for Legionella spp. and bacterial 16S rRNA were also cost-effective for system optimisation and diagnostics.