CASE STUDY

Case study

Case study

Introduction

Water is an essential constituent for humans and life in general. Polluted water is often the main human exposure pathway to infectious pathogens, toxins, and carcinogenic organic and inorganic contaminants. Water contaminants have been associated with a wide array of acute and chronic diseases worldwide. In the past decades, an increase in the human population and activities have not only multiplied the quantity of waste discharged into water bodies, but also introduced emerging substances (e.g., pharmaceuticals, hormones, endocrine disrupting compounds, toxins, and pathogens). Additionally, as analytical methods continue to improve, several recent studies have revealed that emerging pathogens or chemicals (e.g., viruses, algal toxins, disinfection byproducts) may be present in natural or treated water bodies.

These emerging contaminants, which have not historically been considered as pollutants, have now become prominent agents of concern to public health specialists and environmental engineers and scientists. Regulations are in place to protect the public, but there is a need to constantly update them based on new knowledge. Water treatment practices are applied to protect human health but they also need to be re-evaluated and optimized based on new research results.

Water is an essential constituent of life. One of the key cornerstones of public health and community health is access to safe water. Throughout history, polluted water has frequently led to waterborne disease outbreaks with acute and long-term health effects ranging from diarrhea to death. Polluted water is often the main human exposure pathway to infectious pathogens and carcinogenic organic and inorganic contaminants. During the last few decades, the increase in the human population as well as globalization and its effects have not only raised the quantity of waste, but has also introduced several emerging water contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals, hormones, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, viruses, and toxins). As analytical methods continue to improve, recent studies have revealed that emerging or re-emerging microbiological pathogens or chemicals may be present in natural or treated water bodies. Emerging contaminants, which have not historically been considered pollutants, have now raised significant concerns to public health professionals and environmental engineers and scientists.(Navon, 1958)

Presentation of the issue

Most water pollutants originate from human activity, while a small percentage of them have their sources in natural activities such as volcanic eruptions. Primary anthropogenic sources of water pollution include poorly treated or untreated municipal sewage, individual septic systems discharge, agricultural livestock wastes, fertilizers, pesticides, industrial chemical wastes, spilled petroleum products, mine drainage, spent solvents, etc. Once pollutants are introduced into receiving surface water and groundwater bodies via discharge processes, surface run-off, subsurface infiltration, or atmosphere precipitation, they are transported within the water cycle in a global context. Pollutants also undergo various physical, chemical, and biological transformations.

Discussion

Pollutants in water may cause waterborne diseases after exposure or ingestion of contaminated water. For instance, pathogenic microorganisms frequently cause gastrointestinal illnesses and chemical pollutants may damage major organs (e.g., liver and kidney) and functional systems (e.g., nervous and immune) and increase cancer risk. The major categories of water pollutants are microbiological, chemical, and ...