Effects of exposure to disinfection byproducts on fetal growth and development: Research progress and perspectives / 环境与职业医学

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are a new class of contaminants that are formed during the process of drinking water disinfection in waterworks. To date, more than 700 DBPs have been identified in drinking water, many of which have been found to be potentially cytotoxic, genotoxic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic. As a class of ubiquitous contaminants with highly potential health hazards in drinking water, the reproductive and developmental toxicity of DBPs has been a public concern. This paper reviewed the research progress on the effects of exposure to DBPs on fetal growth and development and also proposed perspectives for future directions. This work aimed to provide reference for health risk assessment and standard establishment of DBPs in drinking water.

Plano de Segurança da Água: modelo conceitual para monitoramento de riscos à contaminação de água em comunidades rurais / Water Safety Plan: conceptual model for monitoring of water contamination risks in rural communties

RESUMO O Plano de Segurança da Água (PSA) contempla, entre outras etapas, a identificação e o acompanhamento de eventos perigosos e pode garantir qualidade hídrica aos consumidores. A ruralidade abrange cerca de 15% da população brasileira e o acompanhamento técnico é insuficiente para atender às demandas locais. Nesse contexto, o principal objetivo foi elaborar um modelo conceitual de PSA para monitoramento de riscos à contaminação da água na área rural, contemplando eventos desde a captação até a distribuição de água em comunidades rurais. A metodologia consistiu em caracterização de eventos perigosos, concepção do modelo computacional, consulta a especialistas e calibração e aplicação do modelo em propriedades rurais. Entre os resultados, tem-se um software elaborado em Python contendo 109 eventos direcionados ao abastecimento rural. O programa analisou a precariedade no entorno da captação de água e as condições de limpeza das propriedades estudadas. Os resultados indicaram que os riscos mais elevados, em sua maioria, são provenientes do uso de fossa negra, descarte irregular de resíduos sólidos, lançamento de esgoto doméstico a céu aberto e criação de animais nas proximidades da captação de água. Não há softwares disponíveis para mensuração de riscos ao abastecimento de água em áreas rurais e o modelo proposto pode ser utilizado para avaliação da salubridade rural no contexto nacional. Dessa forma, o software subsidia o monitoramento dos recursos hídricos e amplia a capacidade de gerenciamento no setor.

ABSTRACT The Water Safety Plan (WSP) includes, among other steps, the identification and monitoring of dangerous events can guarantee water quality to consumers. Rurality covers about 15% of the Brazilian population and technical support is insufficient to assist local demands. In this context, the main objective was to develop a conceptual WSP model for monitoring water contamination risks in the rural area, contemplating events from water catchment to water distribution in rural communities. The methodology consisted of the characterization of dangerous events, conception of the computational model, specialists consultation, and model calibration and application in rural properties. Among the results, there is a software elaborated in Python containing 109 events aimed at rural supply. The program analyzed the precariousness around the water catchment and the clean conditions of the studied properties. These results indicated the highest risks, for the most part, come from the use of cesspool, irregular disposal of solid waste, domestic sewage discharge, and animal beeding nearby water catchment. There is no software available to measure water supply risks in rural areas and the proposed model can be used for environmental health evaluatiation in the national context. In this way, the software can support water resource monitoring and expands the manageability in the sector.

Water Safety Planning and Implementation in a Ghanaian Small-scale Water Supply System

This study looked at the Assin Fosu Small Town Water Supply System in Ghana to verify whether the operation of the scheme is based on a comprehensive water safety plan and how the practice of water safety planning affects the quality of water delivered to the consumers. The study employed document reviews, structured observations, interviews and laboratory analysis of water samples. System design data files and an Operation and Management Contract document were reviewed along with in-depth interviews with key stakeholders of the water supply system. Structured observations were made to assess the management practices of the system managers. Three rounds of sampling of water were done at monthly intervals from 10 randomly selected public standpipes, 3 boreholes and 2 filtration units. Samples were analysed to assess their bacteriological safety and aesthetic (physical) quality (turbidity and colour). Upon detection of bacteriological contamination, the adequacy of disinfection was assessed by measuring the levels of residual chlorine. It was found that the recommended schedule for some key documented water quality control and monitoring activities were not complied with. Consequently, the quality of water delivered to consumers at several public standpipes failed to meet the WHO guidelines for drinking water. Forty percent (40%) of all samples were found with faecal contamination, with 60% and 50% exceeding the WHO’s guideline levels for turbidity and colour respectively. It is recommended that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency in Ghana intensifies on-going efforts at ensuring that small-scale water supply systems in the country are managed with comprehensive water safety plans to prevent microbial contamination which could pose significant health risks to the consumers.

Will They Swim or Sink? Parental Perception of Water Safety Among Their Children

@#Introduction: The magnitude of drowning as one of the leading causes of death among children in Malaysia may have been underestimated. Little is known on the level of awareness on water safety among parents as it might be associated with appropriateness and adequacy of the supervision. This study aims to describe perceptions of water safety among parents of primary school children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with 719 respondent conducted to obtain information on parents self-reported on their children’s water-involved activity and swimming ability, self-estimated ability to rescue their child and perceptions of the risk of drowning and water safety for their children. Results: The result revealed that about 21.6% of respondents did not perceive drowning as one of the unintentional injury leading causes of death among children. Parents reported that their children had experienced a near- drowning incident (16.1%), and only 12.2% of the child had attended a formal swimming lesson. Majority of the parents did not involve in any water safety program (98.7%), can’t swim (61.6%), not been certified in CPR (87.3%) and not confident (87.3%) to perform resuscitation (CPR). Respondents also perceived their children could swim (42.1%), and they felt confident when their child in the water (45.6%). There were statistical differences between parents who reported their child had a near-drowning experience with their perception of children’s swimming ability. Conclusion: An exploration of parent’s perception of water safety provided an overview of the need for promoting awareness on drowning risk and water safety education in this country.

Development of water safety plan models for water refilling stations in the Philippines

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the project is to develop water safety plan (WSP) guidelines specific for water refilling station (WRS) operators. The guidelines will serve as model for future formulation of WSP among WRS across the country. METHODS: A criteria was developed for selecting WRS. Site visits were initially done along with the selection of eight (8) water refilling stations from pre-identified areas across the country. The operators of the selected WRS together wih their respective local sanitary inspectors underwent a workshop where they were trained and guided on the step-by-step process of devising a WSP. Coaching and mentoring was then conducted for the improvement of the draft WSPs. A guideline manual on how to develop WSPs for WRS was drafted to serve as reference for other WRS in the country. RESULTS: The study developed a WSP model specifically made for WRS setting. Eight (8) final drafts of WSP were also accomplished. WRS operators and local sanitary inspectors were trained on how to develop WSP which will support and facilitate appropriate implementation of these functional WSPs.CONCLUSION: The formulation of WSPs among WRS ensures delivery of safe drinking-water among its consumers. It serves as an initial step in realizing the vision of DOH of institutionalizing WSPs among all water utilities in the country. The guidelines developed will be a useful tool for other WRS in the country for preparing their own WSPs.

A survey of the bacterial diversity in the cup filler of dental chair units

Water from the cup filler of dental chair units (CFDC) was observed to contain sphingomonads, environmental mycobacteria and methylobacteria, among other minor bacteria. Some of the bacteria detected are recognized opportunistic pathogens. Some of these, tended to persist over time.

An outbreak of hepatitis E tracked to a spring in the foothills of the Himalayas, India, 2005.

In July 2005, cases of hepatitis were reported from three villages in Nainital district, Uttarakhand, India. We investigated this cluster to identify the source and propose recommendations. A door-to-door search for cases of acute hepatitis was carried out in the three villages. We described the outbreak by time, place and person and conducted a cohort study to identify the source of infection. In addition, sera from cases were tested. We identified 205 cases among 1238 persons (attack rate: 16%, no deaths) between May and September 2005. Of the 23 sera tested, 21 were positive for IgM antibodies against hepatitis E virus. The attack rate was highest among 15–44 years old (19%). Cases began on May 3, 2005, peaked in July and decreased rapidly. The incidence was highest (23%) in one of the villages predominantly using water from an unprotected spring, which was distributed after stone bed filtration alone. In this village, the attack rate increased from 9% among those not using the spring, to 13.8% among those partly using it (RR [95% CI] 1.6 [0.8-3.4]), and to 29% among those exclusively using it (RR [95% CI] 3.4 [2.0-6.0]). Untreated drinking water from an unprotected spring may have been the source of this outbreak in a rural area. Sources of water supply must be protected and treated, including with chlorination. Reporting and investigation of smaller outbreaks in rural areas should be improved.

Survey on Drinking Water Safety in 2005 in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,China / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To know rural drinking water safety and the affecting factors in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.Methods The survey was conducted through a combination of census and spot-checks during January to May 2005,taking villages as the survey units,the basic situation of water supply,coverage of tap water,running of water supply facilities,and the distribution and types of water sources,pollution of water sources,water sources and beneficiary population were investigated.The water samples were collected and tested with related standard methods on July and November,2005.Results The total rural population in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was 41.424 0 million,13.858 1 million people were served with central water supply,accounted for 33.45%.There were 14 260 township and village level central water supply systems.Of these systems,only 1 157 had water purification facilities,accounted for 8.11%.A total of 475 water samples were tested,the eligible was 25.68%.The eligible rates were 23.71% and 27.57% in rainy and dry seasons,respectively.The bacteriological indexes were the main noneligible indexes,as for total coliform,the eligible rate was less than 40%.The rural population consuming unsafe drinking water was 17.768 6 million,accounted for 42.9%.Conclusion The drinking water safety in rural areas in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is to be solved urgently.Special focus should be paid to the construction and management of rural drinking water safety projects.