Assessment of drinking water quality and its potential health impacts in academic institutions of Abbottabad (Pakistan)

Ahmed, Toqeer; Pervez, Arshid; Mehtab, Muhammad; Sherwani, Sikandar Khan

doi:10.1080/19443994.2014.890133

Cited by 26 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Furthermore, more than 90% of the disease burden is contributed by the developing world [5,6]. Each bout of diarrhea progressively compromises the immune system, indirectly killing many more millions each year [7].In Pakistan, rapid population growth, industrialization, and urbanization have stressed the water resources and compromised water quality, which subsequently negatively impacts children's school performance [8][9][10]. A recent study revealed that 21 million people in Pakistan are deprived of basic access to safe water [11].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Drinking Water Quality to Predict the Risk of Waterborne Diseases in Primary-School Children

Ahmed

Wong

Chua

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Primary-school children in low- and middle-income countries are often deprived of microbiologically safe water and sanitation, often resulting in a high prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases and poor school performance. We used Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) to predict the probability of infection in schoolchildren due to consumption of unsafe school water. A multistage random-sampling technique was used to randomly select 425 primary schools from ten districts of Sindh, Pakistan, to produce a representative sample of the province. We characterized water supplies in selected schools. Microbiological testing of water resulted in inputs for the QMRA model, to estimate the risks of infections to schoolchildren. Groundwater (62%) and surface water (38%) were identified as two major sources of drinking water in the selected schools, presenting varying degrees of health risks. Around half of the drinking-water samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli (49%), Shigella spp. (63%), Salmonella spp. (53%), and Vibrio cholerae (49%). Southern Sindh was found to have the highest risk of infection and illness from Campylobacter and Rotavirus. Central and Northern Sindh had a comparatively lower risk of waterborne diseases. Schoolchildren of Karachi were estimated to have the highest probability of illness per year, due to Campylobacter (70%) and Rotavirus (22.6%). Pearson correlation was run to assess the relationship between selected pathogens. V. cholerae was correlated with Salmonella spp., Campylobacter, Rotavirus, and Salmonella spp. Overall, the risk of illness due to the bacterial infection (E. coli, Salmonella spp., V. cholerae, Shigella, and Campylobacter) was high. There is a dire need for management plans in the schools of Sindh, to halt the progression of waterborne diseases in school-going children.

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confidence: 99%

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Drinking Water Quality to Predict the Risk of Waterborne Diseases in Primary-School Children

Ahmed

Wong

Chua

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Bacteriological quality of drinking water supplied from hand pumps and other sources. As the results shows that the highest turbidity level of > 94% is observed in Union council Mumbati Barakzai such like rise in turbidity level was also observed by Ahmed et al, 2014 for Abbottabad [1]. The presence of E-coli and other bacteria is alarming point for all peoples of area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…More than 70% of the Earth's surface covers by water, but freshwater less than 3% of this. But only 0.01% amount of fresh water is available for human consumption while the remaining is bound in glaciers and ice [1]. The total water of this small proportion of the Earth's is becoming polluted to various harmful components due to the large disposal of industrial and municipal wastes and large scales applications of the chemical in agriculture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiochemical and Biological Properties of Water of Khyber Paktun Khwa District Bannu, Pakistan 2014

Shams¹,

Siraj²,

Rehman³

et al. 2018

IJPP

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In developing countries, Arsenic concentrations overhead satisfactory values for drinking water have been identified in many countries and this should, therefore, it is a global concern. The presence of arsenic in subsurface aquifers and drinking water systems is a possibly serious social health hazard. The existing population growth in Pakistan and other developing countries will have a straight bearing on the water zone for meeting the domestic, industrial and agricultural needs. Pakistan is about to exhaust its accessible water resources and is on the verge of becoming a water deficit country. Water contamination is a serious threat in Pakistan, as almost 70% of its surface waters, as well as its groundwater reserves, have contaminated by biological, organic and inorganic pollutants. In some areas of Pakistan, a number of shallow aquifers and tube wells are contaminated with arsenic at levels which are above the recommended USEPA arsenic level of 10 ppb (10 g L−1). Opposing health effects including human mortality from drinking water are well documented and can be attributed to arsenic contamination. All of the areas of Bannu district was studied. The present paper reviews appropriate and low-cost methods for the elimination of arsenic from drinking waters.

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“…Empirical studies have reported on the use of plants for the removal of heavy metals and dyes from wastewater and soil [39,40]. Among the conventional technologies, various plant parts are used as adsorbents and natural coagulants as well as in advanced oxidation processes for the removal of metallic nanoparticles, toxic metals, and bacterial pollution from wastewater [41,42]. Whole cell sensing systems as well as chemical and biosensors are applied for the detection of environmental pollutants like metals.…”

Section: Water Pollution Control and Detection Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study conducted in Pakistan by Nabeel et al [42] indicated that about 71% and 58% of the reported samples across the country were found contaminated with total and fecal coliform which causes loss of 25–58 billion Pak Rupee annually. Similarly, Ahmed et al [76] reported on the presence of coliforms and fecal coliforms in 67% of water samples tested from academic institutions at different parts of Abbottabad city.…”

Section: Pollution and Public Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water-Related Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture and Subsequently on Public Health: A Review for Generalists with Particular Reference to Pakistan

Ahmed

Scholz

Al-Faraj

et al. 2016

IJERPH

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Water-related impacts due to change in climatic conditions ranging from water scarcity to intense floods and storms are increasing in developing countries like Pakistan. Water quality and waterborne diseases like hepatitis, cholera, typhoid, malaria and dengue fever are increasing due to chaotic urbanization, industrialization, poor hygienic conditions, and inappropriate water management. The morbidity rate is high due to lack of health care facilities, especially in developing countries. Organizations linked to the Government of Pakistan (e.g., Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Climate Change, Planning and Development, Ministry of Forest, Irrigation and Public Health, Pakistan Meteorological Department, National Disaster Management, Pakistan Agricultural Research Centre, Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources, and Global Change Impact Study Centre), United Nation organizations, provincial government departments, non-governmental organizations (e.g., Global Facility and Disaster Reduction), research centers linked to universities, and international organizations (International Institute for Sustainable Development, Food and Agriculture, Global Climate Fund and World Bank) are trying to reduce the water-related impacts of climate change, but due to lack of public awareness and health care infrastructure, the death rate is steadily increasing. This paper critically reviews the scientific studies and reports both at national and at international level benefiting generalists concerned with environmental and public health challenges. The article underlines the urgent need for water conservation, risk management, and the development of mitigation measures to cope with the water-related impacts of climate change on agriculture and subsequently on public health. Novel solutions and bioremediation methods have been presented to control environmental pollution and to promote awareness among the scientific community. The focus is on diverse strategies to handle the forthcoming challenges associated with water resources management.

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Assessment of drinking water quality and its potential health impacts in academic institutions of Abbottabad (Pakistan)

Cited by 26 publications

References 12 publications

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Drinking Water Quality to Predict the Risk of Waterborne Diseases in Primary-School Children

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Drinking Water Quality to Predict the Risk of Waterborne Diseases in Primary-School Children

Physiochemical and Biological Properties of Water of Khyber Paktun Khwa District Bannu, Pakistan 2014

Water-Related Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture and Subsequently on Public Health: A Review for Generalists with Particular Reference to Pakistan

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