Public Health Risks Associated with Heavy Metal and Microbial Contamination of Drinking Water in Australia

Abstract

Recently in Australia concerns have been raised regarding the contamination of municipal drinking water supplies with lead. This is of particular concern to children due to the impact of lead exposure on cognitive development and as such these findings have received much media attention. The response from legislators has been swift, and The Victorian School Building Authority has announced that all new schools and school upgrade works will only use lead-free tapware and piping systems. However, while the immediate replacement of lead-containing brass fittings may seem a logical and obvious response, it does not consider the potential implications on microbial contamination. This is particularly concerning given the increasing public health threat posed by opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs). This commentary explores this public health risk of lead exposure from plumbing materials compared to the potential public health risks from OPPPs. Non-tuberculous mycobacterium was chosen as the example OPPP, and the influence on plumbing material and its public health burden in Australia is explored. This commentary highlights the need for future research into the influence of plumbing material on OPPPs prior to any changes in legislation regarding plumbing material.

Legionella pneumophila Risk from Air–Water Cooling Units Regarding Pipe Material and Type of Water

“…Interestingly, the materials that were most incompatible with the development of bacteria were those that contributed the most to the Pearson’s chi-square statistic and expressed better preventive compliance. This outcome denotes that facilities with Co, Le and Pv should be reviewed regarding maintenance [ 27 , 28 ], especially facilities with Le, since Le is one of the substrates in which the bacteria presents the greatest risk of proliferation [ 29 ], although it contributed little to the model. Additionally, Le is a material that is normally associated with old installations and linked to obsolete buildings, so it needs greater attention.…”

Causes, Factors, and Control Measures of Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens—A Critical Review

“…Extensive research has been conducted to determine the relationships between materials commonly applied in drinking water distribution systems and the occurrence of OPPPs [176]. In general, evidence supports the hypothesis that copper does not encourage growth to the extent of other materials [177].…”