Open AccessHealth risks associated with wastewater irrigation: an epidemiological study.
Author(s) -
B. Fattal,
Yohanan Wax,
MaryAnn Davies,
Hillel I. Shuval
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.76.8.977
Subject(s) - irrigation , effluent , wastewater , environmental science , environmental health , population , epidemiology , agriculture , medicine , toxicology , water resource management , geography , environmental engineering , agronomy , biology , archaeology
An analysis of morbidity was made in 11 kibbutzim (cooperative agricultural settlements), with a total population of 3,040, that had switched from nonwastewater to wastewater sprinkler irrigation or vice versa. Generally, partially treated stabilization pond effluent of poor microbial quality was used for irrigation. Vegetables or salad crops were not irrigated with effluent. The results showed that a seasonal, twofold, excess risk of "enteric" disease was found in the 0 to 4 year-old age group during the summer irrigation months in those years in which wastewater was used for irrigation, compared with the parallel summer months of nonwastewater irrigation years in the same kibbutz. On the year round rates basis, little or no excess enteric disease was found in wastewater irrigating communities.