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Quantification of microbial risks to human health caused by waterborne viruses and bacteria in an urban slum
Author(s) -
Katukiza A.Y.,
Ronteltap M.,
Steen P.,
Foppen J.W.A.,
Lens P.N.L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12368
Subject(s) - tap water , waterborne diseases , salmonella , contamination , slum , surface water , veterinary medicine , biology , toxicology , environmental health , water quality , bacteria , environmental science , population , environmental engineering , ecology , medicine , genetics
Aims To determine the magnitude of microbial risks from waterborne viruses and bacteria in B waise III in K ampala ( U ganda), a typical slum in S ub‐ S aharan A frica. Methods and Results A quantitative microbial risk assessment ( QMRA ) was carried out to determine the magnitude of microbial risks from waterborne pathogens through various exposure pathways in B waise III in K ampala ( U ganda). This was based on the concentration of E scherichia coli O 157: H 7, S almonella spp. , rotavirus ( RV ) and human adenoviruses F and G ( HA dV) in spring water, tap water, surface water, grey water and contaminated soil samples. The total disease burden was 680 disability‐adjusted life years ( DALY s) per 1000 persons per year. The highest disease burden contribution was caused by exposure to surface water open drainage channels (39%) followed by exposure to grey water in tertiary drains (24%), storage containers (22%), unprotected springs (8%), contaminated soil (7%) and tap water (0·02%). The highest percentage of the mean estimated infections was caused by E . coli O157:H7 (41%) followed by HA dV (32%), RV (20%) and S almonella spp. (7%). In addition, the highest infection risk was 1 caused by HA dV in surface water at the slum outlet, while the lowest infection risk was 2·71 × 10 −6 caused by E . coli O157:H7 in tap water. Conclusions The results show that the slum environment is polluted, and the disease burden from each of the exposure routes in Bwaise III slum, with the exception of tap water, was much higher than the WHO reference level of tolerable risk of 1 × 10 −6 DALY s per person per year. Significance and Impact of the Study The findings of this study provide guidance to governments, local authorities and nongovernment organizations in making decisions on measures to reduce infection risk and the disease burden by 10 2 to 10 5 depending on the source of exposure to achieve the desired health impacts. The infection risk may be reduced by sustainable management of human excreta and grey water, coupled with risk communication during hygiene awareness campaigns at household and community level. The data also provide a basis to make strategic investments to improve sanitary conditions in urban slums.