Raw sewage carries bacteria and germs that can cause health problems. Bacteria are spread through hand contact of contaminated areas. Sewage damage poses many potential health risks to humans. Some of the illnesses and health risks caused by sewage damage include: 1. Gastroenteritis. This is an acute infection of the stomach lining. Symptoms of gastroenteritis include vomiting, loose bowel movement, and cramped stomach pains. 2. Tuberculosis is infection of the lungs caused by a certain bacteria. 3. Weil's disease gives off flu-like symptoms. Weil's disease is fatal causing liver, blood, and kidney damage. 4. Skin and eye infection 5. Rhinitis, which is defined as inflammation in the nasal area 6. Airborne allergens can cause asthma attacks 7. Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of eyelid lining. 8. Legionnaire's disease 9. Pontiac fever Other health risks of sewage damage include salmonella, ascariasis, hepatitis A, tetanus, diarrhea, amoebiasis, liver infection, and meningitis. It is estimated that billions of galloons of untreated sewage water contaminate United States' rivers, lakes and beaches, and even drinking waters of homes. One study found out that an average of 1.5 million people get sick with gastroenteritis from dipping in sewage-contaminated coastal waters. Many of the illnesses listed above as a result of contact with sewage-contaminated waters or materials are caused by pathogens--- namely: viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Though some illnesses are curable, there are diseases that can cause deaths and permanent damages especially to children and people with weak immune systems. In Milwaukee in 1993, for instance, a parasite called cryptosporidium contaminated drinking waters of homes causing 43,000 people ill and leaving 100 people dead. Moreover, untreated sewage has high nutrient level which encourages growth of algal blooms. If humans come into contact with these algae either by eating shellfishes or by swimming in contaminated waters, they become candidates for certain illnesses. If no immediate medical attention is brought to the affected person, this might lead to a lot of complications and even death. Large amounts of synthetic hormones, pharmaceuticals, and other chemical pollutants have been discovered in US waterways. Many of these have seeped into waterways through sewage damage or leaks. Some chemical compounds have been tested on animals and shown that they can disrupt growth, reproduction, and hormone production. Some were even found to cause certain types of cancer. Still, not much yet is known what the cumulative effects of chemical compounds on human health are. Sewage damage can lead to a lot of distressing effects than we can ever imagine or know at the moment. Every individual is entitled to risk-free living and clean, healthy water. The best way to do this is to repair sewage damage and to closely monitor sewage overflows, leaking pipes, and broken pipes. This is to ensure that no sewage water and waste contaminates coastal waters, rivers, and lakes. The best way to stop sewage pollution of waterways to treat the root cause of the problem: sewage damage. It may take millions of dollars to upgrade and wastewater infrastructures, but in the end, it would make people a lot safer and healthier.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
