Global change, wastewater and health in fast growing economies - Paper published in the journal Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

It argues that among the water challenges in the 21st century, the water quality health nexus is one of the most serious challenges that will need to be addressed at an urgent level.The paper directs attention at the rapid and unequal growth and development patterns emerging in developing economies and the impact of this development on the environment and human populations. The paper directs attention to the negative impact of this development on one of the important natural resources such as water and the linkages between water quality and public health of populations.

The paper argues that though it is well known that water and sanitation are important to address major water-related diseases, less known is the impact of continuous exposure to poor water quality on human health in fast growing economies comprising about half of the world’s population. Crucial questions like the whether the economic success of emerging countries gets translated into improved water management and better human health or poses additional risks, and the mode through which population growth, development of agriculture, industrialisation and urbanisation can affect human health in poverty-stricken and undernourished regions continue to remain unanswered.

While there is a growing concern for adequate provision of water supply and sanitation in many of these economies, there is equal concern over addressing wastewater problems generated by peri-urbanisation, which often is ignored by national and international agencies. The term ‘wastewater’ is used to characterise different qualities, ranging from raw to diluted sewage generated from various urban activities. These activities range from domestic, commercial, industrial, stormwater and urban run-off, treated wastewater, reclaimed wastewater, faecal sludge and biosolids. These have contributed to widespread ecological and health problems in and around cities. These health hazards are not necessarily in poor quality drinking water, but due to the daily exposure to polluted water and sewage (skin contact, inhalation and indirect consumption).

The paper argues that scientific research has played a significant role in offering curative approaches, but most of the recommendations remain one-dimensional to find solutions to those diseases hyped by international agencies (like potable water supply and hygiene practices to address diarrhoea, mosquito nets to address malaria). With widespread undernourished population, filthy environment and socio-cultural factors in the developing world, it is important that science goes beyond this stage to examine the linkages among the compounding of pollutants, their quantity and the physiological impact on human health.

This paper calls for scientific and policy initiatives to move beyond this stage to understand the complex links between water and health. In addition, it urges the international community to establish a scientific monitoring and research platform to spearhead the efforts and spread information on improving water quality and human health.

A copy of the paper can be downloaded from below, which has been put up after securing written permission from the author: