When we hear the term sewage, we really have a very clear idea of what it looks like. We know what wastewater is and where it comes from. We are so sickened just thinking that it came from our bodies’ excretory system, but then despite its gross nature, we continue to be careless in terms of its elimination.
Sewage can cause health risks for people. It is well known that sewage is the accumulation of human waste such as feces and urine. Due to its characteristics, it is quite true that it has several pathogens and allergens that can be very harmful to people’s health.
There are various diseases caused by damage to sewage. It is important to have an idea of these diseases and the effects they have on our health.
The dangers of sewage damage to human health
People are at great risk of infectious diseases from exposure to sewage. Not only is the general public affected, wastewater damage also poses risks to workers who typically venture into the process of remediation, wastewater treatment, and other activities related to wastewater damage. There is a great possibility that they will acquire chronic respiratory diseases and other chronic diseases, whether they are viral, fungal, bacterial and parasitic.
There are several diseases that are caused by wastewater damage. It is important to have an idea of these diseases and their effects on our health.
Public health
The general public is the one at risk of sewage damage. It is normal to hear and read news about cases of hepatitis, cholera, and other diseases due to exposure to untreated sewage. Take, for example, the case of epidemic hepatitis A in Ocee, Florida, in 1988-1989. In that epidemic, statistics showed that 18 cases had a history of exposure to stormwater contaminated with sewage.
Over 120 virus variants can be seen in human feces, urine, and sewage damage that can lead to sewage. The 120 viruses can include the following:
Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea in children.
Norwalk virus: causes gastroenteritis
Adenovirus: cause of respiratory and eye infections.
Parasitic agents such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium can cause chronic intestinal diseases in children and adults.
Bacterial pathogens abound in sewage-damaged locations that can consist of strains of gram-negative organisms such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli. Aside from gram-negative strains of bacteria, gram-negative bacteria also produce endotoxins that are produced at the time of cell death and elimination. Endotoxins can become airborne through remediation, such as cleaning and drying infected carpets.
Public health risks can also be incurred due to improper disposal of wastewater damage and transportation from hospitals and other industrial companies. These could lead to the deterioration of the state of public health due to the unscrupulous way of handling their waste.
However, workers in sewage damage repair and other sewage-related activities are not without health risks. They are prone to infectious diseases due to exposure to certain chemicals, allergens, toxic gases, fumes, vapors, and endotoxins, as well as mycotovins and other infectious agents.
