Water Quality

Many Ohio residents drink their water from the ground or through private water systems. Water must be tested to avoid any lingering bacteria which could harm the human body. Coliform, turbidity, radon, cryptosporidium, giardia, and harmful algal bloom cyanotoxins can all contaminate drinking water. Each bacterium can be found in some form of water. Whether the water is ground water, aquifers/ personal wells, or surface water, lakes/ ponds.

Coliform is known as a microorganism that lives in soil, plants, and the human intestine. A common specie of coliform is E. coli. A person can come in contact with this microorganism by drinking or consuming it. Symptoms of coliform can range from no symptoms to cramps or diarrhea. An easy way to prevent yourself from contamination is to clean the area around or in your water source. The standard for Coliform is 0 MCL.

https://www.pacelabs.com/environmental-services/field-services/water-quality-monitoring.html

Turbidity is also known as the level of cloudiness in the water. It typical arouses from the movement of water through soil into someone’s ground water supply. Health risks of turbidity include headaches, diarrhea and more. If you suspect that your water is cloudy, install a water filter to help clean the water fully. Turbidity standards are not noticed until it reaches 5 MCL, however, it should be lower for safe drinking water.

Radon is a gaseous element that can be contaminating a water supply. It can dissolve and contaminate only into ground water, but not surface water. Radon in drinking water can cause cancer or even death. A way to check for radon in your water would be to figure out if the water comes from the ground or surface. The standard for safe drinking is 5 MCL.

https://www.allianceforthebay.org/2015/12/renewed-commitment-to-volunteer-water-quality-monitoring-in-virginia/

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite which is a diarrheal disease. The parasite is transported through fecal matter. Any water that can be contaminated by fecal matter is at risk of having cryptosporidium. If someone suspects that their water has been contaminated, then they can contact their state certified officer to have them come clean the water. If they chose to take care of it themselves, they should boil the water for at least a minute and let cool before consuming. The standard for cryptosporidium is 0 MCL.

Giardia is also a microscopic parasite that can linger in someone’s water. It is passed through fecal matter of an infected human or animal. Eating or drinking anything that has been come in contact with giardia will become contaminated so a person should avoid those products. Symptoms of contamination in humans include diarrhea, upset stomach and more. The drinking water standard is also 0 MCL.

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/water/quality

Harmful Algal Bloom (HBA) Cyanotoxins is a type of bacteria that can be found in lakes, ponds, or shallow bodies of water. People can come in contact with this bacteria by drinking it, skin contact, and inhaling. Symptoms include rashes, sore throat, diarrhea, or vomiting. Prevention could include rinse off your body with clean fresh water. The drinking water standard for HBA Cyanotoxin is 0 MCL.   

Lead Poisoning

Lead is an element that is a blueish-grey metal which can be found naturally in the environment. People are mainly exposed to lead because of mining since a small amount of lead can be found in the earth, or you can be exposed to lead from a products improper manufacturing. Children are not insusceptible to lead poisoning, therefore they needed to be tested when they are exposed to any kind of lead source. In 2014, the number of children tested for lead poisoning in the state of Ohio was 153,010. The number of children tested is almost the same as 2013, so seeing this large number is not uncommon. In 2013 the number of children who were tested was 155,577 which is slightly larger than 2014's number. 

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/lead-poisoning-201602029120

The state of Ohio updated the threshold, also known as the intensity, for elevated blood lead level with guidance from the CDC. The updated threshold was from 10 μg/dL to 5 μg/dL. The number of children who were confirmed to have the elevated blood levels in the updated range was 4,596. The percent of children in all of Ohio that were tested was around 3.00%. With a percent, that was mixed threshold of 1.96, the Athens County percent was less than, but relatively close to the whole state. Athens County percent, not mixed, was 1.47% for ≥5 μg/dL and .49% for ≥10 μg/dL. No amount of lead in the body is safe.

https://www.stlawco.org/Departments/PublicHealth/LeadScreeningProgram

Childhood lead poisoning can be avoided. A person can become poisoned by lead in numerous ways. Some common sources are foods containing lead, toys containing lead (lead based paints), water with elevated lead level, and more. The most common exposure to a source is elevated lead levels in water. A parent should ask themselves multiple questions about their surroundings to help avoid childhood lead poisoning. Some, but definitely not all, simple questions include; does your child put soft metal objects in his/her mouth, does your home have lead pipes or lead solder in the plumbing, or is there a pet that could track dirt or dust in from the outside? Families should think about these types of questions, and if they say yes to any of them, they need to fix the issue right away.  

http://www.gobroomecounty.com/hd/prevention-lead-poisoning

A child should be tested for lead poisoning in between the ages 1 and 6, especially if they were exposed to lead or have not had the test done before. Testing should not only be for children, but also for adults who have been exposed to lead. Women who are pregnant and believe that they have been exposed to lead need to get tested because lead is dangerous for the fetus. It can also cause miscarriages, stillbirth, premature delivery, and low birth weight for the baby. Lead can damage almost all of the systems in the human body. Low levels of lead poisoning can affect a child IQ, growth, hearing, and can cause Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). High levels of lead poisoning can cause mental retardation, convulsions, a coma or even death.  

Zika Virus

The Zika virus is a virus that is primarily transmitted through mosquitoes. Interestingly enough, the virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys instead of mosquitoes. It was only located through a network that monitored yellow fever. The first identification of the virus in humans was in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania during 1952. In 1960-1980 scientists realized through blood tests that humans can be affected by Zika. The first large outbreak caused by the virus was discovered in the Island of Yap during 2007. Prior to the outbreak in 2007, on 14 other cases had been documented. One of the most recent outbreaks was in Brazil during July and again in October of 2015. The virus wasn’t alone, it was associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome or microcephaly. The Zika virus is not centered around one area of the world, it has been reported in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and in the Pacific.  

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/454970/nyc-launches-mosquito-information-website-in-battle-against-zika.html

Zika is not transmitted only by the bite of an infected Aedes specie of mosquito. These mosquitoes are also found wherever standing water is, for example animal bowls, vases, pots etc. People have to be aware of their surroundings since these mosquitoes prefer to bite their target during the day, but will still bite at night. The virus is spread from either an infected mosquito biting a healthy human or a healthy mosquito biting an infected human. Zika can also be spread through sexual activity, blood transfusions, laboratory and healthcare setting exposures, and from mother to child. Even though the transmission of the virus through sexual activity is still being researched, the virus can spread through semen and vaginal fluids. Although the transmission of Zika through blood transfusions has not affected the United States, it has been reported in other countries including Brazil. People who work in laboratories and healthcare settings can be at risk since the people working in the lab could be working with the virus or the blood of someone who has the virus. The transmission from mother to child is being watched closely. If a woman is bitten by an infected mosquito, then the child is at risk for having health issues. The virus can be passed to the fetus during pregnancy or near the time of birth. So far researches have not detected a transmission through breastfeeding.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Zika-Virus-Confirmed-in-Dallas-County-Spread-Through-Sexual-Contact-Dallas-County-Health-367395911.html

Symptoms of the Zika virus include, headaches, rashes, bloodshot eyes, a high fever, and muscle or joint pain. However, not everyone will express the same symptoms. For example, getting a rash from the virus has only been reported in 90% of individuals. Symptoms will start to occur two weeks after being infected and will last up to a week. People who believe they are experiencing symptoms of the Zika virus are advised to get their blood tested. To prevent the spread of Zika, people are recommended to not travel to the areas that are experiencing a break out, use a condom while having sex, cover or remove any areas that attract these mosquitoes, and to wear clothing that covers most of the body. Currently, no medical treatment has been created. However, if a person is experiencing the symptoms of the Zika virus they should get plenty of rest, hydrate, and take Tylenol in hopes of reducing the headache.  

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.9362321/