MEDICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WATER-RELATED IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH IN CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT

Abstract

This article addresses the pressing concerns regarding the influence of water as a potential risk factor on public health. Particular emphasis is given to the potential for worsening the epidemiological situation in Ukraine due to water pollution, especially in regions affected by martial law. The study aims to analyze the medical and microbiological risks associated with the impact of water on public health, considering the vital role of water in modern life. To accomplish this objective, we conducted a comprehensive review of online resources from contemporary databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We employed bibliosystematic and analytical methods in our research. Our investigation reveals that the compromise of water resource safety, particularly in regions marked by active hostilities or territories affected by significant anthropogenic stress, can lead to isolated outbreaks of infectious diseases that have the potential to escalate into epidemics. The article highlights a range of microorganisms that can be transmitted through water, such as bacteria (including E. coli, campylobacter, legionella, leptospira, typhoid salmonella, various types of salmonella, shigella, cholera, and parahaemolytic vibrio), viruses (such as rotaviruses, adeno-, astro-, noro-, and enteroviruses, as well as hepatitis A and E viruses), protozoa (including acanthamoebae, dysentery amoeba, giardia, and the pathogens of cryptosporidiosis and cyclosporiasis), and fungi (yeasts and certain molds). Intestinal and sapronose infections pose a substantial health risk to the population, with water and soil serving as the natural reservoirs of pathogens. Some sapronoses can also be transmitted by animals or animal-derived food products (e.g., cholera, clostridial infections, botulism, legionellosis, etc.). Overcrowded conditions exacerbate the potential for aerosol contamination. Therefore, the implementation of health-preserving technologies should consider the medical and microbiological risks associated with water and aim to minimize the adverse impact of waterborne pathogens on human health.