The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery has concerns about the effects of our environment on human health. In this review we evaluate waterborne biologic organisms, microorganisms, and other disease-causing agents that might pollute our drinking water. Next, we evaluate chemical toxins that might pollute our drinking water. Then we examine our drinking water and wastewater treatment systems. Finally, we discuss management strategies.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
FordTEColwellRR.A global decline in microbiological safety of water: a call for action. Report, the American Academy of Microbiology1996:1–12.
2.
KramerMHHerwaldtBLCraunGFSurveillance for waterborne-disease outbreaks—United States. MMWR CDC Surveillance Summaries1996;45(1):1–33.
3.
GoodgameRW.Understanding intestinal spore-forming protozoa: Cryptosporidia, Microsporidia, Isospora and Cyclospora. Ann Intern Med1996;124:429–41.
4.
StevensD P.Giardiasis. In: BennettJCPlumF, editors. Cecil textbook of medicine. 29th ed.Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 1912–3.
5.
RavdinJI.Amebiasis. In: BennettJCPlumF, editors. Cecil textbook of medicine. 29th ed.Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 1913–5.
6.
MahmoudAF.Schistosomiasis (bilharziasis). In: BennettJCPlumF, editors. Cecil textbook of medicine. 29th ed.Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 1927–9.
7.
Mac KenzieWRHoxieNJProctorMEA massive outbreak in Milwaukee of Cryptosporidium infection transmitted. through the public water supply. N Engl J Med1994;311:161–7.
8.
GoldsteinSTJuranekDDRavenholtOCryptosporidiosis: an outbreak associated with drinking water despite state-of-the-art water treatment. Ann Intern Med1996;4:459–68.
9.
VakilNBSchwartzSMBuggyBPBiliary cryptosporidiosis in HIV-infected people after the waterborne outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Milwaukee. N Engl J Med1996;334:19–23.
10.
MishuBIlyasAAKoskiCLSerologic evidence of previous Campylobacter jejuni infection in patients with the Guillain-Barre syndrome. Ann Intern Med1993;118:945–95.
11.
ParsonnetJHansenSRodriguezLHelicobacter pylori infection and gastric lymphoma. N Engl J Med1994;330:1267–71.
12.
von ReynCFMaslowJNBarberTWPersistent colonisation of potable water as a source of Mycobacterium avium infection in AIDS. Lancet1994;343:1137–41.
13.
BoyceTGSwerdlowDLGriffinPM.Current concepts; Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. N Engl J Med1995;333:364–8.
14.
OcknerRK.Acute viral hepatitis. In: BennettJCPlumF, editors. Cecil textbook of medicine. 29th ed.Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 762–71.
15.
OxmanMN.Enteroviruses. In: BennettJCPlumF, editors. Cecil textbook of medicine. 29th ed.Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 1783–6.
16.
FriskGNilssonETuvemoTThe possible role of Coxsackie A and echo viruses in the pathogenesis of type I diabetes mellitus studies by IgM analysis. J Infect1992;24:13–22.
17.
AxelssonCBondestamGFriskGCoxsackie B virus infections in women with miscarriage. J Med Virol1993;39:282–5.
18.
KipenHMWeinsteinIB.The role of environmental chemicals in human cancer causation. In: TarcherAB, editor. Principles and practice of environmental medicine. 1st ed.New York: Plenum Publishing; 1992. p. 475.
19.
GuilletteLJGrossTSMassonGRDevelopmental abnormalities of the gonad and the abnormal sex hormone concentrations in juvenile alligators from contaminated and control lakes in Florida. Environ Health Perspect1994;102:680–8.
20.
McAnultyJMFlemingDWGonzalezAH.A community-wide outbreak of cryptosporidiosis associated with swimming at a wave pool. JAMA1994;272:1597–600.
