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Water resources are crucial in developing any area as they serve as a major source of potable, agricultural, and industrial water. Water contamination, caused by natural and anthropogenic activities, poses a significant threat to public health globally. This review synthesizes data from various studies published in national and international journals, as well as reports from governmental and non-governmental organizations. Our primary objective is to understand and review previous research on water pollution, contamination types, and the effects of water contamination on public health. Water pollution studies generally involve a scientific understanding of the biological, chemical, and physical processes that control the movement of contaminants in the underground environment. The nature and severity of health consequences vary based on several factors, including the chemical composition, duration of exposure, and concentration of pollutants. This work highlights the human health risks associated with current research topics such as anthropogenic, geogenic, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals. A section on remedial measures and mitigation strategies is included to emphasize sustainable approaches to water conservation, replenishment, and sustainability. However, there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the distribution, toxic effects, and human health risks associated with different sources of contamination. This review thus establishes links between multiple sources of pollution, their toxicity to human health, and approaches to health risk assessment.

In the current work, the hybrid process potential of ultrasound (US) and electro-Fenton (EF), named sono-electro-Fenton (SEF), was fully investigated for sulfadiazine (SDZ) degradation. The decontamination in the integration approach was revealed to be greater than in individual procedures, i.e., EF process (roughly 66%) and US process (roughly 15%). The key operating process factors (i.e., applied voltage, H 2 O 2 content, pH, initial concentration of SDZ, and reaction time) affecting SDZ removal were evaluated and optimized using Box-Behnken Design (BBD). In addition, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) as an efficient predictive model was applied to forecast the decontamination efficiency of SDZ through the SEF process based on the same findings produced from BBD. The results revealed that the predictability of SDZ elimination by the ANFIS and BBD approaches exhibited an excellent agreement (a greater R 2 of 0.99%) among the both models. Density functional theory was also employed to forecast the plausible decomposition elucidation by the bond-breaking mechanism of organic substances. Plus, the main side products of SDZ degradation during the SEF process were tracked. Eventually, the non-carcinogenic risk assessment of different samples of natural water containing SDZ that was treated by adopting US, EF, and SEF processes was examined for the first time. The findings indicated that the non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) values of all the purified water sources were computed in the permissible range.

Ozone is a highly reactive, oxidative gas associated with adverse health outcome, including mortality and morbidity. Data from monitoring sites worldwide show levels of ozone often exceeding EU legislation threshold and the more restrictive WHO guidelines for the protection of human health. Well-established evidence has been produced for short-term effects, especially on respiratory and cardiovascular systems, associated to ozone exposure. Less conclusive is the evidence for long-term effects, reporting suggestive associations with respiratory mortality, new-onset asthma in children and increased respiratory symptom effects in asthmatics. The growing epidemiological evidence and the increasing availability of routinely collected data on air pollutant concentrations and health statistics allow to produce robust estimates in health impact assessment routine. Most recent estimates indicate that in 2013 in EU-28, 16,000 premature deaths, equivalent to 192,000 years of life lost, are attributable to ozone exposure. Italy shows very high health impact estimates among EU countries, reporting 3380 premature deaths and 61 years of life lost (per 100,000 inhabitants) attributable to ozone exposure.

Consumption of high NO 3 containing water may pose serious health hazard especially in children (< 5 years). The source of NO 3 in groundwater includes surface leaching from wastewater and waste dump sites, animal excreta disposal, industrial effluents, and N-based fertilizers, etc. This study aimed to investigate the concentration of NO 3 in groundwater of 14 intensively cultivated districts of Malwa Punjab, India, and its possible health hazards in local residents. The sampling of 76 sites revealed the concentration of NO 3 in ranges of 38.45–198.05 mgL −1 , and over 92% sites showed the high level of it than the safe limits as decided by the Bureau of Indian standards (45 mg L −1 ) and World Health Organization (50 mg L −1 ). The possible health hazards of high NO 3 intake was estimated using USEPA human health risk assessment (HHRA) model for both adult and children. Results of this study suggested the chronic daily intake ( CDI ) in the ranges of 1.09–5.65 and 2.56–13.20 in adult and children population of this region, respectively. The hazard quotient ( HQ nitrate ) value was > 1 in most sampling locations ranging 1.09–5.65 for the adult and 2.56–13.20 for children population of Malwa. This study indicates that 93.42% adult and 100% young population of the Malwa are at higher risk of chronic toxicity by excess NO 3 intake. The HHRA results suggested a high vulnerability of a local community to NO 3 toxicity in this region; therefore, there is an instant need to take preventive measures to safeguard the health of local residents.

Assessment of groundwater quality and health risk was conducted in the Shenfu coal mine area in Ordos basin, northwestern China. Statistical analysis, Piper and Chadha diagrams were used to reveal the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater via physicochemical analysis of 44 collected samples. The suitability of groundwater was assessed for domestic and irrigation purposes, and the fuzzy comprehensive method was adopted to assess the overall groundwater quality for further discussion on groundwater management. The model recommended by the USEPA was selected to estimate the non-carcinogenic risks caused by NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, F−, Fe and Mn through oral ingestion and direct dermal contact. The results revealed that the predominant hydrochemical types of groundwater were SO4∙Cl–Ca∙Mg and HCO3–Ca∙Mg types and the major cations and anions followed the orders of Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ >K+ and HCO3− > SO42− > Cl−, respectively. Groundwater is generally acceptable for irrigation. However, for domestic purposes, 47.73% of the collected samples are of excellent and good quality and are suitable for direct consumption. Both adults and children face non-carcinogenic risks because of exposure to contaminants such as nitrate, nitrite and fluoride. The risk to children is higher than that to adults, which is consistent with other studies. Nitrite contributes most to the risks, followed by nitrate and fluoride. Home-use water quality improvement devices and rainwater harvesting are suggested to enhance the groundwater quality protection and management in this area. The research also indicates that health risk assessment should always accompany general water quality assessment to ensure the reliability of the water quality assessment.

Research into the analysis, physical properties and health effects of dietary fibre has continued steadily over the last 40–50 years. From the knowledge gained, countries have developed guidelines for their populations on the optimal amount of fibre to be consumed each day. Food composition tables from many countries now contain values for the dietary fibre content of foods, and, from these, combined with dietary surveys, population intakes have been determined. The present review assessed the uniformity of the analytical methods used, health claims permitted, recommendations and intakes, particularly from national surveys across Europe and around the world. It also assessed current knowledge on health effects of dietary fibre and related the impact of different fibre types on health. The overall intent was to be able to provide more detailed guidance on the types of fibre which should be consumed for good health, rather than simply a total intake figure, the current situation. Analysis of data indicated a fair degree of uniformity in the definition of dietary fibre, the method used for analysis, the recommended amount to be consumed and a growing literature on effects on digestive health and disease risk. However, national dietary survey data showed that intakes do not reach recommendations and very few countries provide guidance on the types of fibre that are preferable to achieve recommended intakes. Research gaps were identified and ideas suggested to provide information for more detailed advice to the public about specific food sources that should be consumed to achieve health benefits.

In large industrialized cities, tons of particles containing heavy metals are released into the environment and accumulate on street surfaces. Such particles cause a potential risk to human health due to their composition and size. The heavy metal contamination levels, main emission sources, and human health risks were identified in 482 samples of street dust. Heavy metal concentrations were obtained by microwave-assisted acid digestion and ICP-OES. The results indicated that street dust in Mexico City is contaminated mainly with Pb, Zn, and Cu, according to the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index. The pollution load index of the street dust was made with the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni. The main sources of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cr are anthropic, probably due to vehicular traffic. The highest levels of Cr and Pb in urban dust represent a health risk for children. Contamination limits were proposed for heavy metals in street dust of Mexico City. These limits might be useful to generate and apply public policies to decrease anthropic emissions of the heavy metals studied, particularly Cr and Pb.

The present study was carried out to determine the contamination levels of heavy metals in road dust of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), India and its consequent effect on human and environment. The levels of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Mn, and Fe) in 9 districts (Z1–Z9) of NCT were monitored and the corresponding human health risk was estimated. District-wise evaluation of heavy metal pollution in the road dust was performed. The mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Fe in the road dust samples over the study area were 164.2 ± 53.2, 200.7 ± 45.3, 99.9 ± 64.8, 24.7 ± 5.7, 57.7 ± 25.9, 241.4 ± 39.8, and 11113.9 ± 1669.7 mg kg −1 , respectively. PLI showed a high pollution load in the monitored nine locations, indicating an alarming condition and the urgent need for immediate remedial actions. Ecological risk assessment depicted that a 74% risk was attributed to Pb. Hazard quotient (HQ) values indicated that ingestion was the major pathway of road dust heavy metal exposure to human beings. Hazard index values showed that there was no probable non-carcinogenic risk of the heavy metals present in the road dust of the area. Children were found vulnerable to the risks of road dust metals. The findings of this study showed the alarming status of heavy metal contamination to road dust in NCT and the associated risk to human health.

Worldwide, anthropogenic activities are causing the natural environment and aquaculture systems to become heavily contaminated with heavy metals, which can lead to consumer’s health problems. In the current study, wild and farmed fish ( n  = 30) and water samples ( n  = 6) have been collected from the Chashma barrage and fish farm to assess the heavy metals concentration, i.e., Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cr, in the water and some important organs (gills, liver, muscle, brain and bones) of wild and farmed fish ( Labeo rohita ) using Graphite furnace Atomic absorption spectrometry. Bioaccumulation factor and human health risk assessment were calculated to measure the health status of both fish and humans. Results show that in wild and farm fish’s gills, muscles and bones, the trend of the heavy metals was Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd > Cr. On the other hand, the brain and liver show Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr trend. Comparatively, the heavy metals concentration was mostly higher ( P  < 0.05) in wild fish. Further; in both fish habitats (water) the heavy metals (Cd and Pb) concentration was higher than the WHO standard level, while in the body, Cd was higher ( P  < 0.05) in all studied organs except the muscle, Cr was only lower ( P  > 0.05) in muscle and brain. Pb was higher ( P  < 0.05) in all studied organs of both fish. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals was mostly higher ( P  < 0.05) in wild fish than in farmed. EDI and THQ were higher in wild fish, but the HI value was lower than 1 for both fish. Moreover, the PCA analysis suggests a positive correlation between heavy metals concentration in fish organs and the water of both fish (wild and farmed). Results indicated that farmed fish showed less potential risk to humans than wild fish.

The journal The Lancet recently published a countdown on health and climate change. Attention was focused solely on humans. However, animals, including wildlife, livestock and pets, may also be impacted by climate change. Complementary to the high relevance of awareness rising for protecting humans against climate change, here we present a One Health approach, which aims at the simultaneous protection of humans, animals and the environment from climate change impacts (climate change adaptation). We postulate that integrated approaches save human and animal lives and reduce costs when compared to public and animal health sectors working separately. A One Health approach to climate change adaptation may significantly contribute to food security with emphasis on animal source foods, extensive livestock systems, particularly ruminant livestock, environmental sanitation, and steps towards regional and global integrated syndromic surveillance and response systems. The cost of outbreaks of emerging vector-borne zoonotic pathogens may be much lower if they are detected early in the vector or in livestock rather than later in humans. Therefore, integrated community-based surveillance of zoonoses is a promising avenue to reduce health effects of climate change.