Microbial contamination in aquatic ecosystems: implications for human health and disease prevention

Abstract

Water-based ecosystems face serious public health concerns due to the microbial contamination of waters and the spread of waterborne diseases, as well as the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant microbes. Contaminants can be from natural sources, but they usually come from human activities like discharge of sewerage, farming, and industrial activities. Pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi are capable of surviving in water bodies that have been contaminated, and pose  severe health risks in combination with poor sanitation and inadequate water treatment facilities available in many communities. In addition to temperature, pH and other nutrients also impact the survival and distribution of microorganisms and managing risk and contamination becomes more difficult due to the increased number of variables. This review analyzes the various sources, categories of water-based microorganisms, their potential human health risks, and environmental factors affecting their persistence. Additionally, it discusses the range of detection and monitoring techniques which include traditional microbiological techniques, molecular analysis, and other advanced technologies. Also, the document offers microbial contamination prevention and control measures which include innovative treatment functions, legislative measures, and public health action frameworks. Mitigating microbial disease risks and controlling outbreaks of diseases require a multidisciplinary approach that treats detection as immediate, optimizing sewage treatment as well as global policy enforcement. Long-term water safety and public health safety requires early intervention focused on managing and reducing the use of antibiotics on pressurized water sources.