MPH_5063_Podcast_SP24_Erik Macareno

Water pollution is a major issue that affects our health and the environment. Heavy metals and chemicals in contaminated water can have negative effects on different age groups and populations. Children, older adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are particularly vulnerable. We need to address water pollution at different levels, including individual actions, community efforts, and state and federal regulations. The EPA plays a crucial role in overseeing water pollution and developing restoration interventions. Water pollution not only impacts our health but also ecosystems and wildlife. It's important to make a unified effort to protect our health, the environment, and wildlife. Hello, everyone. Welcome to Public Health 101. Today, we will delve into important world issues impacting our world. I'm your host, Eric Moccarino, and today we are diving into a crucial topic, water pollution. According to the National Institute of Health, heavy metals can enter our bodies through contaminated water, air, and food. Today, we will be focusing more on water contamination and the negative effects it can have on our health. Water pollution is a growing concern that impacts us all. Today, we will explore how different heavy metals and chemicals in polluted waters can affect various age groups and populations. Water pollution isn't just about dirty water. It involves the presence of harmful heavy metals and chemicals found within those contaminated waters. These substances, like lead, mercury, and pesticides, pose significant health risks to those exposed. Chemicals can seep into treated water systems through cracks in water pipes, problems concerning the distribution system, sewer overflows, manufacturing operations that have toxic waste, and pollution that affects industrial animal farms. Now, let's discuss how this issue impacts different populations. It's not a one-size-fits-all problem. Different age groups and populations are affected differently. According to the CDC, children, infants, older adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals, such as those suffering from HIV or cancer, are particularly vulnerable to the negative health effects of contaminated water. Exposure to lead during development can lead to cognitive and behavioral issues. Meanwhile, older adults may face high-end risks due to the cumulative exposure over time of these chemicals. It's not enough to just highlight the problem. Let's discuss how we can address water pollution at different levels, within the individual level, within our communities, and on a broader scale. At the individual level, it can be life-saving to learn about the quality of water in your own home. Not only that, but also to learn about the treatment management plans that are implemented in your living area. Another effective way to reduce water pollution involves reducing plastic consumption by reducing and recycling plastics whenever possible. On the state and federal level, EPA is the main program that overlooks water pollution. It is up to the state to ensure water regulation by minimizing pollutant runoff from farms, parking lots, and streets. If the concentration of water contamination exceeds the threshold standards developed by EPA, then EPA must develop a budget with the state to reduce the levels of water contamination down to the acceptable federal levels. Now before we wrap up, I want to emphasize the interconnectedness of our world. To begin, water pollution affects not just our health, but the health of ecosystems and our wildlife. EPA is involved in developing restoration interventions engineered to protect aquatic ecosystems and wetlands in important geographic areas. Many fish and other aquatic animals risk extinction due to the lack of oxygen in polluted water. A lot of these poor water health problems can be attributed to toxic algae spread, which reduces the level of oxygen available to aquatic life. We have to make a unified effort to help protect our health, the health of the environment, and the health of our wildlife. Thank you for joining us today on Public Health 101. Remember, addressing water pollution involves local, community, state, and national efforts. Stay informed, take action, and let's create a healthier, less polluted future together. This is Eric Montgomerino, signing off.