The deterioration of the environmental situation all over the globe is inseparably linked with the pollution of the atmosphere, soil, and water with agricultural, industrial, and domestic human activities. Since the abstraction of water for drinking purposes is made from underground and open water sources, it becomes evident that all the pollutants contained in the sewage waters of industrial and agricultural enterprises are found in water systems. A significant part of the pollutants discharged with sewage or waste gases returns to people while taking water for household and drinking purposes. Therefore, pollution of water has a direct impact on human health.
In this connection, the thesis for the research may be formulated as follows: since drinking water is one of the key elements ensuring people’s health, its pollution and health risks require proper evaluation and subsequent consideration of some ways to resolve the problem. The purpose of the study is to define water pollution levels, impacts, and potential threats to health. It seems important to review water-related diseases and specify any trends and challenges existing in their occurrence and treatment. At the same time, it is expected that the research will propose some recommendations on how to prevent water pollution-associated diseases or at least to reduce their negative impact on the human body.
As for the terms that are essential to understand the research, it is possible to note contaminants, chemicals, pathogens, and so on. Chemicals and pathogens (usual microorganisms) are two key causes of water-associated diseases. Also, there are many diseases caused by polluted beach water, including hepatitis, diarrhea, encephalitis, etc. Water pollution may affect people both directly and indirectly. While the first one implies direct consumption of polluted water, the second one refers to contaminated products such as fruits, vegetables, and meat. Among the key terms characterizing water pollution causes there are waste disposal, acid rain, agricultural and urban runoff, and animal waste.
The limitations of the research will concern the areas covered by the existing literature. The body of the study will primarily focus on scholarly articles published within the last five years to ensure the relevance and feasibility of findings and recommendations. Another limitation will be the sample size. It seems that the research paper will cover a limited number of articles, and its findings could not be generalized on a large scale. The assumptions (hypotheses) involve the following points:
- Water pollution and associated health risks present a serious threat to human health through such diseases as gastroenteritis, typhoid, amoebiasis, etc.
- Promotion of sanitary living conditions and awareness-raising strategies seem to be beneficial to resolve the given problem.