Food- and Water-Borne Illnesses: How to Protect Yourself

1
Contaminated food and water: The global challange
Contamination of food and water: The global issue of
public helath
It is very disappointing for us that despite of achieving a satisfactory education level, we are
lacking behind in maintaining our health and failed to control the diseases especially borne by
contaminated food and water. Water and food pollution is not the problem of a single
country; it became the problem for the whole world.
Contaminated food and water refers to the involvement of harmful bacteria’s, viruses,
parasites and other microbes inside the food and water which leads towards severe diseases
like: Food poisoning, jaundice, Cholera, Salmonellosis, intestinal diseases, diarrhoea which
results in millions of deaths throughout the world.
Millions of people are suffering because of impure water and food. Contamination of food
and water becomes as a major threat to the public health. We should take essential steps to
curb this global issue before it became the health hazards to the world.
Contamination of various water bodies like rivers, lakes, ponds, oceans and groundwater are
basically the result of human activities like discharge of untreated sewage water and human
wastage directly in water bodies, using excessive pesticides, using non-biodegradable

2
Contaminated food and water: The global challange
materials like polethyne and plastic at a huge level and discharge these materials into water
bodies made the water poisonous.
This poisonous water not only results in thousands of diseases but also responsible for
various viruses born disease which already killed millions of people and proving as a hurdle
in achieving a satisfactory public health.
Sewage water should be treated strictly in urban areas as well as in rural areas. Sewage
treatment plant should be implemented by the regulatory authorities of the world. Proper
disposal of non-biodegradable elements should be performed and even we should eliminate
or minimise the use of polethyne, plastics and other non-biodegradable and e-wastage.
More environment friendly products should be used in the daily routine like products made
by wooden, leaves and soil so that they can be easily dispose and degrade quickly with
respect to time.
Chemical bases pesticides should be banned for stopping the earth pollution and underground
water pollution. Pesticides made by natural products like oil spray pesticide and Neem oil
pesticides should be used in order to stop the use of chemicals in growing crops.
Food contamination refers to the existence of harmful chemicals, viruses, bacteria and other
microbes inside the food which make it poisonous and results in severe health issues. Major

3
Contaminated food and water: The global challange
food causes diseases are: Typhoid, tuberculosis, cholera, Hepatises, Salmonellosis, Listeriosis
and other intestinal diseases.
The major causes of food contamination are using harmful pesticides and insecticides for
growing the crop. Using chemicals in form of sprays and injections to make the crop mature
before time.
According to WHO (World Health Organisation), almost 550million people became ill and
around 2, 30,000 people are dying annually because of consumption of contaminated food.
The alarming position of food contamination leads towards a severe health hazard for public
health of world.
Unbridled use of pesticides and unhealthy practises of farmers and retail holders leads
towards the food contamination. Use of natural pesticides and insecticides should be
promoted. Unnecessary use of chemicals for maturing crops and fruits should be strictly
prohibited. The rotten food should be disposed rather than selling and offering it to
consumers.
Quality inspecting criteria should be clearly examined by the regulatory authorities.
Moreover, people should be self-aware about the contamination of food especially fruits,
crops and meat of various animals.
However, government of various countries and world regulatory authorities are making a lot
of efforts to get rid of the diseases born by contaminated food and water but the essential
steps should be taken by the public. People should be taught about the detrimental effects of
consuming polluted food and water from an early childhood. A proper disposal of non-
biodegradable materials should be implemented for a better future.