The association between drinking water turbidity and gastrointestinal illness: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies suggest that routine variations in public drinking water turbidity may be associated with endemic gastrointestinal illness. We systematically reviewed the literature on this topic.

Methods

We searched databases and websites for relevant studies in industrialized countries. Studies investigating the association between temporal variations in drinking water turbidity and incidence of acute gastrointestinal illness were assessed for quality. We reviewed good quality studies for evidence of an association between increased turbidity and gastrointestinal illness.

Results

We found six relevant good quality studies. Of five studies investigating effluent water turbidity, two found no association. Two studies from Philadelphia reported increased paediatric

SUBMITTER: Mann AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2174477 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature