Boiled or Bottled: Regional and Seasonal Exposures to Drinking Water Contamination and Household Air Pollution in Rural China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inadequate access to safe drinking water remains a global health problem, particularly in rural areas. Boiling is the most commonly used form of point-of-use household water treatment (HWT) globally, although the use of bottled water in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is increasing rapidly.

Objectives

We assessed the regional and seasonal prevalence of HWT practices (including bottled water use) in low-income rural areas in two Chinese provinces, evaluated the microbiological safety of drinking water and associated health outcomes, and estimated the air pollution burden associated with the use of solid fuels for boiling.

Methods

We conducted cross-sectional surveys and collected drinking water samples from 1,033 rural households in Guangxi and Hena

SUBMITTER: Cohen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7717838 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature