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Health Implications of Drinking Water Salinity in Coastal Areas of Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Rishika Chakraborty

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Khalid M. Khan

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Daniel T. Dibaba

    (Tennessee Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA)

  • Md Alfazal Khan

    (Matlab Health Research Centre, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh)

  • Ali Ahmed

    (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh)

  • Mohammad Zahirul Islam

    (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh)

Abstract

Coastal areas in South Asian countries are particularly vulnerable to elevated water salinity. Drinking water salinity has been found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Our study aimed to find if excess drinking water salinity was associated with increased hospital visits with an array of health effects in coastal sub-districts of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 157 participants from three coastal sub-districts. A face-to-face interview was conducted to collect salinity exposure and hospital visit data. Water samples were collected from both drinking and other household water sources for the measurement of salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS). CVD, diarrhea, and abdominal pain related hospital visits were found to be significantly associated with high water salinity and TDS. Households exposed to high salinity demonstrated a higher frequency of hospital visits than the low salinity-exposed households. People exposed to high salinity seemed to lack awareness regarding salinity-inducing health effects. Water salinity is a public health concern that will continue to rise due to climate change. Therefore, raising awareness about the health risks of water salinity is essential for the government to frame policies and mitigation strategies to control this emerging threat.

Suggested Citation

  • Rishika Chakraborty & Khalid M. Khan & Daniel T. Dibaba & Md Alfazal Khan & Ali Ahmed & Mohammad Zahirul Islam, 2019. "Health Implications of Drinking Water Salinity in Coastal Areas of Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:19:p:3746-:d:273557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Susmita Dasgupta & Mainul Huq & David Wheeler, 2016. "Drinking Water Salinity and Infant Mortality in Coastal Bangladesh," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 2(01), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Mohammad A. Hoque & Adrian P. Butler, 2015. "Medical Hydrogeology of Asian Deltas: Status of Groundwater Toxicants and Nutrients, and Implications for Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, December.
    3. M. A. Hoque & P. F. D. Scheelbeek & P. Vineis & A. E. Khan & K. M. Ahmed & A. P. Butler, 2016. "Drinking water vulnerability to climate change and alternatives for adaptation in coastal South and South East Asia," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 247-263, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Josep Lloret & Rafael Abós-Herràndiz & Sílvia Alemany & Rosario Allué & Joan Bartra & Maria Basagaña & Elisa Berdalet & Mònica Campàs & Arnau Carreño & Montserrat Demestre & Jorge Diogène & Eva Fontde, 2020. "The Roses Ocean and Human Health Chair: A New Way to Engage the Public in Oceans and Human Health Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Guimbeau, Amanda & Ji, Xinde James & Long, Zi & Menon, Nidhiya, 2024. "Ocean salinity, early-life health, and adaptation," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).

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