Why handwashing matters
During this pandemic, learn why clean water, soap and technique are all necessary for handwashing to kill viruses on your hands!
Biological Contaminant | Chemical Contaminant | Physical Contaminant |
Bacteria | Inorganic Chemical | Suspended Solids |
Protozoa | Organic chemical | |
Virus |
Bacterial contamination is the single most common threat to drinking water, and its impacts are disabling, quick and potentially deadly.
Many waterborne bacteria are categorized as pathogens (disease causing microorganism) and they could lead to diseases, like salmonellosis, typhoid fever, and cholera.
One of the most commonly found bacteria in untreated water sources such as rivers and lakes include E.coli (Escherichia coli), a faecal coliform present in human and animal waste. Drinking such contaminated water can cause vomiting, diarrhoea as well as ear, respiratory, eye, or skin problems.
Inorganic chemical refers to those compounds with a chemical structure without carbon, such as heavy metals and nitrate. Heavy metals can be naturally occurring or can be released by human activities.
In trace amounts, certain heavy metals such as copper, selenium, and zinc are essential to maintain the metabolism of the human body. However, elements such as arsenic, lead, and mercury are harmful to the body even in small concentration.
At a high concentration, heavy metals are poisonous to the body and chronic exposure can damage the human body indefinitely. Certain heavy metals can accumulate in the body and the effects can cause in-borne deformities in children.
Click here for more information on heavy metals.
Organic chemical includes compounds with a chemical structure which consist of carbon. They include proteins, plastic, petroleum compounds, pesticides, herbicides, and chlorinated-carbon compounds. They are found in water sources and are typically caused by human activities, such as improper disposal of solvents and petrochemicals.
The main concerns of organic chemicals are those that are non-volatile as they are unable to be removed by simply boiling or aeration. Certain organic chemicals are toxic and could cause adverse health effects when consumed.
The exposure risk is determined based on the individual constituents of the organic chemicals, with each having the potential to trigger different human health effects, symptoms, or illnesses.
During this pandemic, learn why clean water, soap and technique are all necessary for handwashing to kill viruses on your hands!
Learn about the true impact of the sanitation crisis and how it threatens the lives of people living in low-income regions.
This basic necessity is under threat! Read to learn more about conserving Earth’s precious and finite resource we call water and incorporate these steps into your daily routine.