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Featured Water Test - Waterborne Pathogenic Panel

The most common water quality problems are related to the presence of bacteria, total coliform, iron, manganese, elevated hardness, corrosive water, nitrates, elevated copper or lead, discolored water, odor, and regionally elevated levels of select metals.  Depending on the region and depth of the well or water source, the salinity, chloride, sodium, sulfate, and fluoride content of the water could be a concern.   In rare cases, the problem is associated with cysts, oocysts, or viruses and depending on the surrounding land-use and land-use activities petrochemicals, solvents, surfactants, and industrial chemicals may be an issue.   The most common diseases associated with water quality issues are typically related to diarrhea, dysentery, travelers disease, and other gastrointestinal issues, but there are approximately 80 suspected or known autoimmune disorders that may be related to water quality issues.

Autoimmune diseases are actually very common and directly impact over 23 million Americans. An Autoimmune disease is when the bodies responds to a substance or agent in a way that creates a response where the body actually attacks itself and healthy cells by mistake. At this time, it is not known what causes the over-reaction and in most cases it is likely a combination of factors and not simply just one element or contaminate.

A partial listing of potential agents of concern are as follows:

- Aluminum
- Arsenic
- Bacterial and Viral Infections
- Boron
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Disinfection By-Products
- Fluoride
- Herbicides and Pesticides
- Iron
- Manganese
- Nickel
- Synthetic Organic Compounds
- Trichloroethylene
- Volatile Organic Compounds

In addition, the lack of particular elements, dehydration, or over-hydration may trigger an autoimmune response. It has been suggested that magnesium deficiency may play a role at creating this trigger.  The primary recommendation would be to be properly hydrated, get your water tested, install water treatment systems (if needed), and seek advice from medical and other experts.   This is one reason we recommend the use of the information water testing program for city water or well water to provide a cost effective method to check the vulnerability of your water source, plus the use of self-monitoring equipment.  In many cases, you may need to conduct air quality or other testing and we would recommend conducting a Community Neighborhood Hazard Inventory Report generated for your residence.   Comprehensive Whole-House Water Treatment Systems the final barrier.   It may be wise to have a Waterborne Pathogen Panel (7 organisms) completed.

Abbreviations: AGI = acute gastrointestinal illness; ARI = acute respiratory illness; Hep = Hepatitis; Other = undefined, illnesses, conditions, or symptoms or symptoms that cannot be categorized as gastrointestinal, respiratory, ear-related, eye-related, skin-related, neurological, hepatitis or caused by leptospirosis.

*Non-recreational waterborne disease outbreaks combines two previously-reported categories, ‘Water Not Intended for Drinking’ and ‘Water of Unknown Intent.’ It includes outbreaks not associated with public or private drinking water systems, as well as outbreaks for which the intended use of the water is not known. It does not include outbreaks associated with recreational water venues (e.g., swimming pools), which are reported separately.

¶ Value was set to missing in reports where zero hospitalizations were reported and the number of people for whom information was available was also zero.

** Value was set to missing in reports where zero deaths were reported and the number of people for whom information was available was also zero.

*** Etiology unidentified: contamination of water with sodium hydroxide suspected based upon incubation period, symptoms, outbreak investigation and laboratory findings.

¶¶¶¶ Multiple water sources within the facility were identified as possible exposures in this outbreak.

Additional References- Autoimmune Disorders and Your Families Health

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