The infectious disease specialist warned about the risks of drinking tap water

Clean drinking water is directly related to human health, and household filters often become not a matter of comfort, but an element of prevention of serious diseases. Vladimir Neronov, MD, an infectious disease specialist at JSC Meditsina (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia on January 31 about the risks associated with contaminated water and how to choose the right treatment systems.

"According to the World Health Organization, microbiologically contaminated water transmits diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, polio and is associated with about half a million deaths from diarrheal diseases each year. Children are especially vulnerable: repeated intestinal infections against the background of unsafe water lead not only to dehydration, but also to a delay in physical and cognitive development," the specialist noted.

He explained that the danger of drinking water is associated not only with bacteria, viruses and parasites that can cause outbreaks of acute intestinal infections, but also with chemical impurities. Heavy metals, nitrates, organic compounds, and disinfection byproducts have a more subtle effect, but they can affect the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems. According to the doctor, prolonged use of water with a high arsenic content is associated with an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and the influence of a number of compounds at an early age can affect the development of children.

Tap water: an invisible threat that flows in every home

Neronov recalled that centralized water supply systems are built as a multi-stage protection, including mechanical purification, disinfection and constant monitoring of water quality in accordance with national standards and WHO recommendations. However, even with strict controls, violations are possible, and studies of the consequences of non-compliance with standards show that chronic chemical contamination in the long term is associated with a deterioration in the well-being of the population, an increase in the number of hospitalizations and medical costs.

In everyday life, the doctor noted, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of water in a particular region. In some cases, boiling or simple filters are sufficient, in others, with a high content of iron, manganese, or hardness salts, more complex purification systems are required. He stressed that there are no universal filters, so before buying, you should focus on the data of the water utility, sanitary standards and the results of laboratory tests. The doctor called for paying special attention to the timely replacement of cartridges, since worn-out elements can themselves become a source of microbial contamination.

The expert also linked the problem of access to safe water with issues of social justice, pointing out that violations of standards more often affect socially vulnerable regions and groups of the population. He added that not only infrastructural solutions and control over sewage treatment plants play an important role, but also everyday habits — avoiding water from questionable sources, careful handling of household chemicals and medicines, and regular water quality checks from private wells. According to him, such measures help to reduce the risk of water-related diseases and prevent the occurrence of avoidable cases.

Irina Volgina, associate Professor of the Department of Therapy at the Medical Faculty of the State University of Education, in an interview with Izvestia on January 25, called the products that provoke edema. The blacklist includes salty snacks — chips, crackers, salted fish and cheeses, sauces; sweet foods, including pastries, cakes and carbonated drinks; spicy, fatty, fried and canned dishes, especially homemade pickles. Fast food, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages are also at risk.

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