Bacteria are living things that belong to a group all by themselves. They are small, single cell organisms called prokaryotes that do not contain a nucleus and are usually found in very large groups because they can quickly multiply...
Disease Causing Micro-organisms
How many times have we been told to wash our hands before sitting down at the supper table or after touching money and other dirty surfaces? By washing up we think that we’re clean and microorganism-free. We have baths, cook our food, treat our sewage and even cover our mouths when we cough and sneeze to prevent the spread of those tiny dirty particles that could make us sick.
Health Effects of Swallowing Water When Swimming in Natural Bodies of Water
If you plan to swim in a natural body of water like a river, lake, pond, or the ocean, it is important to keep in mind the potential health effects of swallowing the water. Awareness of what else might be floating in the water with you is the first step in knowing how to protect your health. Please do not assume that water from lakes, streams, rivers, or springs is safe to drink. Water in a stream, river, or lake may look clean, but it can still be filled with bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can result in recreational water-related illnesses. If you swallow the water while you are swimming, you can get illnesses like giardiasis (caused by the tiny parasite Giardia) or cryptosporidiosis (caused by the microscopic parasite Cryptosporidium).
Helicobacter Pylori
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are a type of intestinal bacteria that cause the majority of ulcers in the stomach and duodenum. They thrive in highly acidic environments and have a unique way of adapting to the harsh environment of the stomach. H. pylori have been classified as low-potential carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) by the World Health Organization.
Microplastics
Plastics are all around us, from the clothes we wear and the packaging that contains our food to construction materials in our homes and much more. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimetres long. Microplastics can come from a variety of sources. They can come from plastic that has broken apart or resin pellets used for plastic manufacturing or in the form of microbeads. They can also be found in the fabric of synthetic clothing.
Pathogenic Microbes
Some people believe that all that is required to produce safe water is to have a chlorine residual in the water. This, unfortunately, is not correct. The presence of particles will, in fact, shield pathogenic microbes from being killed by chlorine or other disinfectants. It is, therefore, important to remember that only good quality water can be safely disinfected.
