This study evaluated whether occurrence of acute gastrointestinal illnesses declined after filtration and ozonation were added to a previously unfiltered, chlorinated high-quality surface water source in a northwest United States city. Enteric and other illnesses were recorded for two 6-month periods for control and intervention sites in the same city. During phase 1, chlorinated, unfiltered drinking water for both sites was obtained from protected watersheds. During phase 2, the intervention site received chlorinated, filtered and ozonated drinking water. The water was not altered in the control site. No overall differences were found in the risk of any of the illnesses after the new water treatment plant was completed. There was a significantly increased risk of diarrhoea and highly credible gastrointestinal illness in participants with three or more episodes of the same type of illness during phase 1.
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Research Article|
July 01 2009
Enteric illness risks before and after water treatment improvements
Floyd J. Frost;
Floyd J. Frost
1Lovelace Clinic Foundation, 2309 Renard Pl. SE, Suite 103, 87106, Albuquerque NM, 87106, USA
2Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 2425 Ridgecrest Drive SE, Albuquerque NM, 87108, USA
3Aurora Health Care, 945 North 12th St, Milwaukee WI, 53233, USA
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Kristine Tollestrup;
4Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC09 5040, 2400 Tucker NE, Albuquerque NM, 87131-0001, USA
Tel.: 505 272-9555 Fax: 505 272-4494; E-mail: [email protected]
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Melissa Roberts;
Melissa Roberts
2Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 2425 Ridgecrest Drive SE, Albuquerque NM, 87108, USA
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Twila R. Kunde;
Twila R. Kunde
1Lovelace Clinic Foundation, 2309 Renard Pl. SE, Suite 103, 87106, Albuquerque NM, 87106, USA
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Gunther F. Craun;
Gunther F. Craun
5Gunther F. Craun & Associates, 14 Madison Place, Staunton VA, 24401, USA
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Lucy Harter
Lucy Harter
614032 Old Vashon Hwy, Vashon, WA, 98013, USA
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J Water Health (2009) 7 (4): 581–589.
Article history
Received:
October 22 2008
Accepted:
March 16 2009
Citation
Floyd J. Frost, Kristine Tollestrup, Melissa Roberts, Twila R. Kunde, Gunther F. Craun, Lucy Harter; Enteric illness risks before and after water treatment improvements. J Water Health 1 December 2009; 7 (4): 581–589. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2009.116
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