Researchers say that irrigation of vegetables with wastewater spreads disease

According to a recent study, irrigation of vegetables with wastewater in African cities could spread diseases.

Research suggests that urban farmers, growing vegetables to feed millions of people in steadily growing African cities, could unintentionally contribute to the spread of disease by irrigating crops with wastewater.

Experts have found that wastewater from canals used for urban agriculture in Burkina Faso is rich in virulent human pathogens that cause gastroenteritis and diarrhea, a leading cause of death in the wild. low- and middle-income countries.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham led an international team from Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Germany to study samples of wastewater from three canals of the capital Ouagadougou, a city of 2 , 2 million inhabitants.

After identifying a wide range of antibiotic resistance genes in water, they concluded that the use of wastewater for urban agriculture in cities posed a high risk of spreading bacteria and bacteria. antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals.

While the urban population of sub-Saharan Africa is projected to grow from 400 million (2010) to 1.26 billion in 2050, according to UN estimates, agriculture in cities is recognized as an essential means of contribute to food security and poverty reduction.

Professor Laura Piddock, of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection of the University of Birmingham, said: "The use of wastewater for agricultural irrigation represents a risk very serious for health because it increases the exposure to fecal pathogens.Water waste seems to be a "hot spot" for women, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Burkina Faso ".

"We urgently need additional surveys to determine the extent to which this health problem is affecting the populations at risk, and there is an urgent need to improve global access to safe drinking water, water and sanitation. sanitation and hygiene in low and middle income countries to prevent bacterial resistance, from the environment to people, "added Piddock.

Dr. Blaise Bougnon of the University of Yaounde (Cameroon), said: "Some 200 million urban dwellers would be engaged in urban agriculture in the world and in some cases would produce up to 90 % of cities' demand for perishable vegetables, according to UN research.

"More than 80% of domestic and industrial wastewater generated in low- and middle-income countries is released untreated into the environment because of its low cost, availability and nutrient content. Urban agriculture relies on wastewater for irrigation ".

There is a growing number of multidrug-resistant bacteria with common antibiotics that can not be treated with current therapies. Antibiotic resistance has led to the need for more expensive drugs, which many can not afford, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality.

Between 50% and 90% of antibiotics administered to humans and animals are excreted as a mixture of original drugs and metabolites, with significant amounts of active drugs reaching the environment where they can persist in the soil. and aquatic ecosystems.

The study identified pathogenic pathogens in water channel samples that are generally responsible for water-borne diseases that could directly or indirectly expose people to these wastewaters with acute diarrhea, chronic gastritis, and gastroenteritis.

According to the World Health Organization, in low- and middle-income countries, 842,000 people die each year from diarrhea because of a lack of water, sanitation, and sanitation. # 39; hygiene.

The results were published in the Journal of Environmental Research.

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