Neglected sewage systems are a public health risk for low-income communities
This article originally published on The Conversation.
Intestinal infections take a heavy toll on impoverished Black communities that have out-of-date sewage systems. These infections often spread through contaminated soil and water and are among the most common diseases worldwide.
Approximately one-quarter of the global population is infected with soil-transmitted helminths, intestinal parasitic worms that can cause serious health problems.
Additionally, up to 50% of people around the world are infected with Helicobacter pylori, bacteria that live in the stomach and can cause ulcers and cancer.
I am a biological anthropologist, and it is clear to me that these two types of infections contribute to systemic health inequities, especially among communities of color in which limited access to medical care and inadequate sanitation systems may both increase exposure to pathogens and lead to worse outcomes.
Historically, intestinal infections have been prevalent in parts of the
Although many Americans believe these diseases now exist only in lower-income countries, research that my colleague and I have conducted challenges this assumption.
Renewed interest in US intestinal infections
Launched in 2019, the Rural Embodiment and Community Health Study started with the goal of measuring current infection rates and determining which living conditions contribute to infection risk.
Though national infection rates remain unclear because of the absence of large-scale studies, our preliminary work in 2019 found that 38% of children sampled in a predominantly
Moreover, 80% of those children exhibited high levels of intestinal inflammation. Those levels are much higher than those observed in other populations and may lead to several poor health outcomes, including impaired intestinal ability to absorb nutrients and stunted growth.
Our more recent analyses from 2022 focused on adults living in the
A microscopic image of a human hookworm. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
Among those adults, 73% displayed elevated intestinal inflammation, while 45% were infected with H. pylori, the bacteria that can cause ulcers and cancer.
Taken together, those results demonstrate widespread intestinal infections and inflammation at all ages in these low-income, mostly Black communities.
Long-lasting intestinal infections and associated inflammation can lead to nutritional deficiencies, restricted growth, reduced educational attainment, decreased work productivity and increased risk for serious diseases later in life, including certain cancers).
A legal challenge in
The Rural Embodiment and Community Health Study is not alone in recognizing the impact of intestinal infections on Black communities. One of the most widely publicized recent research studies investigating intestinal infections focused on the health effects of poverty and crumbling sanitation infrastructure in
Researchers found that more than 1 in 3 people tested in
This 2017 study has since led to legal action.
In a landmark
This decision is being hailed by environmental justice advocates as a transformative environmental justice agreement that may increase public awareness of the ongoing health crisis that results from infrastructure neglect and associated pathogen exposure.
Community activists – such as
"This country's neglect of wastewater infrastructure in majority Black communities, both urban and rural, is resulting in a hygienic hell for far too many people, a hell that climate change is only making worse," Flowers said in a
Why are there still parasites in the US?
The story of parasite infection in the
On one hand, the
In addition, advancements in sanitation infrastructure and household construction mean that many Americans do not generally have to worry about parasite infections.
But this national success is not complete, as demonstrated by the recent findings in low-income Black communities across the country.
Limited awareness of the continued threat posed by neglected intestinal infections has made it more difficult to identify and treat these diseases in the
For instance, in many countries the drugs needed to treat hookworm infections cost mere cents, but in the
The recent court decision in
Increased awareness will ideally result in improved access to testing and treatment in affected communities. But more work is needed to assess the full extent of these infections across the
Even if medical treatment is accessible and affordable, vulnerable individuals are often reinfected, as these pathogens continue to spread through the environment. Structural changes are needed to break the cycle of infection and poor health.
Current federal investment in community infrastructure – including water quality – is encouraging but does not go far enough. Ultimately, a concentrated nationwide effort to update and maintain sanitation systems is the best way to finally halt infection transmission and support health equity across the
Lugo resident arrested for defrauding 25 people with fake insurance policies
A new, upscale neighborhood's streets keep flooding. Who's at fault, and how can it be fixed?
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News