Exposure to waterborne pathogens can cause what health effects?

• A. Adverse gastrointestinal effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and cramps
• B. Skin irritations
• C. Vision changes
• D. Hair loss

Answer: (A)

Exposure to waterborne pathogens most often triggers gastrointestinal illness. When these microorganisms are ingested, they irritate and inflame the lining of the gut, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps. That’s the typical pattern you see with infections from common water contaminants like certain bacteria, viruses, and parasites. While skin irritation can occur with some exposures or irritants, and vision changes or hair loss aren’t typical outcomes of ingesting waterborne pathogens, the hallmark effect of these pathogens is adverse GI symptoms.