title: Water pollution in Pakistan and its impact on public health--a review.
abstract: Water pollution is one of the major threats to public health in Pakistan. Drinking water quality is poorly managed and monitored. Pakistan ranks at number 80 among 122 nations regarding drinking water quality. Drinking water sources, both surface and groundwater are contaminated with coliforms, toxic metals and pesticides throughout the country. Various drinking water quality parameters set by WHO are frequently violated. Human activities like improper disposal of municipal and industrial effluents and indiscriminate applications of agrochemicals in agriculture are the main factors contributing to the deterioration of water quality. Microbial and chemical pollutants are the main factors responsible exclusively or in combination for various public health problems. This review discusses a detailed layout of drinking water quality in Pakistan with special emphasis on major pollutants, sources of pollution and the consequent health problems. The data presented in this review are extracted from various studies published in national and international journals. Also reports released by the government and non-governmental organizations are included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Azizullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizullah
authors.forename: Muhammad Nasir Khan
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Khattak
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Donat-Peter
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Häder
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004777:Environment; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D010154:Pakistan; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D011634:Public Health; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D008670:Metals; D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic