Cytotoxicity of water supply in a Palestinian refugee camp and a Syrian informal tented settlement in Lebanon.

Deficient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) significantly account for a high burden of disease across the globe. Lebanon, an Eastern Mediterranean lower-middle-income country with a polluted environment, a fragmented healthcare system, and an ongoing severe economic crisis, faces serious challenges in sustaining safe water supplies, especially in vulnerable communities, while also hosting the world highest refugee population per capita. This study aimed to examine the mutagenicity, and the estrogenic and androgenic activities of water supplies, across both a Palestinian refugee camp and a Syrian informal settlement.

Feature selection approaches for predictive modelling of cadmium sources and pollution levels in water springs.

The World Health Organization lists cadmium (Cd) as one of the top ten chemicals of public health concern. Cd is toxic at relatively low exposure levels and has acute and chronic effects on both health and the environment. In this study, we investigate a suite of data-driven methods that could assist decision-makers in estimating Cd levels in water springs, and in identifying polluting sources.

Towards a renewed public health regulatory and surveillance role in water, sanitation and hygiene (Editorial).

Evidence from the burden of disease studies indicates that improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WSH) is a primary disease prevention measure. It prevents 57% of diarrheal deaths, contributes to prevention and management of neglected tropical diseases, and is the first line of defense against Cholera. Moreover, water and sanitation (W&S) services and hygiene contribute to programme initiatives including new-born, child and maternal health; infection prevention and control; universal health care; antimicrobial resistance; and health emergencies.

Drinking water system treatment and contamination in Shatila Refugee Camp in Beirut, Lebanon.

Drinking water at Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp in Beirut, Lebanon is of poor quality and unpredictably intermittent quantity. We aimed to characterize drinking water sources and contamination at Shatila and determine how drinking water can be managed to reduce community health burdens. We interviewed the Popular Committee, well owners, water vendors, water shopkeepers and preschool administrators about drinking water sources, treatment methods and the population served.