Comparative health impact assessments on fecal sludge management practices : a case study of Klong Luang Municipality, Thailand | |
| Author | Yajima, Aya |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-05-3 |
| Subject(s) | Environmental health Environmental impact analysis Pathogenic microorganisms |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Fecal sludge (FS) is widely acknowledged as a major source of infectious pathogens. However, the proper management of FS to set a barrier on transmission pathways of such pathogenic organisms is rarely enforced all over the world, which is not exceptional in Thailand. In this study, two sub-districts, Tha Klong sub-district with indiscriminate FS dumping and Klong Luang sub-district with FS drying bed, which are located in Klong Luang Municipality, Pathumthani province, Thailand, were selected . In order to determine health risks due to these FS management practices, the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) was conducted by using microbial data of E.coli and Salmonella spp. The results from each sub-district were then cross analyzed for comparison. Overall fecal contamination level was higher in Tha Klong sub-district than those observed in Klong Luang sub-district. However, leaching from FS drying bed in absence of proper lining and separation distance from nearby waterways, especially from food market, were found to be the major pathogen contributors. Estimated mean values of yearly infection risks from accidental ingestion of canal water in various scenarios were at the range of 200 - 3,130cases per 10,000 population for E.coli and 6,500 - 10,000 cases per 10,000 population for Salmonella spp. that were significantly higher than acceptable risk defined by WHO, and thus require immediate establishment of local regulations to restrict the use of canal water. Besides, it was proved that E.coli could serve only as an indicator of the presence of other pathogenic organisms but tend to significantly underestimate infection risks posed by other enteric bacteria including Salmonella spp. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thammarat Koottattep; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shipin, Oleg;Aramaki, Toshiya; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |