First Do No Harm: The Need to Explore Potential Adverse Health Implications of Drinking Rainwater

摘要

Seawater intrusion of coastal aquifers has caused potable water scarcity in coastal communities of Bangladesh— the problem is especially severe in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Global wanning is expected to aggravate the condition due to rising sea levels and more frequent and stronger cyclones. High drinking water salinity has contributed to high salt intake and hypertensive disorders among population in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Pregnant women drinking groundwater have higher prevalence of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension compared to those drinking rainwater or pond water. The estimated intake of sodium is 5—16 g/day in the dry season when the population relies on groundwater while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended daily intake is less than 2g for adults (http://www.who.int/mediacentreews/ notes/2013/salt_potassium 20130131/en/).