The PDF discusses rural water point functionality estimates and associations in nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It highlights the presence of water committees in surveyed communities, factors associated with water point functionality, the need for standard definitions for piped water systems, and the implications for monitoring piped systems. The study emphasizes the importance of community management models and the evolving impact of management models on water point functionality. It also suggests the need for further research on the influence of different management models on water point functionality.
Author(s): L. Murray, Anna; Stone, Gabriela; Yang, Audrey R.; Lawrence, Nicholas F.; Matthews , Hannah; Kayser, Georgia L.
Published: 2024
Language: English
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Additional Information
One in three children globally is estimated to have blood lead levels (BLL) at or above the BLL reference value of 5 μg/dL with increased burden falling on low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Within developed countries, aqueous lead is the predominant exposure route. However, aqueous lead exposure is rarely examined in the LMIC, leaving a gap in the literature that ignores a potentially significant route of exposure. Furthermore, limited lead-based remediation efforts around consumer products have been examined. This study investigates the importance of lead exposure from the water supply through a case study in Toamasina, Madagascar. The project measured aqueous lead and BLL of children pre- and postremediation efforts (i.e., removal of leaded pump components in hand pumps) to verify the impact of aqueous lead exposure within this community. Removal of the leaded pump components (i.e., piston and foot valves) and replacement with nonleaded components decreased aqueous lead levels below the World Health Organization provisional guideline of 10 μg/L in all but 4% of pumps tested. Measured BLL concentrations indicated a statistically significant decrease in BLL from pre- to postremediation. Furthermore, the remediation resulted in a decrease in BLL for 87% of children with the greatest changes in BLL observed for children with the highest preremediation concentrations. These findings point to a need for greater consideration of lead in drinking and cooking waters as an important exposure route in LMIC.