Perceived health problems among users of wastewater for aquaculture in Southeast Asian cities

To obtain essential information for the planning of epidemiological studies on health risks of exposure to wastewater in aquaculture, a total of 3089 people from 606 households involved in aquaculture in Phnom Penh, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were interviewed in a cross-sectional survey in May 2004. In this study household members were asked about health problems that they had experienced. Our results indicate that the most important health problem associated with wastewater exposure was skin problems, reported by 4% of all people surveyed. Contact with wastewater was an important factor associated with self-reported skin problems. The study suggests that exposure to wastewater is a risk factor for skin problems.