Water Pollution in Bedadung Watersheds Area and Diseases in Elderly People

Abstract

Water pollution involves the pollution of surface waters and/or groundwater. Water pollutants are moving slowly into the watersheds, carrying bad affect for large areas. Accumulation of water pollutant in the body, especially in elderly, could have serious health impacts, which may cause a series of diseases. The diseases caused by water pollution include diabetes type-2, uric acid, rheumatic disease, vascular diseases, myocardial infarct, nervous system damage, liver damage, and cancer. These factors can accelerate aging process. The aim of this study is to analyse the diseases of elderly people in the Bedadung Watersheds area, Jernber, Indonesia. These are needed to develop an aging health care strategy. This study is conducted by interviews and questioners in the elderly who live in the Bedadung watersheds area randomly (n=77), who are willing to fill in informed consent. The source of drinking water for the community consumption comes mainly from the dig wells. Groundwater contamination for Bedadung watersheds area is mostly caused by sewage households, plastics waste, natural waste, styrofoam, chemical waste water, baby diapers and menstrual pads. Elderly who consumes drinking water from dig wells generally suffer more than one disease. Diseases suffered by elderly in the Bedadung watersheds area of are uric acid, hypertension, cholesterol, gastric ulcers and skin diseases (five common diseases). Elderly who suffering diseases are 62.79%. Accordingly, educational and awareness programs should be organized to control the water pollution.