Hello
In my posting (to some of these lists) on those (young?) folks currently
exploring our city sewer networks, I wrongly suggested that their websites
were short on health risks. Bill Frost kindly sent me the Australian URL
below, which in fact may contain a useful summary of microbial and related
health risks (they have a separate page on air) in sewers. Because of their
activities their web page is anonymous, and thus the information must be
classed as opinion. Of course it is aimed at Australians. The language is
sometimes unscientific, but is certainly readable.
My questions are:
Do you know of an authentic source of such info on the web?
Do you have first hand knowledge of health problems associated with your
work in and around sewers?
Should we list them here?
I suppose that diseases contacted at WWTPs are similar, and there must be
studies of those.
To start the ball rolling, I personally have only directly known folks who
contacted 1. Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) (S. Africa) and 2. Infectious
hepatitis (Canadian arctic).
I have read/heard about youngsters who have 1. Drowned, 2. Asphyxiated, 3.
Been murdered in Toronto sewers. I have now also heard of a recent case of
typhoid in Ottawa.

http://www.squonk.net/users/kriste/drains/approach/life.html

I will be willing to post the responses, if any. If you feel this thread
should not be public, feel free to email me at
[log in to unmask]
Thanks and have a good holiday if you take it.
Wm James



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