IMPACT OF DEGRADED WATER ON IMMUNE RESPONSE: SURVEY OF LAHORE, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN IN 2017

Abstract

An immune response can be affected by inhaling toxins. We investigated whether an intake of degraded water can affect immunity. The home tap-water was collected from different regions of Lahore. Different water parameters were measured in laboratory. Information on sources of water intake, diseases acquired and the type of environmental pollution exposure was gathered. The complete blood count test was also conducted with few residents. The Mann-Whitney U and t-tests were applied to compare deranged values. The 76.72% of high EC, ~43% of high Total and Fecal Coliforms, 36.20% of high TDS values were found. Overall, 54% high monocytes, 38% high RBCs, 32% high Ab. monocytes, 22% high lymphocytes and 18% low granulocytes were found. There were 33.57% use of filtered water, 28.32% of tap-water use and 26.22% of mineral water was reported. The diarrhea was 27.62%, cholera 20.98% and typhoid was 19.93%. Poor conditions of roads and street were 46.50% and air pollution was 38.46%. We reported cell-lines variations in the form of monocytosis, lymphocytosis and granulocytopenia indicating an altered immune response in a group of individuals who were exposed to polluted drinking water and the environment. Raised levels of monocytes and lymphocytes show hyper immune response in individuals. An active and hyper immune cell line indicate the presence of infectious causing microorganisms in the human population of Lahore