The Risks And Hazards Of A Sewer Backup

By Author: Leo Nov
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A sewage backup will often present a serious health hazard mainly caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites carried in raw sewage. Sewage spills are dangerous due to the many ways it transmits diseases and because it is hard to predict and prevent. A minor sewage backup in the bathroom can carry enough bacteria and other pollutants to present health risks.

What is Raw Sewage?

You can get a better understanding of sewage related hazards once you learn what raw sewage is, and why you need a professional sewage cleanup contractor.

Raw sewage is mainly gray or black water. It usually contains the organic waste and wastewater produced by households and industrial sources. Sewage typically carries everything from soap to solid waste, human excrement, industrial waste, and debris. It is discharged by drains and sewer lines.

Excrement is the major source of harmful micro-organisms such as coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coliform, and Enterococcus.

Health Hazards of Sewage

Exposure to sewage or its products may result in a number of diseases:

Gastroenteritis
An ...
... inflammation of the stomach and the intestine. Gastroenteritis may result in diarrhea with vomiting and cramps, when irritation is excessive. When caused by an infectious agent, it is often associated with fever.

Hepatitis
Literally, Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis caused by a virus is known as viral hepatitis. When Hepatitis is a result of sewage backup, it is often characterized by inflammation of the liver, and jaundice.

Occupational asthma
A respiratory disorder, characterized by attacks of breathlessness, chest tightness, and wheezing.

Weil's disease
An acute feverish disease marked by gastroenteritis, mild jaundice, persistent and severe headache.

Allergic Alveolitis
Inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs. It is rarely reported with relation to sewage backup. However, when reported it is characterizes by fever, breathlessness, dry cough, and aching muscles and joints

Disease Transmission

There are 3 common transmission ways for micro-organisms to enter a human body:

1. Hand-to-mouth Contact
This is the most common transmission way and it occurs during eating, drinking and smoking. Hand-to-mouth contact also happens while wiping the face with contaminated hands or gloves, or by licking splashes from the skin.
2. Skin Contact
Skin contact with contaminated organisms is often possible through cuts, scratches, or penetrating wounds. Certain organisms can enter the body through the surfaces of the eyes, nose and mouth.
3. Inhalation
Contaminated organisms may penetrate the body simply as we breathe aerosolized particles or contaminated dust.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about water damage and sewage cleanup, visit RestorationSOS.com