Health impact assessment from food and water at BUET student dormitories

Abstract

Though the student dormitories and water supply system of 8UET campus was designed and constructed with good engineering analysis and judgment, it is at present suffering from safety problem due to improper and unhygienic practices. Research work on sanitary condition of dining and kitchen room of 8UET student dormitories has not been done before this study. About 8549 numbers of students depend on the dining of student dormitories. The present study is based on questionnaire survey of student dormitories and laboratory tests on water samples obtained from the student dormitories, canteen and cafeteria. The quality of sanitary facilities and handling offood in the student dormitories were examined and the water samples were tested for coliform bacteria. It was found that the drinking water of each hall was contaminated with feacal coli forms and health risk for coliform bacteria was 1426, indicating high risk on the basis of EPA guideline. From the APSU QHRA model the total disease burden was found 1,266 !l0PY, which is about five times higher than allowable limit. It was found that seating arrangement in dining room of Chattri hall was inadequate as compared to number of students. Poor condition of floors, walls and ceiling in dining room was found in Nazrul Islam hall and poor condition of floors, walls and ceiling in kitchen room was found Chatrri hall, Titumir hall and Nazrul Islam hall. It was observed that vermin or insects (fly) were present in dining room of Nazrul Islam hall and Rashid hall. Employees of Nazrul Islam hall, Sher-e-8angla and Suhrawardy hall did not maintain hygienic practices. None of the employees have any physical fitness certificate and they have no any food hygiene training. The results of the study would help in enhancing awareness of health hazards of contaminated food and drinking water among the students as well as in drawing attention of halls authorities.