Ohio State University Study Links Wastewater Bacteria to Chronic Disease Indicators in Communities
A recent study conducted by The Ohio State University has identified connections between bacteria found in wastewater and various chronic disease indicators, health behaviors, and socioeconomic conditions within communities. The research, published in the journal Environmental Research, analyzed 27 wastewater samples from nine treatment plants serving eight Ohio cities in 2022, encompassing over 1.3 million residents across urban and rural areas. Researchers evaluated human gut bacteria in these samples and compared the findings with public health data. They observed distinct bacterial profiles across cities, with several types of bacteria correlating with community rates of obesity, high blood pressure, asthma, smoking, depression, physical activity, and unemployment. Notably, a bacterial group called Desulfovibrio was associated with eight health measures, including stroke and chronic diseases. Rural communities generally showed a higher abundance of these bacteria and higher rates of several chronic hea...
