CREAL celebrates World Water Day

The availability of safe drinking water is essential to human life. Thus, the entire CREAL team celebrates the World Water Day.

Water is one route of exposure to some contaminants linked to cancer, reproductive disorders and other adverse health effects. The main objective of the CREAL research program focused on this pollution is to investigate the relationship between water contaminants, particularly disinfection by-products, and various adverse health outcomes including cancer, reproductive and respiratory outcomes.

CREAL researchers have an international reputation in this field and are leading important international studies. Their work provides an important evidence base for policy setting, in particular in the field of water disinfection which is one of the pillars of public health

An example is a study led by Dr. Cristina Villanueva, coordinator of this research program, which aims to assess the role of chronic exposure to carcinogens founded in drinking water (disinfection by-products, nitrates, metals, pesticides) on the increased risk of colorectal, breast, prostate cancer or of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), based on a careful assessment of exposure.

"It is very important to understand if these chronic exposures can influence cancer development, due to they can be reduced with improvements in water treatment and environmental management", highlights Dr. Villanueva.

World Water Day official video