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Unsafe drinking water and human health: A global umbrella review of disease outcomes, intervention effectiveness, and policy implications

Elsevier, Cell reports. Medicine, Volume 7, 17 February 2026
Authors
S., Li, Shen, Y., Wei, Yuhao, J., Zhou, Jingxuan, Y., Li, Yifan, L., Qiao, Lichun, D., You, Diqing et al.

Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental determinant of global health. In this umbrella review, we synthesized evidence from 25 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, covering 158 outcomes, to assess health risks and intervention effectiveness (PROSPERO: CRD420251001778). Employing a rigorous methodological framework including A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2); Evidence Classification; the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE); and simplified evidence-to-decision criteria, we identified significant associations between unsafe drinking water and various health conditions, including infectious diseases, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and adverse maternal-child health outcomes. Importantly, while the certainty of evidence for precise risk attribution remains limited, evidence supporting effective interventions is robust. Point-of-use (POU) filtration reduces childhood diarrhea by 52% (relative risk [RR] = 0.48; moderate-certainty evidence), and defluoridation effectively prevents fluorosis. Overall, these findings support a shift in policy focus: despite uncertainties in exact risk quantification, public health strategies should prioritize immediate implementation of proven interventions to safeguard vulnerable populations.

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