World-Wide Water Scarcity: Human Activity with Health Consequences

Abstract

Water is a natural resource essential for sustaining life since it greatly partakes in the organic metabolism. Water intake is thus a basic physiological need. During many years, nature has undergone modifications shaped according to economic, political and social interests. Technological development led to an inadequate use of water and consequently to the emergence of environmental problems, especially water waste. This may eventually cause water scarcity worldwide. Through a methodological approach based on a literature review on scientific knowledge, current research reports on the main organic complications that affect the body due to insufficient fluid intake caused by the inadequate behavior of the human being and the future deficiency of water resources caused by human activity and by the triggering of a conflicting relationship between man and nature. Lack of water becomes a public health problem since, due to a decrease in water intake, physiological changes occur, coupled to dehydration, kidney failure, urolithiasis, and hypotension. Their persistence may lead to death. Therefore, all governments should promote activities, adapt legislation, monitor and punish aggression and crimes against the environment. They should also promote conscience-raising environmental education to make the subjects aware of the need for a change of attitude and mentality.