If you have ever experienced a sewage backup in your basement, then you know how terrible it can be. Not only is it an inconvenience that requires time and money to get the mess cleaned up, but it also poses serious health risks. The bacteria found in raw sewage are sometimes unsafe for humans to come into contact with. If you suspect that there has been a backup of water or sewerage inside your home, call us immediately! We will provide emergency services 24 hours per day to make sure everything is safe again.
Some Of The Health Risks Are:
E. Coli is a dangerous bacteria that can come in contact with you when there has been sewage backup and it’s outside of your intestines. The most common symptoms for this type of pathogen would be diarrhea, which may lead to dehydration if not treated quickly enough by medics.
Another health risk that can be caused by sewage backup is exposure to hepatitis A virus. It’s not only highly contagious, but also directly affects your liver. The typical symptoms of hepatitis A are jaundice and an inflamed liver – which is why it pays to be cautious!
Yet, another bacteria that is found in sewage is Heliobacter pylori. Exposure to this can, over time, cause sores or ulcers to form on your stomach and upper part of small intestine which may lead to cancerous growths called gastric acid perforation as well as chronic inflammation leading heartburn symptoms.
Another health hazard from exposure to sewage backup is exposure to Acanthamoeba. This is a microscopic, free-living amoeba that can cause severe infections of the throat. It’s also been linked to serious illnesses like nasopharyngitis (upper respiratory infection) and skin breakdown in people with weakened immune systems.
Other viruses and bacteria found in sewage include:
- Salmonella
- Hepatitis
- Encephalitis
- Carbon Monoxide
- Hydrogen Sulfide
All of these can cause a variety of symptoms that can cause severe illness if not treated correctly or if the person affected has a suppressed immune system.
You might be surprised at the many ways that sewage can affect you and your family. Bacteria, viruses, molds – all of them are quite dangerous if they find their way into our bodies through direct contact with sewer water or even just by breathing in its vapor!
Can Raw Sewage Under Your House Make You Sick?
If you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t think about the sewage under your house until there’s a problem. And even then, it’s not a topic many of us want to think about. But what if I told you that inhaling the vapors from raw sewage can make you sick? It’s true – the bacteria and other pathogens in raw sewage can cause all sorts of health problems.
And of course, coming into physical contact with raw sewage can also make you very ill.
Is It Safe To Stay In A House With Sewage Backup?
If you are in a house that has had sewage back up, it’s important to know whether or not it is safe to stay there. Sewage backup can contain E. coli and other bacteria which are hazardous to your health if ingested or inhaled. It can also be very unpleasant for those with respiratory problems because the air smells heavily of sewage. The good news is that once the water has been removed from the home, it will no longer be contaminated with these harmful substances and you’ll have fewer worries about what effect the experience might have on your family’s health in time to come.
Can Sewer Smell Harm You?
The short answer is yes, sewer gas can be harmful to you but it depends on multiple factors such as how much gas is being emitted, your current health, etc.
Sewer smell is a major source of air pollution and it’s not just the stench that’s dangerous. Inhaling or ingesting these fumes can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue and even death in extreme cases.
If you have any questions about a sewage backup or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.