Dr. Markus Brinkmann's USask TedX Talk

Wastewater renaissance:  A deep-dive into unchartered waters

When you hear “There must be something in the water”, using wastewater to diagnose the health of entire populations is likely not the first thing that comes to mind. This approach, known as wastewater surveillance, is not new but saw a global renaissance during the COVID-19 pandemic to track community spread of the virus. This renewed interest unlocked a treasure trove of public health information – from the use of anti-depressants to red meat consumption, from obesity rates to toxic street drugs – conveniently delivered to the laboratory by the municipal sewer system. But while the opportunities seem endless, we must be aware of potential ethical dilemmas when the lines between public health interests and privacy rights begin to blur.

To see the presentations go to https://research.usask.ca/tedx/2024.php