Water Pollution and Human Health: An Integrated Risk Perspective

Water resources are essential for human well-being. However, water pollution is a major global problem with significant implications for the environment and public health. To address these challenges, this study presents an integrated perspective on water pollution by correlating pollution sources, transport pathways, exposure routes, and associated risks to human health. The methodology combined a systematic review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines with a bibliometric analysis performed by using VOSviewer version 1.6.19, a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks. A total of 332 publications published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from the Scopus and Google Scholar databases and met the PRISMA eligibility criteria. The findings indicate that both natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to water contamination, introducing pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, microplastics, and pathogenic microorganisms with potential human health impacts. Bibliometric analysis revealed a transition from conventional water quality assessments toward integrated approaches emphasizing health risks and environmental interactions. The study further identified important knowledge gaps regarding contaminant mixture effects and synergistic toxicity, which remain insufficiently addressed in current scientific and regulatory frameworks. These findings highlight the need for strengthened regulatory strategies, advanced treatment technologies, and evidence-based water governance to support environmental sustainability and public health protection.