Groundwater Contaminations and Health Perspectives in Developing World Case Study: Gaza Strip

Overview

Journal Environ Geochem Health

Specialties Chemistry
Environmental Health

Date 2010 Jun 26

PMID 20577784

Citations 2

Authors

B Shomar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Groundwater is the only source of water in the Gaza Strip. The results of a 10-year monitoring program revealed that more than 90% of the available water is not suitable for drinking purposes as a result of elevated chemical contaminants as well as microbiological organisms. The archives of the local hospitals showed catastrophic records on diseases caused by water directly and indirectly. Methemoglobinemia and dental fluorosis are well-known diseases caused by elevated nitrate and fluoride, respectively. Water-borne diseases are currently high and will increase if water, sanitation, and food-control services are not restored, or are allowed to deteriorate further. Heavy use and misuse of banned and prohibited pesticides may show other hard diseases in the near future. Geography, politics, and war combine to make the Gaza Strip a worst-case scenario for water-resource planners. Urgent alternative water resources should be secured and the human health should be given the highest priority.

Citing Articles

Heavy metal contamination in two commercial fish species of a trans-Himalayan freshwater ecosystem.

Mehmood M, Qadri H, Bhat R, Rashid A, Ganie S, Dar G Environ Monit Assess. 2019; 191(2):104.

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Modeling of nitrate concentration in groundwater using artificial intelligence approach--a case study of Gaza coastal aquifer.

Alagha J, Said M, Mogheir Y Environ Monit Assess. 2013; 186(1):35-45.

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