Numerous spills have resulted from damage to Iraq’s oil infrastructure, and the lack of water treatment facilities at Iraqi refineries has led to pollution from those installations. This has many concerns for the population of Iraq.
Sites where municipal and medical wastes have accumulated carry the risk of disease epidemics. The wartime destruction of military and industrial infrastructure has released heavy metals and other hazardous substances into the air, soil, and groundwater.
As of 2017, Iraq was one of only 3 countries in the world with widespread use of leaded engine gasoline for automobiles, the others being Algeria and Yemen.[2] Concerns over the toxicity of lead[3] led to a ban on leaded automobile gasoline in most countries.
In the alluvial plain, soil quality has been damaged by the deposit of large amounts of salts, borne by irrigation overflows and wind and promoted by poor soil drainage. Desertification and erosion also have reduced arable land.
Transboundary pollution and a lack of river basin management by the government have led to the degradation of Iraq's major waterways. Under Saddam Hussein, the government constructed the Glory Canal which drained the extensive marshes in the lower reaches of the alluvial plain, changing water circulation and wildlife patterns over a wide area. Beginning in 2004, some restoration has occurred.
According to a 2001 United Nations Environmental Programme report, the projects resulted in:[4]
The loss of a migration area for birds migrating from Eurasia to Africa, and consequent decrease in bird populations in areas such as Ukraine and the Caucasus.
Probable extinction of several plant and animal species endemic to the Marshes.
Higher soil salinity in the Marshes and adjacent areas, resulting in loss of dairy production, fishing, and rice cultivation.
Saltwater intrusion and increased flow of pollutants into the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, causing disruption of fisheries in the Persian Gulf.
Government responseedit
Although the interim government appointed in 2004 included a Ministry of Environment, long-term environmental crises such as the depletion of marshland in the Shatt al Arab have a low priority. The government has made numerous efforts to help the environment and the people of Iraq.[citation needed]
See alsoedit
Nature Iraq, Iraq's first and only conservation group
Humat Dijla, an iraqi association that works for a better awareness about the water problem in Iraq.
Referencesedit
^"Iraq sulphur fire breaks records". BBC Online. 26 October 2004. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
^(PDF). Leaded Petrol Phase-out: Global Status as at March 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
^Finkelstein, Yoram (July 1998). "Low-level lead-induced neurotoxicity in children: an update on central nervous system effects". Brain Research Reviews. 27 (2): 168–176. doi:10.1016/S0165-0173(98)00011-3. PMID 9622620. S2CID 15666676.
^. Archived from the original on 2010-04-17. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
A collection of articles, studies and reports relating to Iraq's environment
January 01, 1970
environmental, issues, iraq, iraq, number, environmental, issues, contents, issues, spills, sanitation, unexploded, ordnance, pollution, land, degradation, river, basins, government, response, also, references, external, linksissues, editoil, spills, edit, num. Iraq has a number of environmental issues Contents 1 Issues 1 1 Oil spills 1 2 Sanitation 1 3 Unexploded ordnance 1 4 Pollution 1 5 Land degradation 1 6 River basins 2 Government response 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksIssues editOil spills edit Numerous spills have resulted from damage to Iraq s oil infrastructure and the lack of water treatment facilities at Iraqi refineries has led to pollution from those installations This has many concerns for the population of Iraq Sanitation edit Main article Water supply and sanitation in Iraq Because of infrastructure damage significant parts of the population do not have adequate water supply or sanitation systems Unexploded ordnance edit Military operations in three wars Iran Iraq War Gulf War and Iraq War have left unexploded ordnance and land mines in exposed positions killing or wounding an estimated 100 000 people in the early 2000s Pollution edit Sites where municipal and medical wastes have accumulated carry the risk of disease epidemics The wartime destruction of military and industrial infrastructure has released heavy metals and other hazardous substances into the air soil and groundwater In June 2003 a fire at the Al Mishraq state run sulfur plant near Mosul burned for 3 weeks and was the largest human made release of sulfur dioxide ever recorded 1 As of 2017 Iraq was one of only 3 countries in the world with widespread use of leaded engine gasoline for automobiles the others being Algeria and Yemen 2 Concerns over the toxicity of lead 3 led to a ban on leaded automobile gasoline in most countries Land degradation edit Main article Agriculture in Iraq In the alluvial plain soil quality has been damaged by the deposit of large amounts of salts borne by irrigation overflows and wind and promoted by poor soil drainage Desertification and erosion also have reduced arable land River basins edit Main article Draining of the Mesopotamian Marshes nbsp Marsh Arabs in the wetlands Transboundary pollution and a lack of river basin management by the government have led to the degradation of Iraq s major waterways Under Saddam Hussein the government constructed the Glory Canal which drained the extensive marshes in the lower reaches of the alluvial plain changing water circulation and wildlife patterns over a wide area Beginning in 2004 some restoration has occurred According to a 2001 United Nations Environmental Programme report the projects resulted in 4 The loss of a migration area for birds migrating from Eurasia to Africa and consequent decrease in bird populations in areas such as Ukraine and the Caucasus Probable extinction of several plant and animal species endemic to the Marshes Higher soil salinity in the Marshes and adjacent areas resulting in loss of dairy production fishing and rice cultivation Desertification of over 7 500 square miles 19 000 km2 Saltwater intrusion and increased flow of pollutants into the Shatt al Arab waterway causing disruption of fisheries in the Persian Gulf Government response editAlthough the interim government appointed in 2004 included a Ministry of Environment long term environmental crises such as the depletion of marshland in the Shatt al Arab have a low priority The government has made numerous efforts to help the environment and the people of Iraq citation needed See also editNature Iraq Iraq s first and only conservation group Humat Dijla an iraqi association that works for a better awareness about the water problem in Iraq References edit Iraq sulphur fire breaks records BBC Online 26 October 2004 Retrieved 14 February 2012 UNEP Transport Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles PDF Leaded Petrol Phase out Global Status as at March 2017 Archived from the original PDF on 2017 11 15 Retrieved 2018 04 28 Finkelstein Yoram July 1998 Low level lead induced neurotoxicity in children an update on central nervous system effects Brain Research Reviews 27 2 168 176 doi 10 1016 S0165 0173 98 00011 3 PMID 9622620 S2CID 15666676 marshes Archived from the original on 2010 04 17 Retrieved 2010 08 01 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Country Studies Federal Research Division External links editA collection of articles studies and reports relating to Iraq s environment Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Environmental issues in Iraq amp oldid 1169038889, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
