Climate change, water quality and water-related challenges : a review with focus on Pakistan

Ahmed, T; Zounemat-Kermani, M; Scholz, M

Abstract

Climate variability is heavily impacting human health all around the globe, in particular, on residents of developing countries. Impacts on surface water and groundwater resources and water-related illnesses are increasing, especially under changing climate scenarios such as diversity in rainfall patterns, increasing temperature, flash floods, severe droughts, heatwaves and heavy precipitation. Emerging water-related diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya are reappearing and impacting on the life of the deprived; as such, the provision of safe water and health care is in great demand in developing countries to combat the spread of infectious diseases. Government, academia and private water bodies are conducting water quality surveys and providing health care facilities, but there is still a need to improve the present strategies concerning water treatment and management, as well as governance. In this review paper, climate change pattern and risks associated with water-related diseases in developing countries, with particular focus on Pakistan, and novel methods for controlling both waterborne and water-related diseases are discussed. This study is important for public health care, particularly in developing countries, for policy makers, and researchers working in the area of climate change, water quality and risk assessment.

Citation

Ahmed, T., Zounemat-Kermani, M., & Scholz, M. (2020). Climate change, water quality and water-related challenges : a review with focus on Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), e8518. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228518

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 15, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 17, 2020
• Deposit Date: Nov 20, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 20, 2020
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Publisher: MDPI
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 22
• Pages: e8518
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228518
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228518
• Related Public URLs: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From MDPI via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for this article: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ **Journal IDs: eissn 1660-4601 **History: published 17-11-2020; accepted 15-11-2020; Funders : COMSATS University Islamabad; Grant Number: 16-59/CRGP//CIIT/ISB/17/1092