Water Scarcity and Global Water Scarcity and Global Health Health James L. Regens James L. Regens University of Oklahoma Health University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Sciences Center Environmental and Occupational Environmental and Occupational Health Council Association of Health Council Association of Schools of Public Health Schools of Public Health Environmental Health Conference 2009 Environmental Health Conference 2009 June 12-14, 2009 June 12-14, 2009
Transcript
Water Scarcity and Global Water Scarcity and Global HealthHealth
James L. RegensJames L. RegensUniversity of Oklahoma Health University of Oklahoma Health
Sciences CenterSciences Center
Environmental and Occupational Environmental and Occupational Health Council Association of Schools Health Council Association of Schools
of Public Healthof Public HealthEnvironmental Health Conference Environmental Health Conference
20092009June 12-14, 2009June 12-14, 2009
OverviewOverview
Availability of Water Availability of Water ResourcesResources
Factors Influencing Factors Influencing Water ScarcityWater Scarcity
Impacts on Global Impacts on Global HealthHealth
www.unhmagazine.unh.edu
Imagine being unable to Imagine being unable to turn on the tap when turn on the tap when you get thirstyyou get thirsty
Now, imagine having to Now, imagine having to carry water for hours carry water for hours each day to have water each day to have water to drinkto drink
Or, imagine pinching Or, imagine pinching your nose as you drink your nose as you drink to avoid the water’s foul to avoid the water’s foul odorodor
And, imagine the real And, imagine the real possibility that taking a possibility that taking a drink of water exposes drink of water exposes you to diseaseyou to disease
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
United States
Canada
China
Japan
India
France
Russia
United Kingdom
Norway
New Zealand
Argentina
Mexico
Egypt
Israel
Kenya
Nigeria
South Africa
Annual Water Withdrawals Annual Water Withdrawals (m(m3 3 per capita)per capita)
The threshold for ‘water stress’ is a per capita availability The threshold for ‘water stress’ is a per capita availability of 1700mof 1700m33 of water for annual consumption of water for annual consumption
For water scarcity the threshold is 1000mFor water scarcity the threshold is 1000m33 of water for of water for annual consumptionannual consumption
40% of world’s 40% of world’s population (3B population (3B people) will live in people) will live in countries classified countries classified as water stressed as water stressed by hydrologists by by hydrologists by 20152015
Even though 2.4B Even though 2.4B people got access people got access to safe drinking to safe drinking water for first time water for first time during 1990s, during 1990s, estimated 1.7B estimated 1.7B people still lack people still lack safe drinking watersafe drinking water
http://www.iucn.org
Aral Sea (Central Asia) Aral Sea (Central Asia) has 60% less water has 60% less water than 1975 than 1975
Lake Chad (West Lake Chad (West Africa) is 1/20Africa) is 1/20thth its its 1970s size1970s size
A number of major A number of major rivers around the rivers around the world including the world including the Colorado, Rio Grande, Colorado, Rio Grande, Indus, and Yangtze no Indus, and Yangtze no longer reach the sea longer reach the sea consistentlyconsistently
http://www.sptimes.com
Factors Influencing Water Factors Influencing Water Scarcity Scarcity
Hydrologic CycleHydrologic Cycle
Population Population GrowthGrowth
PovertyPoverty
Use PatternsUse Patterns
ContaminationContamination
http://www.wmo.int
World population World population increased 300% in 20increased 300% in 20thth century and use of water century and use of water increased 700%increased 700%
Since 1950 the world Since 1950 the world population has doubled population has doubled but water consumption but water consumption has increased six-foldhas increased six-fold
Water use will increase Water use will increase 50% over 2005 level by 50% over 2005 level by 20352035
Approximately 2M tons of Approximately 2M tons of human waste is released human waste is released annually into rivers and annually into rivers and streams around the globestreams around the globe
Impacts on Global Health Impacts on Global Health
About 1.8M people, mostly children, die annually from diarrhea and related About 1.8M people, mostly children, die annually from diarrhea and related diseases with many deaths preventable if water were not contaminated diseases with many deaths preventable if water were not contaminated
The combination of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and good The combination of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and good hygiene can reduce the number of deaths caused by diarrhoeal diseases by hygiene can reduce the number of deaths caused by diarrhoeal diseases by an average of 65% an average of 65%
The simple act of washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrhoeal The simple act of washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by over 40%diseases by over 40%
In many countries children, particularly In many countries children, particularly girls as young as 10 years old, may take girls as young as 10 years old, may take the main responsibility for drawing and the main responsibility for drawing and carrying the family's water.carrying the family's water.
The size of the water container may vary The size of the water container may vary with the size of the child, but each liter with the size of the child, but each liter of water carried weighs 1kg and may of water carried weighs 1kg and may need to be carried up to three or four need to be carried up to three or four milesmiles
Carrying such heavy weights is Carrying such heavy weights is damaging in the long term for adult damaging in the long term for adult women, and for girls there are even women, and for girls there are even more serious implications given their more serious implications given their physical immaturityphysical immaturity
In particular, there can be damage to In particular, there can be damage to
the head, neck and spine. the head, neck and spine.
In extreme cases deformity of the spine In extreme cases deformity of the spine can lead to problems in pregnancy and can lead to problems in pregnancy and childbirthchildbirth
http://www.nri.org
Malnourished children are more Malnourished children are more vulnerable to disease, vulnerable to disease, especially diarrhea, pneumonia, especially diarrhea, pneumonia, measles and malaria. These four measles and malaria. These four diseases, plus malnutrition, diseases, plus malnutrition, account for seven out of ten account for seven out of ten childhood deaths in developing childhood deaths in developing countries. For example in countries. For example in Zambia, one in five children Zambia, one in five children dies before their fifth birthday. dies before their fifth birthday.
A lack of water also means that A lack of water also means that children cannot wash often children cannot wash often enough and suffer from enough and suffer from diseases as a result. These diseases as a result. These include skin diseases like include skin diseases like scabies and eye infections such scabies and eye infections such as trachoma, the largest cause as trachoma, the largest cause of preventable blindness in the of preventable blindness in the developing world by regularly developing world by regularly washing the face, hands, and washing the face, hands, and eyes.eyes.
http://www.droitsenfant.com
www.savesight.org
Cholera, a bacteria that lasts up to 3 weeks in Cholera, a bacteria that lasts up to 3 weeks in soil, is spread by contaminated water and food soil, is spread by contaminated water and food and occasionally by person to person contact. and occasionally by person to person contact. Sudden large outbreaks usually are due to a Sudden large outbreaks usually are due to a contaminated water supply.contaminated water supply.
Bacillary dysentery caused by exposure to Bacillary dysentery caused by exposure to Shigella bacteria from contaminated drinking Shigella bacteria from contaminated drinking water, food , or flies is contagious and more water, food , or flies is contagious and more severe than amoebic dysentery. Approximately severe than amoebic dysentery. Approximately 140M people are infected annually causing 140M people are infected annually causing about 300K deaths, mostly among children about 300K deaths, mostly among children under the age of five. under the age of five.
Typhoid fever is contracted when people drink Typhoid fever is contracted when people drink water or eat food contaminated by Salmonella water or eat food contaminated by Salmonella typhi bacteria found in human waste. It typhi bacteria found in human waste. It affects 17M people worldwide annually, with affects 17M people worldwide annually, with approximately 600K deaths. Typhoid fever has approximately 600K deaths. Typhoid fever has been virtually eliminated in developed been virtually eliminated in developed countries.countries.
http://www.nri.org
Bilharzia, caused by a small flat Bilharzia, caused by a small flat worm in the veins of pelvic organs, worm in the veins of pelvic organs, infects infects >> 200M people in 74 200M people in 74 countries and causes 20K countries and causes 20K deaths/year. Eggs are excreted deaths/year. Eggs are excreted when people go to the toilet. If the when people go to the toilet. If the eggs reach a lake or stream to eggs reach a lake or stream to hatch into larva which are eaten hatch into larva which are eaten by snails, the larva eventually are by snails, the larva eventually are excreted into the stream or lake excreted into the stream or lake where they can infect new people.where they can infect new people.
Guinea worm, a long worm (≤ 1m) Guinea worm, a long worm (≤ 1m) that lives under the skin, enters that lives under the skin, enters through contaminated water and through contaminated water and can be spread when infected skin can be spread when infected skin is submerged in water, allowing is submerged in water, allowing larvae back into water. The larvae back into water. The number of cases has fallen by 97% number of cases has fallen by 97% from 3.5M to 150K since 1990.from 3.5M to 150K since 1990.
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Malaria causes more Malaria causes more that 300M acute that 300M acute illnesses and over 1M illnesses and over 1M deaths annually deaths annually
Developing safe Developing safe drinking water supplies drinking water supplies and ensuring the and ensuring the environment around environment around water supplies and water supplies and dwellings is clean dwellings is clean reduces larval habitatsreduces larval habitats
Key Internet SitesKey Internet Sites
World Health Organization World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/) (http://www.who.int/) Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
(http://www.cgiar.org/) (http://www.cgiar.org/) Desert Research InstituteDesert Research Institute (http://www.dri.edu/) (http://www.dri.edu/) Global Water Policy ProjectGlobal Water Policy Project (http://www.globalwaterpolicy.org/) (http://www.globalwaterpolicy.org/) International Arid Lands ConsortiumInternational Arid Lands Consortium (http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/IALC/) (http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/IALC/) International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry AreasInternational Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas
(http://www.icarda.org/)(http://www.icarda.org/) International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentInternational Institute for Sustainable Development
(http://www.iisd.ca/process/forest_desertification_land.htm)(http://www.iisd.ca/process/forest_desertification_land.htm) Nature ConservancyNature Conservancy (http://nature.org/) (http://nature.org/) United Nations Environment ProgrammeUnited Nations Environment Programme (http://www.unep.org/) (http://www.unep.org/) United Nations Food & Agriculture OrganizationUnited Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/) (http://www.fao.org/) United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey (http://pubs.usgs.gov/) (http://pubs.usgs.gov/) World Bank World Bank (http://worldbank.org/)(http://worldbank.org/)
