Aral Sea: An Ecological Disaster Zone with Impact on Human Health

摘要: Salt lakes all over the world have been falling during last century, and they continue to do so. Water withdrawal from their tributaries is one in many cases main reason for that. Since prehistoric times, size shape of Aral Sea changed depending on amount water arriving at lake. The system equilibrium when flowing equals evaporating year. During 1950s, government former USSR decided increase areas used agriculture river valleys Syr Darya Amu Darya. To this end, was still deviated rivers by thousands open trenches being unsealed leading a massive loss evaporation seepage. In consequence, less its shrinking dramatically. Especially eastern shoreline even small decrease level leads exposition large sea bottom because lake very shallow. Cities like Aralsk Munyak formally located directly seaside are now completely surrounded steppe far away water. Although an economic disaster population living coast, increased significantly. Today, major part Uzbekistan's working area, Kazakhstan there also millions people irrigation taken Sea. area around declared be ‘zone ecological disaster,’ subsidies (still) paid inhabitants. Most fishermen moved other lakes. consequence brakedown background social structure suffering unemployment lack any perspective. However, studies performed up could not prove assumption that health local impaired environmental pollutants having origin Seas tributaries. There no doubt inhabitants severely affected conditions, but single contaminants. People valley and, most probably, suffer much more pesticide pollution than those Owing use certain pesticides, high concentrations dioxins dibenzofurans detected bodies. valuable resource probably important factor countries Central Asia. problems cannot solved short term. result decisions made 1950s within different political context basis Soviet Union-wide organized economy. Now struggling survival economies, is, least non-oil producing countries, enough power rapid change. will enlarge with increasing left Darya, if regain next generation.