R. Maroun

Climate change and temperature rise: Implications on food- and water-borne diseases

This study attempts to quantify climate-induced increases in morbidity rates associated with food- and water-borne illnesses in the context of an urban coastal city, taking Beirut-Lebanon as a study area. A Poisson generalized linear model was developed to assess the impacts of temperature on the morbidity rate. The model was used with four climatic scenarios to simulate a broad spectrum of driving forces and potential social, economic and technologic evolutions. The correlation established in this study exhibits a decrease in the number of illnesses with increasing temperature until reaching a threshold of 19.2 °C, beyond which the number of morbidity cases increases with temperature. By 2050, the results show a substantial increase in food- and water-borne related morbidity of 16 to 28% that can reach up to 42% by the end of the century under A1FI (fossil fuel intensive development) or can be reversed to ~0% under B1 (lowest emissions trajectory), highlighting the need for early mitigation and adaptation measures.

Virtual Water Trade as an Adaptation Demand Management of Climate Change Impact on Water Resources in the Middle East

Evidence of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have grown since pre-industrial times, with an increase of 70 {%} between 1970 and 2004 and with current climate change mitigation policies and related sustainable development practices, global GHG emissions will continue to grow over the next few decades. The increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations is very likelycausing the warming of the climate system since the mid-20th century, as evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level. The climate system and the water cycle are closely linked, so that any change in one of these systems induces a change in the other. Yet, the implications of climate variability and climate change have not been fully considered in current water policy and decision-making frameworks. This is particularly true in developing countries, where the financial, human and ecological impacts are potentially greatest, and where water resources may be already highly stressed, but the capacity to cope and adapt is weakest. This chapter outlines the impact of climate change on water resources in Middle Eastern countries, and discusses potential adaptive measures in this respect, with emphasis on virtual water trade, as a non-conventional demand management option for water resources.

Determinants of diarrhea prevalence in urban slums: a comparative assessment towards enhanced environmental management

This study relies on a comparative assessment of diarrhea occurrence in two urban slums to identify salient factors influencing case prevalence. Primary data were collected from both areas using a structured closed-ended questionnaire coupled with bottled and public water quality sampling and analysis at households reporting diarrhea cases. The water quality analysis showed contamination at the household level due primarily to the location of water storage tanks, as well as in some brands of bottled water due to lack of enforcement of source monitoring. Descriptive statistics and chi-square distribution tests revealed significant difference in diarrhea cases in both study areas which was correlated with the educational level of household head, financial status, type of water storage tank, and corresponding cleaning frequency as well as the adoption of measures to treat water or the use of bottled water.

ADM1 performance using SS-OFMSW with non-acclimated inoculums.

This paper assesses the anaerobic digestion (AD) of the source-sorted organic fraction of municipal solid waste (SS-OFMSW). For this purpose, an experimental programme was implemented involving the operation and monitoring of two bench-scale anaerobic digesters, continuously fed with SS-OFMSW. The mathematical model (ADM1) was then applied to simulate the process of AD of SS-OFMSW. While start-up of the digesters was relatively slow, re-inoculation with cattle manure with effluent dilution reduced the acclimation period and achieved better stability, accommodating a feeding rate at an OLR = 2.39 kg TVS m(-3) day(-1). The high recorded methane gas production rate, reaching (0.1-2.5 m(3) CH(4)/m(3) reactor day), confirms the excellent biodegradability of the type of waste used (SS-OFMSW) and its suitability for AD. Satisfactory simulations of soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, and methane composition of biogas were obtained, whereas volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in both reactors were over-predicted albeit capturing its general trend.

Lebanon: Health Valuation of Water Pollution at the Upper Litani River Basin

Poor water quality coupled with inadequate water, sanitation services and hygiene practices has long been associated with higher what? incidence, prevalance? waterborne diseases, resulting in a serious cost to society in the form of cost of illness and forgone earnings directly related to increased morbidity and premature mortality, as well as cost of protective measures. This article presents a socioeconomic assessment of water pollution in the upper Litani River basin. For this purpose, a field survey was conducted to estimate the number of diarrhea and typhoid cases recorded at medical facilities within the study area for one complete year as well as the associated treatment costs. This was followed by the application of the human capital and the willingness-to-pay approaches for mortality valuation, and the cost of illness, pain, and suffering approach for morbidity valuation. A cost–benefit analysis was then conducted to support rational and informed decision-making in adopting appropriate investment policies toward improving water quality in the basin. The estimated annual damage costs ranged between 0.20% and 3.08% of the GDP in the study area. The economic benefits of improving water quality and sanitation revealed a yield of approximately 10% of the GDP in the study area for the year 2004, as cumulative economic returns within 25 years.

Impact of diesel policy banning on PM levels in urban areas

Increased use of diesel engine in on‐road vehicles presents a serious health concern, particularly in traffic‐congested urban areas. Diesel exhaust contains various gaseous and particulate pollutants, which, at high concentrations, pose adverse health effects. In this respect, various policy measures are being adopted worldwide to curtail emissions from diesel engines. This paper presents an assessment of diesel engine policy banning in the Greater Beirut Area. For this purpose, particulate matter levels in the air were measured after the ban and compared with concentrations reported prior to the ban. Health‐based socio‐economic benefits associated with improvement in air quality were then estimated using the long‐term decrease of particulate matter as an indicator.