Water and environmental expert Adel Al-Mukhtar confirmed that rising temperatures contribute to increased environmental pollution in Iraq, explaining the reasons behind it.
Al-Mukhtar stated to "Baghdad Today" that environmental pollution consistently rises in Iraq during the summer season and increased temperatures, due to the water crisis the country is facing, which has serious implications for the environmental situation, especially in the Tigris River in the capital, Baghdad.
He clarified that the increase in environmental pollution contributes to a rise in diseases and epidemics. Therefore, he emphasized the necessity of resolving the water crisis due to its grave repercussions on environmental conditions, as well as its economic impacts on agricultural and animal wealth. Additionally, this crisis has humanitarian implications, as it has pushed many people to migrate from villages and rural areas to cities.
Water consumption and drought increase in the hot months in Iraq due to excessive evaporation from water bodies, as well as the water consumed by summer crops, particularly rice cultivation.
Drought also leads to soil erosion, which contributes to more dust storms and increases air pollution cases, in addition to the continuous operation of electrical generators that also raise pollution levels.
