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Article: Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among school-age children in the Aral Sea region.
- Article from:
- Archives of Environmental Health
- Article date:
- November 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Heldref Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THE ARAL SEA in central Asia was the world's 4th largest lake as recently as 1960, but has subsequently shrunk to half its former size as a result of substantial diversion of inflow from 2 major rivers for irrigation purposes. (1) Desiccation of the saline Aral Sea has resulted in an ecological catastrophe, manifested by climatic change, dust storms, salinization of water and soil, and fishery cessation. (2,3) A variety of deleterious health effects--suspected to be associated with the declining quality of drinking water--have been reported, including intestinal illnesses, throat cancer, and kidney problems. (1,4)
Respiratory problems are of particular concern, ...