The impact of military waste on Iraq’s waters: The case of the Jassim River

¹ University of Baghdad, College of Education ibn Rushd of Human Sciences, Baghdad, Iraq
² Al-Iraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq
³ University of Kufa, Al-Najaf, Iraq

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This article aims to investigate how war contributes to the pollution of water bodies with harmful substances including heavy metals and toxic substances. The paper explains how these pollutants, carelessly dumped by military operations, have severely damaged the water quality of rivers and lakes all across Iraq. Based on the Jassim River as case study, the paper shows a close relationship between military operations and pollution. Shown is the effects of this pollution on local ecosystems like fish and wildlife, and human population, dependent on the river for drinking, irrigation, and other basic needs. The article reveals the problem of military waste in Iraq, focusing on the absence of satisfactory waste disposal techniques and a lack of an environmental regulations during times of war. Long-terenvironmental pollution has been demonstrated and classified, especially in sensitive sites such as the Jassim River, where it has caused enduring ecological and human health impacts.