Examination of the links between environmental atmospheric air pollution in Iraq and human respiratory diseases

Master’s Thesis from the year 2013 in the subject Environmental Sciences, University of Wolverhampton (University of Wolverhampton), course: Environmental Sciences, language: English, abstract: Five universities in Iraq; University of Technology Iraq, Al-Nahrain University and University of Baghdad, University of Basrah and The American University of Iraq were chosen for a survey in order to examine the link between the atmospheric environmental pollution and the respiratory health diseases in Iraq; questionnaires were distributed to students at different levels of education to assess how air pollution affect respiratory health, air quality, and how wars also contributes to air pollution. University of Technology Iraq, Al-Nahrain University and University of Baghdad located in the capital were used to judge inside Iraq, while University of Basrah and The American University of Iraq was used for outside city capital and Kurdistan respectively. All the three classified regions had shown knowledge on air pollution which few talk about and very rare. Women especially from Kurdistan were also found to be less aware of issues on air pollution. And the major sources of air pollution were found to be oil refineries and military conflicts emitting mostly particulate matter and sulphur dioxide which affects the respiratory health of most Iraqis mainly though asthma and cough as a result of rapid smog noticed by the respondents. While indoor pollution mainly is associated with use of pesticides and activities leading to release of carbon monoxide. Processes and activities were recommended for Iraq government to fish out itself from the worst performing countries in the global environmental performance index.