Dr. Basem Hasan Shomar
Research Group of Prof. Dr. W. Shotyk
Inorganic Environmental Geochemistry
Research Projects
A) Research Project in Palestine
The Project is in three phases:
Phase I: 2001-2005
Phase II: 2006-2009
Phase III: 2010-2013
General Overview
The issue of environmental protection is one of the top priorities to governments and individuals of all countries. The problems of environmental pollution are of global concern due to drastic effects they have on human health, on air, water and soil, on ecological systems and on all kinds of life on the planet earth. Nowadays, pollution is considered the first priority among the environmental problems facing the contemporary world. The earth witnesses today an unprecedented increase in environmental problems. The enormous overall population growth and consequent industrial, agricultural, energy generation and communication boom of activities have led to the disturbance of environmental equilibrium dynamics.
The environment in Palestine suffers from considerable strains. The severe effects of occupation and the shortage and pollution of resources, coupled with high population growth and insufficient job opportunities have created many environmental hazards. Shortage of water and deterioration of water quality constitute a limiting factor in the economic development of Palestine. Israeli’s security pretexts and frequent closures of Palestinian territories caused disruption of economic and municipal activities and aggravated the existing pollution in every city, town or village in Palestine.
In a region where politics is mixed with vocabularies of the daily life, the investigations, which extended to more than eight years and still going, reveal the environment as a victim of politics in the difficult and troubling area of the Palestinian territories. The details of the already degraded environment are deteriorating in all components and levels. Groundwater at the end is unsuitable for drinking by the worsening pollutants. This means in the absence of any alternative water further illness, especially among children will appear.
The Gaza Strip as one of the most densely populated areas in the world with limited and deteriorated resources, has already started to suffer the outcomes of environmental quality deterioration. The situation in the Gaza Strip is below the desired standard which is attributed to the prolonged Israeli occupation and the absence of environmental legislation and the public awareness. Therefore, there should be collective and serious efforts on the local, regional and international levels to improve and protect the environment by prevention and monitoring the environmental themes with emphasis on the environmental hot spots.
B) Research Projects in Qatar
in preperation, waiting for approval
