A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Natural Disasters’ Impact on Water Quality and Public Health: A Case Study of the Cyclonic Season (2019–2023)




AuthorsChilaule, Sérgio Mateus; Macuacua, Xadreque Vitorino; Mabica, Alfredo Pedro; Miranda, Nelson Alexandre; Pereira, Henrique dos Santos; Gudo, Eduardo Samo; Marrufo, Tatiana; García-López, Santiago; Lopes, Myriam

PublisherMDPI AG

Publication year2024

Journal: Pollutants

Volume4

Issue2

First page 212

Last page230

eISSN2673-4672

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3390/pollutants4020014

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.3390/pollutants4020014


Abstract

The impact of climate change has made weather events more extreme, unpredictable and frequent. In the last 4 years, Mozambique has been devastated by 8 major cyclones, resulting in material and human damage and affecting the functioning of basic local services, such as in the water and health sectors. In this study, we explored the environmental components of the climate–water quality–disease relationship that could drive the dynamics of waterborne diseases. Statistical models and geospatial information technologies (GITs) were used to analyse water quality and the relationship with waterborne diseases between 2016 and 2023. Results indicate that water quality is the main element, between precipitation natural disasters and waterborne diseases, on which a relevant public health intervention can act to ameliorate the future negative impacts of climate change and disease incidence. The results of this study also showed that the quality of water affected mainly by heavy rain events varies in different regions and in different seasons. Keywords: climate change; flood; water quality; waterborne diseases; integrated water resources management



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