Caspian Sea is facing a dramatic natural catastrophe

 

The Caspian is an ecosystem under stress. Even in the eye of constant efforts in promoting environmental safeguards to protect the largest inland sea in the world and its resources, interests in the gas and oil sector keeps destroying the high diversity of sensitive marine habitats.

 

Petrochemical and refining complexes are the major sources of pollution. Discharges and spills from oil and gas drilling in the Sea have serious impacts on the environment and the human health. The untreated waste from the Volga River – into which half the population of Russia and most of its heavy industry drains its sewage – empties into the Caspian Sea. The Ural, Kura and Emba Rivers also empty contaminations into the Caspian from industrial pollution, municipal wastes and agricultural runoff. The air pollution from Tehran due to the old cars that lack catalytic converters falls out in the Caspian when the wind blows the smog north from Iran, contributing to pollution in the Caspian problem.

 

In Kazakhstan the cases of blood disease, tuberculosis and other diseases are four times more common in the Caspian area than the rest of the country’s average. Water, which has been contaminated by oil products in Kazakhstan, is still used for drinking water. This contamination is cited as a reason for intestinal infections in Kazakhstan’s coastal areas. Swimming in most areas of the Sea is hazardous. The higher rate of cancer is recorded in the whole area. A dramatic rise in stillbirths and miscarriages are being witnessed.

 

The chemicals and pesticides are threats as well to the flora and fauna. Contamination by DDT used in agriculture could be a factor contributing to the disappearance of the Caspian sturgeon because it could be a cause of infertility. The Caspian sturgeon and Caspian seal have been dying in large numbers. The heavy pollution, combined with illegal overfishing, public indifference, weak environmental laws and regulation and a territorial dissension from the 5 caspian states, hinders any attempt to permit a future for the home of 75% of the world’s sturgeon population and over 400 species that are only to be found in the Caspian Sea.

 

 

The challenge of protecting the Caspian’s environment will remain a highly difficult task.

 

 

Crossed fingers will not be enough…