Underground water supplies contaminated by oil lakes

Underground water supplies contaminated by oil lakes
Underground water supplies in Kuwait are being contaminated by oil lakes, according to a prominent environmentalist. Dr Fatima Al-Abdali, of the Environmental and Earth Sciences Division of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research said that Kuwait's oil lakes are slowly seeping back into the top soil and now pose a serious threat to underground water reserves.
She said "Experts from KISR, conducting experiments at certain locations in Kuwait have confirmed that oil has been recorded at a depth of two metres into the soil."
Some experts fear this contamination may result in an increase in certain types of cancers over the next fifteen to thirty years.
There are 205 oil lakes in Kuwait, most resulting from the Iraqi invasion. Most of the oil has now been pumped out but the remainder cannot be removed. Another fear is that the dust storms which blow across Kuwait throughout the year will move oily dust particles towards residential areas, posing dangers to health.
Dr Al-Abdali said that oil sediments mixed with dust can be very toxic to humans. She called for more research to check whether there has been a rise in skin diseases and breathing difficulties in Kuwait, since the occupation, because it is too wide and overwhelming", she said "That botanical studies have shown that plants whose roots were blackened by leaking oil can no longer support growth. Other studies show psychological stress affects peoples immune systems suggesting that those who stayed in Kuwait during the occupation may be most affected by health problems. She believes that fish resources have not been endangered.