The Role of Human Factors in the Emergence of Environmental Risks in Baiji District
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Abstract
This study examines the role of anthropogenic factors in the emergence and escalation of environmental risks in Baiji District, presenting it as a representative case of areas experiencing accelerated environmental degradation due to the interaction of natural and human-induced drivers. The research aims to provide an integrated assessment of environmental risks in the study area, which is subjected to compounded pressures, including drought, desertification, urban encroachment, and overgrazing. These challenges are further intensified by intensive industrial activities associated with the petroleum sector, resulting in air, water, and soil pollution caused by oil spills, petroleum waste, and gaseous emissions. Additionally, increasing population pressure exacerbates the depletion of already limited natural resources.
Covering an area of 6,741 km² (28% of Salah al-Din Governorate), the study area is located in the northwestern part of the Mesopotamian alluvial plain. The findings indicate that industrial activities, demographic pressures, and the cumulative impacts of wars and conflicts pose significant threats to human health, ecological systems, and water and food security, underscoring the need for a comprehensive and integrated risk management approach.
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