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- Title
Dams and Disease Triggers on the Lower Mekong River.
- Authors
Ziegler, Alan D.; Petney, Trevor N.; Grundy-Warr, Carl; Andrews, Ross H.; Baird, Ian G.; Wasson, Robert J.; Sithithaworn, Paiboon
- Abstract
The construction of large hydropower dams along the Mekong River in Southeast Asia has raised concerns about the negative impact on river health, food security, and public health. The proposed dams threaten the diversity and abundance of freshwater fish, which are a major source of protein for the region's inhabitants. The dams would also disrupt the river flow regime, affecting aquatic environments and sediment transport. Additionally, dam building could increase the incidence of water- and food-associated diseases, such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and opisthorchiasis. The potential threats to biodiversity, food security, and public health outweigh the short-term economic gains of energy export. Alternative approaches, such as utilizing the region's monsoon climate for energy generation and implementing green toilet systems, could minimize the negative impacts.
- Subjects
SOUTHEAST Asia; DAMS; STREAMFLOW; SEDIMENT transport; FRESHWATER fishes; FOOD security
- Publication
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2013, Vol 7, Issue 6, p1
- ISSN
1935-2727
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0002166