Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 17.1 Contamination after tsunami. Scattered, mixed debris in Shizugawa ( a ), Temporary col-
lecting site contaminating soil and water in Minamisanriku ( b ), Oil contaminated macroalgae beds
in Shizugawa ( c ); Contaminated water fl owing into the river in Minamisanriku ( d ), Sunken ground
accumulating polluted water from debris and other sources in Minamisanriku ( e ), and ( f ) Destroyed
storage tanks in Ishinomaki
accepted to process 630,000 t of debris from Miyagi and Iwate prefectures. Efforts
to process this debris were slowed down, however, due to the many logistical prob-
lems posed by safety concerns in dealing with radioactive debris (Japan Today
2013 , 2014 ; Japan Times 2013b ).
When a large tsunami hits a coastline area, contamination of water bodies and
soil occurs due to seawater's salinity (Villholth and Neupane 2011 ), destruction of
hospitals, houses, food processing plants, ports and fi shing facilities, chemical
depots, oil, plastic and electronics industries can be washed away, releasing toxic and
hazardous substances similar to that of fl oods (Fig. 17.1 ) (Young et al. 2003 ).
A marked rise of infectious bacteria, fungus, as well as breeding grounds for
mosquitoes in stagnant water occurs almost immediately following such an event.
Cholera, malaria, and tetanus have been found in the aftermath of many instances of
tsunami inundation, such as in Banda Aceh in 2004 (Aceh Epidemiology Group
2006 ). In Miyagi Prefecture, seven cases of tetanus were reported soon after the
2011 tsunami (Morino et al. 2012 ; Livedoor 2011 ). 1 Bacteria present in tsunami
mud is also capable of producing pneumonia or “Tsunami Lung disease” after people
have inhaled or swallowed water while been dragged away by tsunami waters
1 The Chemical Problem Citizens Group ( 2012 ) provided a wealth of links related to health issues
relevant to post tsunami conditions i.e. atmospheric pollution, inhalation of dust, etc.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search