Title:
Health Impacts of Environmental Hazards: A Literature Review on Waste Management, Pollution, and Public Health Risks in Lebanon
Authors:
Agha, Oussama Ali Ghaleb Hussein
Place:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Publisher:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute [etc.]
Year:
2025
PAGE:
58
Language:
En
Subject:
Health and Poverty
Keywords:
Environmental health, Lebanon, waste management, air pollution, water contamination, DPSEEA framework, public health systems, health equity, vulnerable populations, post-conflict recovery, environmental governance, literature review
Abstract:
Background Lebanon is facing a worsening environmental health crisis, driven by years of political instability, infrastructural neglect, and weak regulatory enforcement conditions sharply intensified by the 2023–2024 conflict. The most pressing issues identified include widespread solid waste mismanagement, unregulated open dumping, and escalating air and water pollution. These hazards have disproportionately affected vulnerable groups such as refugees, low-income urban communities, and residents of informal settlements. The cumulative effect has increased exposure to environmental risks, contributed to a rise in preventable diseases, and further strained an already fragile public health system. Methodology: This thesis conducts a structured literature review to explore the environmental determinants of health in Lebanon from 2013 to 2024, with a particular focus on pollution and waste mismanagement. Guided by the WHO’s DPSEEA framework, the review draws on 97 reviewed studies and reports including academic publications, technical documents, and grey literature to fulfill five key objectives. First (1), it examines how exposure to pollution and waste affects different population groups in relation to broader structural and environmental drivers. Second (2), it investigates the short- and long-term health impacts of environmental hazards. Third (3), it identifies the specific vulnerabilities and disease burdens experienced by marginalized communities, including children, refugees, and the elderly. Fourth (4), it highlights effective public health interventions implemented in Lebanon and comparable settings. Finally (5), it proposes policy and system-level recommendations to strengthen environmental health governance and promote sustainable, equitable health outcomes. Results: The findings indicate a cascading system of environmental vulnerability in Lebanon. Key stressors include elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which refers to airborne particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less that can penetrate deep into the lungs, contaminated water 4 sources, and unregulated solid waste. These factors are directly associated with increased rates of respiratory infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, and both dermatological and cardiovascular conditions. Health centers in affected areas report up to a 35% increase in environmentally linked disease cases. Vulnerable populations are disproportionately exposed to these hazards, reflecting stark health inequities. Additionally, the study identifies significant gaps in Lebanon’s environmental health systems, including fragmented monitoring, poor inter-ministerial coordination, and insufficient community participation. However, successful examples of decentralized waste initiatives, mobile health services, and community health networks from Lebanon and regional contexts offer scalable models for intervention. Conclusions: This study highlights the urgent need for Lebanon to adopt an integrated and equity-driven environmental health strategy. Applying the DPSEEA framework reveals multiple leverage points for action from structural reforms to community-based solutions. Strengthening institutional capacity, embedding environmental health into primary care systems, and fostering participatory governance are critical to mitigating health risks and building long-term resilience. These findings provide timely, evidence-based guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and development partners engaged in Lebanon’s recovery and environmental reform processes.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute, VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Country:
Lebanon
Region:
Middle East - West Asia
Training:
Master of Science in Public Health (MPH)
Category:
Research
Right:
@ 2025 Agha
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
IIcjS2EF47_20251216114122842.pdf