A report on the state of the environment in 2008, issued by the Ministry of Environment, reveals there are several problems related to environmental pollution in Egypt and affirms that these problems could cause serious illnesses. The report has been overseen for the first time by Dr. Moustafa Talba, chairman of the International Centre for Energy, Environment & Development, and by ecologist Mohamed el-Qassas. It links the increasing rates of air pollution to deaths caused by cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. It warns from exposure to lead, which it describes as the worst pollutant. The report ascribes the increasing air pollution last year to the increasing number of car exhausts, which have contributed by 26% to the formation of a black cloud. The report, however, also blames the burning of a million tons of solid wastes per year. According to the report, the volume of dangerous wastes and pesticides produced in Egypt has increased considerably (up to 391,000 tons). As for expired pesticides used in agriculture, they have reached 1,160 tons so far, while the garbage accumulated nationwide is estimated at 66 million tons. The report also mentions the increasing levels of noise in major cities and governorates' capitals over the last few years, describing it as worrying. It ascribes this to wrong planning and warns that this could have serious repercussions on people's health, such as high blood pressure, ulcer, cramps and nervous and psychological illnesses, while children's capacity to learn might also be affected. The report affirms that the Nile is very much polluted due to industrial, agricultural and tourist activities. It also says this has prompted the Ministry of Environment to set programs aimed at stopping industrial sewage from being drained into the Nile and being used to cultivate woods. The report also reveals that fish wealth in Egypt has been halved by arbitrary fishing and failure to apply fishing laws.
