Desertification and population health in the Turkmenistan part of the Aral Sea region

The main causes of desertification in the Aral Sea Basin are the regulating of flow of Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers resulted in the sharp reduction of the Aral Sea level, subsequent change of regional climate towards aridization and continentality, increase of irrigation and drinking water mineralization, pollution of surface and ground water by municipal wastes and the residues of agrochemicals, deposition of salts transferred from the exposed and dried bottom of the Aral Sea. The high level of water, air and soil pollution in combination with extreme climatic conditions inevitably affect the health of women and children leading to unfavorable outcomes of pregnancy and births, health problems of infants and children, and women of fertile age. The results of 5-year study on influence of environmental factors on health of women and children in Dashkhovuz velayat of Turkmenistan are presented.