Natural hazards in Goma and the surrounding villages, East African Rift System

Balagizi, Charles M.; Kies, A.; Kasereka, Marcellin M.; Tedesco, Dario; Yalire, M.; McCausland, Wendy

doi:10.1007/s11069-018-3288-x

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…At a local scale, it experiences combined effects from the Virunga mountain chain and the equatorial dense forest, which induce a local mountainous micro-climate [22]. The Virunga mountain chain consists of eight major volcanoes, of which only Nyiragongo (3470 m a.s.l) and Nyamulagira (3058 m a.s.l) are presently active [23][24][25][26][27][28]. The significant variations in altitudes in Virunga, often abrupt, are recorded in the noticed difference between the mean annual precipitation in the Virunga lowlands (found below 2000 m a.s.l.…”

Section: Study Areas' Geographical Hydrographical and Climatic Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Factors of Precipitation Stable Isotope Fractionation in Central-Eastern Africa and Central Mediterranean

Balagizi

Liotta

2019

Geosciences

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The processes of isotope fractionation in the hydrological cycle naturally occur during vapor formation, vapor condensation, and moisture transportation. These processes are therefore dependent on local and regional surface and atmospheric physical features such as temperature, pressure, wind speed, and land morphology, and hence on the climate. Because of the strong influence of climate on the isotope fractionation, latitudinal and altitudinal effects on the δ18O and δ2H values of precipitation at a global scale are observed. In this study, we present and compare the processes governing precipitation isotope fractionation from two contrasting climatic regions: Virunga in Central-Eastern Africa and the Central Mediterranean (Stromboli and Sicily, Italy). While Virunga is a forested rainy tropical region located between Central and Eastern Africa, the Mediterranean region is characterized by a rainy mild winter and a dry hot summer. The reported δ18O and δ2H dataset are from precipitation collected on rain gauges sampled either on a monthly or an approximately bimonthly basis and published in previous papers. Both regions show clearly defined temporal and altitudinal variations of δ18O and δ2H, depending on precipitation amounts. The Central Mediterranean shows a clear contribution of local vapor forming at the sea–air interface, and Virunga shows a contribution from both local and regional vapor. The vapor of Virunga is from two competing sources: the first is the continental recycled moisture from soil/plant evaporation that dominates during the rainy season, and the second is from the East African Great Lakes evaporation that dominates during the dry season.

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Section: Study Areas' Geographical Hydrographical and Climatic Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Factors of Precipitation Stable Isotope Fractionation in Central-Eastern Africa and Central Mediterranean

Balagizi

Liotta

2019

Geosciences

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“…The prevalence of dental fluorosis among Gihaya Island children (90.7%) was higher than the national average (6%) [ 21 ] but was similar to locations in other East African countries in the Great Rift Valley region, which contains active volcanoes that discharge fluoride gas into natural water bodies [ 29 – 31 ]. Lake Kivu is part of this region and is near several volcanoes, likely explaining the high water fluoride content.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Dental fluorosis among people and livestock living on Gihaya Island in Lake Kivu, Rwanda

et al. 2021

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Background Dental fluorosis is caused by prolonged exposure to excessive fluoride during the period of permanent tooth formation and is characterized by tooth discoloration, pitting, and loss of shape. Communities living near Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda exhibit a high prevalence of dental fluorosis; however, data on prevalence and risk factors are scarce. Methods This cross sectional, quantitative study used a One Health approach to investigate dental fluorosis prevalence among people and livestock and to measure fluoride content in the environment. In 2018, oral health examinations were conducted to assess the prevalence of fluorosis in children (aged 9 to 15 years), cattle and goats residing on Gihaya Island (Rwanda, East Africa). All children and cattle/goats meeting basic eligibility criteria (e.g., island residence) were invited to participate. Presence and severity of dental fluorosis was categorized according to the Dean’s Fluorosis Index. Samples of local foods, water, soil and grass were collected from communal sources and individual households and analyzed for fluoride content using standard laboratory techniques. Descriptive and binomial analyses (Fisher Exact Test) were used to assess this dataset. Results Overall, 186 children and 85 livestock owners (providing data of 125 livestock -23 cattle and 102 goats) participated. Dental fluorosis was recorded in 90.7% of children and 76% of livestock. Moderate to severe fluorosis was observed in 77% children while goats and cattle most often exhibited mild or absent/questionable severity, respectively. Water from Lake Kivu (used primarily for human cooking water and livestock drinking water) contained fluoride levels that were consistently higher than the maximum threshold (1.5 mg/L) recommended by the World Health Organization. Other sources (borehole and rainwater) were within safe limits. All food, soil and grass samples contained fluoride. The highest levels were observed in porridge (0.5 mg/g) and small fishes (1.05 mg/g). Conclusions Altogether, dental fluorosis was highly prevalent among children and goats on Gihaya Island with various food and water sources contributing a cumulative exposure to fluoride. An immediate and coordinated response across human, animal and water professionals is needed to reduce fluoride exposure within safe limits for island residents.

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“… 22 Lake Kivu, near Goma, contains the equivalent of 2.6 gigatons of

, as well as methane; 23 a limnic eruption here would put millions of people at risk. 24 …”

Section: Varied Threats From Gasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Past research on Nyiragongo has documented eruption-related contamination of rainwater—the main source of drinking water for local rural populations—with heavy metals and acidic halogens, including fluoride and chloride. 24 , 28 , 29 “The water available in the area surrounding the volcano is contaminated by volcanic gas particles due to the permanent plume that can spread over a large distance,” she says. “These particles make the water unsafe to drink.”…”

Section: Varied Threats From Gasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…22 Lake Kivu, near Goma, contains the equivalent of 2.6 gigatons of CO 2 , as well as methane; 23 a limnic eruption here would put millions of people at risk. 24 A degassing system was engineered and installed on Lake Nyos after the 1986 eruption. The same has been called for on Lake Kivu by the United Nations Environment Program's Division of Early Warning and Assessment 25 and others 26 but has not been implemented.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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