What is it about?
ABSTRACT: The Stone (limestone) and Marble (trade name) Industry (SMI) is one of the most important and active industries in Palestine, as being economically and financially rewarding and greatly beneficial to the public and private sectors. This industry, which employs about 15,000–20,000 workers, contributes 20–25% to the total industrial revenues of Palestine, and 4.5% to the total gross national product. Despite its benefits, SMI has adverse effects on public health, the environment, biodiversity, water systems (both surface and underground), green cover, and ecosystems in general, as it is considered one of the most air- water-, soil-, and noise-polluting sources. To achieve the purpose of this research paper, available data and literature are analyzed, evaluated, and used, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the status of SMI, in light of sustainable development. This relates to various perspectives, including limestone geology, geopolitics, socioeconomics, culture, technology, legislation, as well as climate change, acid rain, and harmful effects of the SMI scale on public health and safety, environmental well-being, and challenges facing the industry. Two field studies, carried out in northern and southern West Bank, dealing with particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM7, PM10, and TSP) and environmental pollution, were analyzed, and their results were compared with each other, as well as with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines. It is found that both West Bank’s areas are heavily polluted, resulting in considerable adverse impacts on public health, the environment, and green cover. Based on the findings of this paper, it is recommended that SMI should properly adhere to WHO guidelines and international standards to make the industry safer and more durable and sustainable, with fewer negative impacts on public health, the environment, and green cover. KEYWORDS: Stone (Limestone) and Marble (Trade Name) Industry. Socioeconomics, culture, and heritage. Geology. Air, water, soil, and noise pollution. Public health and environmental impacts. Sustainable industry, regulations, and law. Challenges and improvements. Palestine. FOR CITATION: Salem, H.S. 2021. Evaluation of the stone and marble industry in Palestine: Environmental, geological, health, socio-economic, cultural, and legal perspectives, in view of sustainable development. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer, Germany). DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12526-4. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-021-12526-4 and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340846344_Evaluation_of_the_Stone_and_Marble_Industry_in_Palestine_Environmental_Geological_Health_Socio-Economic_Cultural_and_Legal_Perspectives_in_View_of_Sustainable_Development
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Why is it important?
This paper is extremely important, because it is the first of its kind that presents the importance of the Stone and Marble Industry (SMI) in Palestine, financially and economically, and also because it investigates various aspects related to the industry, in view of sustainable development. The paper investigates, analyzes, and discusses the SMI, with respect to its impacts on public health and the environment, and workers' safety, as well as on socioeconomics. The paper also investigates the geological, cultural, heritage, and legal dimensions of the industry, and it presents concrete results, conclusions, and recommendations. Most importantly, the industry urgently needs to be restructured, monitored, and adjusted.
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This page is a summary of: Evaluation of the Stone and Marble Industry in Palestine: environmental, geological, health, socioeconomic, cultural, and legal perspectives, in view of sustainable development, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, February 2021, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12526-4.
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