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__**Pollution **__ North Africa and the Southwestern Asia are also suffering from severe pollution. For example, in Iraq, chemical spills, unsecured hazardous materials, and depleted uranium are major pollutants. (BBC NEWS) Much of these materials are left unclean and this often results in the poisoning of ground water which leads to illness. The United Nations has trained some Iraqis in detoxification, but this process proved to be too expensive for most people. Iraq is not the only country suffering from severe pollution. Schools in Iran have closed before due to heavy air pollution. According to Tehran ‘s official Air Quality Control Unit, the Standard Index (PSI), a standard measurement which measures carbon dioxide levels, reached 168 which is considered very dangerous to humans.. (News 24) The average number of deaths in Tehran due to air pollution is about 3600 per month. Clearly, Tehran is one of the most polluted cities in the world. (3,600 Dead in Iran Due to Air Pollution, in One)


 * __ ​Oil & Natural Resources __**

The Middle East is one of the richest oil sources in the world. Approximately 41 percent of the World’s oil production comes from the Middle East. Of all the Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia is the biggest oil exporter. Providing the world’s energy however, comes at a price. Most of the countries in the Middle East suffer from severe pollution. Pollution is not only the problem to this oil production. Usually, the oil issues bring conflict between other countries; therefore, it is very arduous to keep a stable relationship with a specific country.


 * __ Biodiversity __**

Lack of biodiversityOne of the major problems in the Middle East is biodiversity. It is hardly possible to see a forest let alone a healthy tree in the Middle East. Now this pollution is spreading across the globe.. For example, Pollution from the Middle East is destroying North Africa’s environment. As the level of pollution increases, the biodiversity is more adversely affected.

Humans are part of biodiversity; therefore, humans should also be responsible for taking care of it. Biodiversity is not only a problem in the Middle East, but it is a global issue. Currently people don’t realize how the lack of biodiversity could result in the future. However, about 40 percent of the world’s economy and the 80 percent of needs of the poor are from the biological resources. In North Africa preserving the biodiversity is extremely important. The poor people of the North Africa are usually dependent on the biodiversity. Finally, recovering the biodiversity would be an arduous job.
 * Why is biodiversity important?**

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 * __ Citations __**
 * "BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN warns on Iraq environment fate." //BBC NEWS | News Front Page//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. <[]>.
 * "Pollution closes Iran schools: News24: World: News." //News24, South Africa's premier news source, provides breaking news on national, world, Africa, sport, entertainment, technology & more.// Web. 03 Nov. 2009. <[]>.
 * <span style="color: #262a2c; font-family: 맑은 고딕; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: '맑은 고딕'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: '맑은 고딕'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: '맑은 고딕'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; msoansilanguage: EN; msoasciifontfamily: '맑은 고딕'; msoasciithemefont: major-latin; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: '맑은 고딕'; msofareastthemefont: major-latin; msohansifontfamily: '맑은 고딕'; msohansithemefont: major-latin;">"3,600 Dead in Iran Due to Air Pollution, in One Month ( Tehran - Air pollution has allegedly be...)." //Bio-Medicine - latest biology and medical news/technology//. Web. 03 Nov. 2009. <[]>.
 * <span style="color: #262a2c; font-family: 맑은 고딕; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: '맑은 고딕'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: '맑은 고딕'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: '맑은 고딕'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; msoansilanguage: EN; msoasciifontfamily: '맑은 고딕'; msoasciithemefont: major-latin; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: '맑은 고딕'; msofareastthemefont: major-latin; msohansifontfamily: '맑은 고딕'; msohansithemefont: major-latin;">"Middle East Crude Oil Production And Exports." Middle East Economic Survey (MEES). Web. 03 Nov. 2009. [].
 * "Natural Resources in the Middle East /." ISN. Web. 03 Nov. 2009. <[]>.


 * __ Picture Citations __**
 * "Car exhaust fumes blamed for over 80% of air pollution in Tehran." Payvand, Iran News, Directory and Bazar. Web. 03 Nov. 2009. <[]>.
 * "Mideast Iran Air Pollution air News Photos." India News, breaking news,world news,bollywood news,cricket & business news from sulekha.com newshopper. Web. 03 Nov. 2009. <[]>.
 * "Bam: Iran’s Ancient City, over 2000 year old destroyed in earthquake of December 26, 2003 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!" //Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing//. Web. 08 Nov. 2009. [].

by Sangwoo Song