This study attempts to describe the physical characteristics of the Issen basin (western High Atlas of Morocco) to represent the factors affecting water flow and volumes that may increase water erosion risk. By using ALOS-DEM of moderate resolution spatial (12,5 m) and GIS platform, it was...

It is well established that respiratory mortality and morbidity are associated with high concentrations of fine particles such as PM2.5. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long- and short-term impacts of PM2.5 on the population of Agadir, Morocco, using AirQ 2.1.1 software. The mean PM2.5 values were obtained from data collected at three sites. Baseline incidence data were obtained from the literature, and relative risk (RR) values were referenced from the World Health Organization. This study quantified long-term total mortality (LT-TM), lung cancer mortality (LT-LC), morbidity from acute lower respiratory tract infections (LT-ALRI), and morbidity from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (LT-COPD), as well as short-term total mortality (ST-TM). The attributable proportions (AP) of LT-TM and LT-LC were estimated to 14.19% and 18.42%, respectively. Their excess deaths were estimated to 279 and 11 persons, respectively, and their RRs to 1.16 (95% CI: 1.10-1.22) and 1.23 (95% CI: 1.12-1.37), respectively. Furthermore, the AP of LT-ALRI and LT-COPD were estimated to 14.36% and 15.68%, respectively, their excess deaths to 33 and 4, and their RRs to 1.17 (95% CI: 1.11-1.31) and 1.19 (95% CI: 1.00-1.02), respectively. In comparison, the AP of ST-TM was estimated to 1.27%, with a 25-person excess death rate. This study was conducted to inform decision-making and to promote local policies on ambient air quality.

Morocco’s Témara Plain relies heavily on its aquifer system as a critical resource for drinking water, irrigation, and industrial activities. However, this essential groundwater reserve is increasingly threatened by over-extraction, seawater intrusion, and complex hydrogeochemical processes driven by the region’s geological characteristics and anthropogenic pressures. This study aims to assess groundwater quality and its vulnerability to pollution risks and map the spatial distribution of key hydrochemical processes through an integrated approach combining Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques and multivariate statistical analysis, as well as applying the DRASTIC model to evaluate water vulnerability. A total of fifty-eight groundwater samples were collected across the plain and analyzed for major ions to identify dominant hydrochemical facies. Spatial interpolation using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) within GIS revealed distinct patterns of sodium chloride (Na-Cl) facies near the coastal areas with chloride concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water guideline of 250 mg/L—indicative of seawater intrusion. In addition to marine intrusion, agricultural pollution constitutes a major diffuse pressure across the aquifer. Shallow groundwater zones in agricultural areas show heightened vulnerability to salinization and nitrate contamination, with nitrate concentrations reaching up to 152.3 mg/L, far surpassing the WHO limit of 45 mg/L. Furthermore, other anthropogenic pollution sources—such as wastewater discharges from septic tanks in peri-urban zones lacking proper sanitation infrastructure and potential leachate infiltration from informal waste disposal sites—intensify stress on the aquifer. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified three key factors influencing groundwater quality: natural mineralization due to carbonate rock dissolution, agricultural inputs, and salinization driven by seawater intrusion. Additionally, The DRASTIC model was used within the GIS environment to create a vulnerability map based on seven key parameters. The map revealed that low-lying coastal areas are most vulnerable to contamination.