An Analysis of Current Situation and Causes ofEnvironmental Sanitation in Rural Areas of Tibet, 2015

Objectives To evaluate the environmental health status and potential hazard factors in rural areas of Tibet in 2015 by observing indicators such as rural sanitary toilets, domestic sewage discharge, waste collection and treatment, soil parasite (roundworm) detection rate, and environmental sanitation management system.

Methods Data inquiry, interview, sample collection, laboratory test and survey form filling were used to analyze the effects of harmless disposal of feces on improving the environmental health status of agricultural and pastoral areas and reducing the infection rate and morbidity of parasitic diseases of farmers and herdsmen.

Results In this year's survey, there were 55 282 households with 51 152 non-sanitary toilets, which reached 92.5%. Wastes are generated from daily life. It is collected centrally and then buried in landfills or directly burnt (not in incinerators). Among them, waste collection accounts for 67.7%. The domestic sewage was interviewed in 1 975 households, the random discharge rate was 71.9%, and 14.8% of which was directly discharged into the farmland; the detection rate of ascaris eggs in soil was 14.8% among the 395 effective monitoring sites. The rural environment caused by factors such as low penetration rate of sanitary toilets, improper disposal of feces, improper collection and treatment of household wastes and domestic sewage, etc., is worrying, which poses a high risk to the weak ecological environment and the health status of the population.

Conclusions It is necessary to carry out the rural environmental health monitoring in a long term and strengthen the propaganda. Efforts have to be made to explore and find out the methods of harmless disposal of feces and the measures for the collection and treatment of domestic sewage and wastes that are suitable for the characteristics of Tibet. We should eradicate unhealthy health practices as soon as possible to promote a sound ecology, maintain healthy production and living conditions, and protect the vital interests of farmers and herdsmen.