Lebanese Waters: Up To 100% Pollution Everywhere

Congratulations, we have polluted literally everything.

Earlier this week, Dr. Michel Afram, president of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, has issued a warning that Lebanon has surpassed the danger zone and is heading towards the point of no return when it comes to environmental damage and pollution.

Global warming, the low levels of rain and snow in recent years, the garbage crisis, and the lack of regulation and environmental awareness are all culprits in this disastrous outcome.

image via Green Party of Lebanon

Besides the fact that Lebanon is suffering from a shortage of water supply, it was reported that ALL Lebanese waters are polluted to varying degrees with some reaching 100% pollution. This pollution is microbial, chemical, and even due to heavy metal (especially mercury). There is absolutely no city or region that is pollution-free and this includes every spring, river, and beach.

Dr. Afram went on to say that there is no benefit in cleaning or trying to reverse the damage before stopping the continuous pollution going on such as the dumping of solid, liquid, and factory waste into the water.

image via STOP Cultural Terrorism In Lebanon

Needless to say, this severe water pollution affects every household, every restaurant, and every institution (hospitals, schools, etc). And most importantly, it affects agriculture and what ends up on our plates. The use of polluted water and overuse of fertilizers have compromised our soil whereby it was found to be polluted with chemicals and heavy metals. This ends up in our fruits and vegetables; in fact, some of these metals were found to be up by 34 times in mint and parsley that are irrigated by our polluted rivers.

This is an environmental and public health emergency and it’s time to take matters into our own hands, and it starts at home. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s an idea.

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