Categories

More

Archives

According to the latest study released by the Lebanese Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) and published by As-Safir Lebanese daily, these are the beaches that swimmers should avoid due to the alarming rate of pollution found.

The study, which covers the past two years up until May, 2016, provides a detailed map that highlights the most polluted shores, and those deemed as the cleanest.

Source: As-Safir
Red: Extremely polluted | Orange: Relatively polluted |Green: Acceptable |Purple: Very Good |Black: Chemical pollution | Source: As-Safir

 

Info source: CNRS/As-Safir

Fecal contamination:

Among the most dangerous beaches marked as unsafe for swimmers and fishing were North Lebanon’s Tripoli/Mina stretch, facing Abdul Wahab Island; Antelias (next to where the river empties) where 40 -50 thousand colonies of bacteria/100ml were found; and Beirut’s Manara and Ramlet al-Baida beach where 25 thousand colonies of bacteria/100ml were detected.

Fecal matter from untreated household waste was the main type of pollutant found in the aforementioned beaches.

Industrial contamination:

Industrial activity, hydrocarbon plants, and garbage dumps alongside the Lebanese shores regularly contaminate the waters, CNRS Secretary General Dr. Mouin Hamze says, raising mercury, lead, and cadmium levels to a dangerous rate. These pollutants, which do not decompose, move up the food chain as they mainly rest in the sea grass that marine animals feed on, and which we in turn consume.

“This type of pollution poses a higher risk than organic contamination, as it does not break up, nor does it disintegrate,” he adds.

The most chemically polluted beaches are:

Specific locations in South Lebanon’s Sidon and Tyre; Beirut and Antelias; and north Lebanon’s Selaata, and Tripoli.

Safe beaches:

Now for the [relatively] good news. According to the study, the safest beaches to swim in include:

North Lebanon:

Tripoli (facing the Arab University – Shokr Mosque)

Anfeh (facing Our Lady of Natour Monastery, after the Las Salinas Resort)

Al-Herri – Chekka (Saleh beach)

Kibba-Bartoun (south of the Selaata chemical plant)

Batroun (facing the Center for Marine Science)

Mount Lebanon:

Jbeil (Bahsa beach – public sand beach)

Fidar (below the Fidar bridge)

Maameltein (Jounieh Bay – facing Casino Du Liban)

Tabarja (the rocky beach south of the fishing port)

Beirut:

Beirut (Riviera – Ain al-Mreisseh)

South Lebanon:

Tyre (marine reserve)

Naqoura (rocky beach north of the military harbor)

Related: Warning to swimmers: Highly toxic puffer and lionfish invasion hits Lebanese shores

One thought on “Avoid these Lebanese beaches at all cost

Comments are closed.

Next Post

We need to put an end to wildlife trafficking and abuse in Lebanon!  

Wed Jul 27 , 2016
The last time I wrote about lions on this blog, a cub was being offered up for sale on Facebook with a $5000 starting price. […]