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List of Publications by Department for the Academic Year Marine Quality and Risk Assessment of the Southern Lebanese Coast

Abstract

Lebanese marine environment is enduring the exposure to many pollutants due to easy accessibility. Saida is a Lebanese city located on the Mediterranean coast south Lebanon. It suffers from the direct discharges of untreated sewage and industrial effluents in the seawater and the main catastrophe "Saida dumpsite". The objective of this study is to evaluate water quality of Saida’s coastline in southern Lebanon. Fifty sea water samples and ten sediment samples were collected during October and November 2013 following the global positioning system (GPS). Heavy metals detection in seawater showed that all studied metals (Fe, Cu, Cd, Mn, Zn, Cr and Pb) concentrations were higher than the guideline and it was found that Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb had average concentrations greater than the TRV (Toxicity reference value). Sediment analysis revealed that only lead recorded a contamination factor above the reference value. Microbiological analyses were done for the detection of Salmonella sp, Shigella sp, and fecal coliforms, according to the methods set by APHA and WHO. Salmonella and Shigella sp. were present in 70% and 52% of the sites respectively. Fecal coliform counts showed that 48% of the sites are sewage polluted and above the European guideline. Therefore, these results show that Saida Coastline is in need of strategies and plans to reduce the pollution load and make it safe for public use.

Author(s)

Narmin Ghazi Zmorrod

Coauthor(s)

Prof. Hanafy Holail, Prof. Zakia Olama