Pollution Reaching Disastrous Proportions

I went for a walk to the beach yesterday and frankly what I saw gave me little hope for humanity so I wasn't surprised to read the below article in the news paper today - Its very disturbing to see reading and yes governments need to make changes but waste bins are provided all over most beach areas yet people still leave trash everywhere..

http://news.kuwaittimes.net/environment … ital-area/

Environmental disasters at Kuwaiti beaches, hospital area

kuwait-beachKUWAIT: Getting a closer look at the seashore in Kuwait on Gulf Road demonstrates how such a piece of heaven was harmed by people and ignored by the authorities. The Kuwait Bay is contaminated with different kinds of pollutants such as plastic bags, litter and sewage that have all turned the nice sea breeze into stinking odors. This report probes what is currently happening to the 325-km long Kuwaiti coastline. Recent studies suggest that Kuwaiti waters occupy a leading place in terms of marine environment pollution. There has been remarkable environmental destruction because of human practices such as building ports, draining sewage, radioactive and factory wastes into the sea, which caused these waters to mix with highly hazardous substances, on top of which comes mercury.

When this extremely dangerous substance exceeds normal levels allowed by the World Health Organization, not only will it pollute the waters in Kuwait, but it will also make it poisonous and unfit for neither human nor animal consumption. It also leads to the death of tons of fish, such as the death of mullets in Kuwait Bay, and over 20 percent of corals and marine algae and seaweeds that take a long time to grow. This led to serious ecological and climate changes that have had a serious impact on human beings. An earlier report prepared by the environment studies unit at the Ministry of Health proved that Kuwaiti shores are polluted and that sewage dumped from the Mishref plant was untreated sewage waters that contained bacteria, fungi, worms and viruses that may pose health problems such as cholera and other diseases.

The report also warned of the dangers of chemicals used by concerned relevant authorities and approved by the Environment Public Authority (EPA) with the excuse of sterilizing sewage dumped from the Mishref plant into the sea. The report stressed that these chemicals were extremely dangerous and that they lead to forming carcinogens and toxic elements in fish that are later consumed by humans.

The Sources of Pollution
When touring the areas of Sulaibiya, Kuwait Towers and the Free Zone beaches, marine pollution was extremely evident in the form of dumping various kinds of solid wastes such as industrial, construction, ship wastes and litter that includes unrecyclable plastic and treated and untreated sewage waters in addition to oil leaking from ships and boats. Local and migrating birds, fish and shrimp are the most vulnerable to pollution. Moreover, contaminated fish and shrimp are a prime cause of various health problems for the people consuming them, doctors claim.

Disastrous Scene
What is more alarming is the fact that many of hospitals in the health zone in Shuwaikh that directly overlook the sea have been dumping their waste (usually contaminated with bacteria and microbes after treating infectious diseases and epidemics) directly into the sea. The shores have turned into dumpsters for litter, dead fish and animals and sewage that have turned blue sea waters into gloomy dark grayish ones. A once fascinating picturesque scene has now turned into a mutilated painting. The most alarming environmental danger are mud precipitations that are rich in bacteria that are harmful for both the environment and human beings.

They also cause bad odors that have spoiled people’s enjoyment of the sea. At the seafront, hundreds of people have been dumping non-decomposing substances such as plastic bags and containers, aluminum cans and bottles that not only pose environmental threats but also endanger those enjoying the beaches or swimming. In addition, the amount of wastes help spread and attract insects and rodents. Some boat owners and fishermen are also to blame for irresponsibly getting rid of their motor oil cans, used ropes and nets in the middle of the sea. This makes one wonder why the municipality does not act to stop such messy violations. More fines should be imposed and more control practiced over beaches to stop this pollution, residents say.

Dangerous Phenomenon
This marine pollution has created unprecedented damage to marine life such as ‘red tide’ resulting from pouring sewage into the sea amidst high temperatures and humidity that eventually led to a lack of oxygen in the water and as a result, the death of fish. Most recently, large quantities of oysters and crabs were found dead at Al-Khairan beaches. In fact, the number of dying oysters is alarmingly increasing amid calls for more efforts from experts and environmentalists to stop the process and save other oysters still in the sea. In this regard, the Public Authority For Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) have taken specimens of both dead and living oysters as well as the waters near the site to study them.

What is happening is an environmental crime against nature by all means because Kuwait had always been blessed by waters that used to be the best diving spots in the Arabian Gulf. So will officials act to end this disaster and will the government and the parliament cooperate to come up with revolutionary decisions to save what is left of this divine gift? It remains to be seen.