Dr. Gur Mizrahi: "It is likely that a large part of the pollution originates from the Kidron stream and probably other streams that bring and wash away the garbage that we leave in the field. The issue requires immediate attention from the appropriate bodies"
As part of a study to detect contamination in the Dead Sea, researchers from the Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences of the University of Haifa discovered huge amounts of plastic waste at the mouth of the Kidron River, which abuts the waterline of the Dead Sea. "The Dead Sea suffers from decades of neglect and exploitation, and unfortunately, the pictures speak for themselves. The area is covered with macro plastic that over the years becomes part of the coastal strip," said Dr. Gur Mizrahi, one of the leaders of the study.
The research takes place as part of a course that uses advanced technologies, among others drones, which is taught by Dr. Mizrahi, Dr. Yoav Lehan and Dr. Anna Brock and aims to locate plastic pollution and examine the impact of the pollution and the annual drop in the level on the Dead Sea. When they reached the point where the Kidron River spilled into the Dead Sea, they were amazed to discover the piles of plastic, which included bottles of all kinds, nylons, plastic containers and more.
According to the researchers, this is apparently pollution that has been accumulating for years, when the annual floods in the river "drive" the waste closer and closer to the Dead Sea each time. "It is likely that a large part of the pollution originates from the Kidron stream and probably other streams that bring and wash away the garbage we leave in the field, or untreated garbage piles. The issue requires immediate attention from the appropriate bodies and we as researchers and environmentalists are obligated to flood the issue. The Dead Sea is a unique place on a global scale and it is important that we do everything to reduce the severe environmental damage we cause by exploiting and neglecting it," Dr. Mizrahi concluded.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
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Hello Dr. Gor Mizrahi
I am a master's student at the kibbutz seminar in the department of environmental and sustainability studies.
I would love to receive the article.
Thank you
Orit Oz
Hello, how can I get to the original research?
Sewage flowed in Nahal Kidron for several years, this may be the source of the dirt.
It is also possible to characterize the source of the dirt according to the inscription on the packages or bottles, an inscription in Hebrew or Arabic will give a clue to the source.
The Kidron stream was a sewage channel of East Jerusalem for many years, maybe the dirt remains from that time?
From experience you can identify what is written on the packaging, it is worth checking if the labels on the bottles and bags are in Hebrew or Arabic, this can give insights into the source of the contamination.