In a scene that reflects the environmental challenges faced by coastal lakes in the Mediterranean region, a recent scientific study revealed that Lake Burullus – the second largest natural lake in Egypt – is increasingly vulnerable to pollution with microcredit molecules, known as microbial behavior.
The study, which was published on April 4 in the magazine “Scinvak Reports”, used geographic information systems and spatial analysis models to assess the extent of the lake exposure to this type of hidden pollution.
According to the results, the southern, west and northwest regions of the lake have shown the highest levels of environmental interlocutor, making it critical points that require urgent intervention.
Lake Burullus is located on the northeast coast of Egypt, and it has been classified as a nature reserve since 1998 under Egyptian law, and it is also included in the international “Ramsar” convention for the protection of wetlands.
Despite this, the study confirms that legal protection has not prevented the penetration of human activities, in particular the drainage of agricultural and healthy wasteland, in its fragile environmental fabric.
A proactive model to monitor threats
The study represents a qualitative change in the way of managing plastic pollution, because it is not satisfied to document the existing situation, but rather provides a predictive model which impatiently awaits the most vulnerable domains, on the basis of 7 main indicators, in particular: the density of human activities, the trends of water currents, the proximity of areas to sea entries and the level of legal protection.
In a statement to “Al -jazeera net”, the researcher participating in the study, “Suha Network”, deputy professor in the department of aquatic neighborhoods of the National Institute of Sea and Fisheries: “We have created a model using geographic information systems to assess exposure to surface water to pollution from Indian sources. swivel in the role of swivel.
“Lake Burullus receives approximately 3.9 billion cubic meters of agricultural water and drainage per year, in addition to drainage from the farms of fish farms. These huge quantities are an ideal way to transport the microblec to the ecosystem.”
The research team has monitored the presence of 8 types of thermal polymers in water samples, including polypropylene, low density polyethylene, nylon and lenum.
These materials refer to various sources of pollution, including strings, fishing nets, insulating materials in electric cables, boat coating, plastic bags and packaging containers.
The researcher explains that the average concentration of plastic molecules in the open waters of the lake amounted to 165 pieces per cubic meter, while it reached 835.6 pieces / m in water near the drains, which indicates a close relationship between the results of human activities and the rate of pollution recorded.
Areas such as Baltim, Al Burj and the southeast parts of the lake are highlighted as the most affected, where urban activities are concentrated and the water networks that contribute to the collection and transport of pollutants are linked.
An invisible impact .. but dangerous
The microblissec, despite its precise size which does not exceed 5 millimeters, is considered to be one of the most dangerous types of modern pollutants, due to its ability to penetrate marine food chains. When marine organizations such as fish and crustaceans are swallowed these molecules, the toxic substances associated with them accumulate in their tissues, and they can be transmitted later to humans during the consumption of these organisms.
In this context, the “Microbliseec network does not only affect marine life in terms of suffocation or blocking of the digestive system, but also causes hormonal and reproductive disorders which can cause a progressive collapse of environmental balance. As for humans, there are real risks resulting from the consumption of contaminated fish or the use of contained water.”
Although Lake Burullus is subject to legal protection, the study highlights an “applied gap” in the application of these laws. The results indicate that low environmental control, multiple sources of pollution and unexpected urban expansion are all factors that contribute to the deterioration of the lake environmental situation.
“Abdel Hamid Ahmed” – Deputy Professor of Natural Geography at the University of Mansoura, and the non -participating researcher – comments declarations to “Al -jazeera Net” that the study was not satisfied to monitor environmental reality in Lake Burullus, but rather concluded by a set of urgent preventive measures which could contribute to reducing the aggravation of pollution in the micoblisc.
Among the most important of these recommendations are the activation of periodic environmental surveillance systems, aimed at continuously monitoring the concentrations of fine plastic molecules in water and sediments, allowing monitoring changes and drawing a precise time map of risks. He also called to reduce the use of mono plastic materials used, especially in hunting and tourism activities, because it is one of the main sources of pollution.
Micro-model
The study has not neglected the importance of raising awareness among society, as it has recommended that it organize awareness campaigns targeting fishermen and local communities, to explain the dimensions of the problem and its health and environmental effects. It also underlined the need to establish an integrated infrastructure for waste treatment, especially in areas surrounding the banks, which is the main gateway to the leak of pollutants in the lake.
Finally, the study required a more severe application of environmental legislation and to improve the control tools for indirect pollution sources, in order to ensure effective and sustainable protection for this fragile ecosystem.
In this context, a network underlines the importance of adopting a multidimensional approach, which combines technical solutions, institutional interventions and awareness of the community, stressing that “the battle against the microblist cannot be won by researchers alone, but rather requires cooperation between political decision -makers, civil society and the private sector”.
Lake Burullus, according to experts, is a microcosm of the challenges facing many coastal lakes in the region, such as Lake Bardawil in Sinai, Lake Mariout in Alexandria and other wet environmental systems threatened with pollution.
Ahmed believes that the results of this study can be disseminated in similar environments, claiming: “The space card produced by the study provides an important tool to organize the priorities of the intervention, and is a scientific basis to direct environmental investments to the most necessary fields.”