In light of one of the most devastating explosions in the history of mankind hitting Beirut, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Balamand put together a team of experts to study the environmental impact on the city and its surroundings. The team is headed by Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud and consists of: Dr. Marianne Saba, Dr. Amal Iaaly, Dr. Rima Manneh, and Miss Katia Chedid.

The team has come together to assess the sea water pollution caused by the massive and without any doubt poisonous explosion. After less than 72 Hrs of the explosion, Dr. Marianne Saba of the Environmental Engineering Laboratory at the Faculty of Engineering conducted a sea water sampling campaign around the Beirut Port to analyze the sea water quality. An assessment of the major cations and anions in the water as well as the heavy metals will be done to relate the impact of the explosion on the water quality of the sea. Additionally, sediment sampling around the port region (explosion site) in Beirut is carried out to analyze the concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. Samples from other locations across the shore from Tripoli to Tyre has also been collated. Exact location of water extraction was supported by live GIS location to model the sea water pollution caused by the explosion and measure its impact. The findings are hoped to guide national water and sea life resources after this unprecedented contamination. The results will be published as soon as the analysis is completed (https://arcg.is/15yvO). This work compliments another University of Balamand team that is investigating dust and air pollution in the most affected area of the capital.

Professor Abboud stated: “what happened is surreal, unprecedented and shocking to say the least. Our hearts and souls are with the families that were directly affected and unfairly lost loved ones. Our thoughts are with the injured wishing them a quick recovery. Our work is to try and help, from an environmental perspective, to detect any hidden environmental risk factors to protect our fellow countrymen and women in Beirut ending up from suffering from more misery”.