Probe Opened in Medical Waste Products Dumped Illegally in Sea
Environment Minister Mohammed Mashnouq asked the ministry of health to take strict measures against all hospitals, laboratories, private clinics and beauty centers responsible for illegally disposing their medical waste products in sea, LBCI reported on Friday..
Mashnouq's step came after he received from the Lebanese Union of Professional Divers photos of huge amounts of medical waste material piling off Lebanon's coast.
The waste products, which LBCI described as “contagious,” include syringes, IV bags, human remains in addition to carcinogen and chemical products.
“The massive waste dump can be mainly found in seawater between the northern coast of al-Damour up to the southern al-Sarafand,” said Mohammad al-Sarji, the head of union and a maritime legal expert.
“We have no knowledge of the diseases these remains contain and how they are disintegrated in seawater and how they affect the environment,” he added.
In 2011, then Health Minister Mohammed Rahhal had warned hospitals to treat their medical waste products and abide by environmental laws or health and safety standards in disposing of the organic waste.
The hospitals started cooperating with the Lebanese civil organization, Arc En Ciel, which is specialized in acquiring experience related to treating medical wastes.
But, the NGO stated that it is not specialized in treating all kinds of medical wastes mainly the chemical and carcinogens ones.
Health Minister Wael Abu Faour said the Environment Minister informed him about the problem, and “requested a thorough investigation in the case. Strict measures will be taken against the violators.”
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