Lebanon Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment - UNEP

INDUSTRIAL AND URBAN CONTAMINATIONWork has been partially resumed at the Lebanon Company for Carton Mince and IndustryThe ash sample showed a zinc concentrationslightly above Dutch Intervention Values,indicating that the ash was the result of a plasticwaste fire. A second ash sample collected on thefirst floor of the main building showed an elevatedantimony concentration (120 mg/kg).Given that the ash has the potential to impactnegatively on the water quality in the river, andultimately on the marine environment, it shouldbe removed from the river bank and disposed ofin a sanitary landfill.Surface and groundwaterOn UNEP’s initial visit, substantial quantities ofdebris ash were stockpiled along 75 to 100 m ofthe banks of the Ghadir stream, which forms thenortheastern boundary of the site. A follow-upvisit by UNEP after heavy rainfall in mid-Octoberrevealed that all of the ash had been swept awayinto the stream.Laboratory analysis of the ash indicated elevatedlevels of several heavy metals and toxic organiccompounds, including dioxins and PAH. Thisrepresents a significant pollution load for theGhadir River and for the down-stream coastalenvironment, which constitutes the ultimate sinkfor the effluent. In addition, there is a possibilitythat the ash may settle on the riverbed, from whereit may migrate and contaminate the underlyinggroundwater.Two water samples were collected from the river(50bSW1 and 50bSW2) down-gradient and upgradientfrom the location of the ash. The latter samplewas taken for inference of baseline conditions.• United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme •63