The Mediterranean Sea, often associated with luxury vacations and exquisite seafood, is facing a growing health threat due to escalating pollution levels, according to a July 2024 report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The report highlights that over 87% of the Mediterranean Sea, spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to Africa, Europe, and Asia, is contaminated with microplastics, toxic metals, and industrial chemicals. This pollution poses significant risks to the 150 million residents along the Mediterranean coastline and the 270 million tourists visiting annually.
The Mediterranean coastline, stretching nearly 29,000 miles across 22 countries, faces varying environmental standards. Egypt is identified as the leading contributor of plastic waste, dumping 0.25 million tons into the sea, followed by Turkey and Italy. These contributions form part of the 1.9 million plastic fragments per square meter.
WWF's medical experts warn that humans can ingest microplastics through seafood and water consumption. The report details that consuming three main commercial fish species can lead to the ingestion of over 840 microplastics annually, while high consumption of bivalves can result in up to 11,000 microplastics per year. Additionally, exposure from air and non-aquatic food sources can contribute to ingesting over 100,000 microplastics daily.
At the seaside town of Ostia near Rome, Pierluigi Capozzi, owner of the Mediterraneo restaurant, notes a visible reduction in chemical pollution due to improved regulations. However, he still witnesses rampant littering, particularly by younger generations.
The Mediterranean, a crucial reservoir of marine and coastal biodiversity, is heavily impacted by pollution. Despite covering only 0.7% of the world's ocean area, it houses 7.5% of marine fauna and 18% of marine flora. The fishing industry, valued at €4.6 billion, supports 180,000 people, but pollution has significantly affected their livelihoods. The UN's Environmental Program reports a 34% decline in sea catches over the past 50 years due to overfishing and plastic pollution.
A 2023 study by the Archipelago Institute of Marine Conservation in Greece found microplastic pollutants in all 25 marine animals examined, including dolphins, monk seals, and sea turtles. Raffaele Marfella, a professor at Vanvitelli University in Naples, emphasizes the urgent global issue of plastic pollution, linking microplastics to cardiovascular diseases through ingestion or inhalation, as discussed in a recent New England Journal of Medicine article.
Beachgoer Francesco Pacelli expresses his distress over littering, stressing the importance of clean beaches for both aesthetic and ecological reasons. He urges collective action to combat water pollution, warning that the allure of the Mediterranean could quickly turn nightmarish if the pollution crisis is not addressed.
