The Assessment of Man–Made Litter on The Shores of The Dead Sea, Jordan and its Environmental Impact

Abstract

The present study deals with a very vital and important topic to a region witnessing rapid economic development, especially in the field of tourism. Many investment activities are going on, such as the construction of hotels, tourist villages, parks, etc. These activities collectively are responsible for a very complicated environmental situation in the region.
In the present study four sites (transects) at the Dead Sea beach, totalling an area 175000 m. long and 50 m. wide were surveyed for man–made litter. Of the 111,493 items observed in the survey 1.68% were animal residuals, 5.1% wood logs, 2.5 % tins, 1.91% cardbord, 22.46% sponge and cigarette filters, 24.86% coal, 8.62% food remains, 3.15% plastic bags, and 29.3% bottles. The author concluded that the litter discarded by tourists and other beach-goers is the main contributor to the problem, and riverine input is the second, especially wood debris. Solutions and recommendations to deal with this growing problem are suggested .