If the minimal air pollution measuring efforts deployed in Lebanon focused mainly on the overcrowded Capital where the traffic is becoming denser and denser, it would indicate that the quality of the air we breathe is extremely polluted. The main source of pollution in the city is traffic, while elsewhere, near the power plants (Zouk in Kesrouan, Jiyeh south of Beirut…) and in industrial areas (near the cement factories in Chekka in the North of Lebanon), the pollution is mainly industrial.

As for the traffic in cities, and mainly in Beirut (around half of the vehicles in Lebanon are concentrated in the area of Greater Beirut), we can notice a slight improvement compared to the disastrous situation that prevailed in the 90’s, and this is thanks to an anti-air pollution law (No. 341) adopted in 2002 under the pressure of ecological associations, in particular the National Committee for the Development and the Environment. Although inefficiently implemented, this law put an end to two scandals: through the prohibition of leaded fuel (this heavy metal has, among others, a noxious impact on the development of children’s IQ), and the banning of oil engines (industrial and bad quality oil that should not be confused with diesel engines found in Europe) with which most taxi cars and minibuses were equipped (unfortunately, the use of better-quality fuel was not imposed on big buses and heavy trucks). Other measures, such as the obligatory use of catalytic converters in vehicles or the prohibition of polluting vehicles were not applicable under this law. With regards to power stations which use fuel that is often rich in sulfur, the government decided to import better quality fuel (containing less sulfur). Yet, according to some information, the implementation of this decision by Electricity of Lebanon (EDL) is difficult since the fuel imports are monopolized by the private sector and the merchandise often takes time to be delivered. Thus to avoid plunging the country into darkness, EDL is often compelled to use fuel that does not comply with the new standards set by the government. We can add to this problem the insufficient control on imported fuel in general, especially after the failure to sign bilateral agreements for direct state imports with oil-exporting countries that is mostly attributed to some conflict of interests…