Microbiologist Dr Petros Karagiannis has stressed the need for systematic water analysis and public disclosure of results to answer the questions raised over pollution in Limassol's sea.
Speaking on Politis Radio, Karagiannis said citizen complaints and circulating footage cannot be ignored, but stressed that answers need to come from scientific data. "We cannot ignore either the complaints or the footage circulating. On the other hand, to eliminate any concerns, it is necessary to present water analysis results from various areas," he said, describing this as absolutely necessary, particularly whenever there are indications of a possible pollution problem.
Many possible sources
Karagiannis said the potential strain on the sea is not linked exclusively to sewage systems. "We are not just talking about sewage systems. There are many possible points of origin for the pollution," he said, noting that contamination could come from ships anchored in Limassol Bay, pleasure boats, land-based facilities, runoff reaching the sea, or other human activity. He also noted that southerly winds typically prevail during the summer months, carrying water toward the beaches. "If there is pollution, sooner or later it will end up on the shores where people swim," he said.
Asked whether the sea can absorb small amounts of pollution without lasting effect, Karagiannis said this depends on the scale and duration of the discharge. "If it involves small quantities of waste or contaminated water, these will likely be diluted within the vast volume of the sea," he said, adding that when discharge is continuous or repeated, the situation changes and a genuine problem can develop.
On the debate over a pipeline discharging closer to shore than permitted, Karagiannis said water quality, not distance alone, is the decisive factor, since sea currents and wave action move water regardless of the discharge point. Whether the distance is 100 metres or 500 metres, he said, a genuine water quality problem can eventually reach the beach.
Full mapping of discharge points needed
Karagiannis argued that identifying the real cause of the problem requires first mapping every possible source, including sewage systems, industrial facilities, construction activity and any other potential origin. "Without recording all possible sources, the real cause cannot be identified," he said.
Health risks and possible contaminants
Asked about the risks of contact with contaminated water, Karagiannis said the effects could include gastrointestinal infections, respiratory problems, skin conditions, and eye or ear infections. He explained that contamination from sewage or faecal matter can introduce bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella and Campylobacter, while viruses including hepatitis A, norovirus and rotavirus can also be present in affected water.
Risk to the food chain
Karagiannis noted the effects are not limited to swimmers and can extend to seafood. He said filter-feeding organisms such as mussels and oysters draw in large volumes of water to feed, and if that water is contaminated, they can accumulate microorganisms and pass them along the food chain. He cited an outbreak in China some years ago, in which hundreds of thousands of people contracted hepatitis A after eating undercooked shellfish.
Prevention is key
On protecting swimmers, Karagiannis said prevention and systematic water quality monitoring remain the best defence, noting that swimming inevitably involves swallowing small amounts of water or getting water in the eyes and ears. He advised people with open wounds to cover them before entering the water, whether in the sea or a swimming pool, and noted that beyond microbes and viruses, chemical substances that do not cause infection but can irritate the nose, throat or respiratory tract may also be present.
Summing up, Karagiannis said the core message is the need for full mapping of all possible discharge points into the sea, systematic and frequent sampling, and transparency in publishing the results. "Only this way will we know with certainty whether there is a problem, where it comes from, and how it can be addressed," he concluded.
