CIU Academician Assist. Prof. Dr. İme Akanyeti: “Instead of cleaning the environment, we need to learn to not pollute it”

Cyprus International University (CIU), Faculty of Engineering Academic Staff, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ime Akanyeti, speaking within the context of Environmental Protection Week, stated that instead of decreasing, the environmental destruction in the country that has continued for years, has increased exponentially.

Reminding that as well as the uncontrolled release of polluting gases into the air from power plants, there is an impact upon environmental destruction of untreated domestic wastewater discharged into the sea, especially in the Kyrenia region, Akanyeti went on to say, “In addition, the randomly and savage storing of domestic and hazardous wastes in nature, are among some of the great environmental disasters in our country which have still not been taken up on the agenda and solutions not found for”.

Stating that there are many destructions of nature caused by humanity, Assist. Prof. Dr. Akanyeti continued, "The great forest fires that have been experienced in different parts of the world in recent years, the grasshopper invasion in East Africa and the Covid 19 epidemic, which has become today's global crisis, are revealing of the global environmental destruction experienced."

Referring to the sea saliva (mucilage) problem that emerged towards the end of 2020, negatively affecting the Marmara Sea and everyone benefiting from it, Akanyeti continued "Experts have described this disaster as an important example of nature's response to the destruction caused by humanity."

Explaining that the phytoplankton present in water excessively reproduce in an effort to consume the nitrogen and phosphorus found in the domestic wastewater that is released into the environment without adequate or no purification, Akanyeti explained that as a result of the excessive reproduction, mucoid like structures referred to as saliva/mucilage, are secreted by these organisms.

Informing that during the decomposition of the mucilage, many of the creatures under the sea die due to the oxygen levels present within the water being depleted or by being covered by it, Akanyeti reminded that wastewater that is released into the environment without being treated can lead to diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid, if it is to mix with drinking and domestic water.

Stating that in light of all this scientific data it is necessary for urgent action plans to be created in order to reduce and prevent the release of pollutants into nature as soon as possible, Akanyeti concluded, "When we learn not to pollute instead of cleaning our environment, we can stop environmental disasters."