Article: A multicriteria analysis to assess the pollution in the southern coastal area of Sfax Journal: International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making (IJMCDM) 2018 Vol.7 No.3/4 pp.217 - 235 Abstract: The coastal marine area of Sfax (Tunisia) is a well-known zone by its high productivity and fisheries. However, it is threatened by a variety of pollution sources contributing to a degradation of the water quality. In this paper, a study involving 20 stations and 23 physico-chemical and biogeochemical parameters is proposed. Due to the multicriteria nature of the problem, De Smet et al.'s method is used to assess the pollution level in this coastal area. The application of this approach leads to three groups of stations with different pollution levels. The results show that PO3−4, BOD5, COD, MN2+, Cl− and SO2−4 are the main factors of the pollution. In addition, they indicate that the SIAPE discharges and the phosphogypsum wastes are the main source of PO3−4, Cl− and SO2−4 which explain the high COD. Thus, an urgent action leading to control the loading of these industrial wastes into the sea is a necessity in order to reduce the pollution and to avoid its propagation. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: A multicriteria analysis to assess the pollution in the southern coastal area of Sfax

Authors: Zaher Drira; Mohamed Ayman Boujelben; Habib Ayadi

Addresses: Biodiversity and Aquatic Ecosystems, UR/11ES72 Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Road of Soukra Km 3.5, PB 1171, PC 3000, Sfax, Tunisia ' Institute of High Commercial Studies, University of Sfax, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 10, PB 43, PC 3061, Sfax, Tunisia ' Biodiversity and Aquatic Ecosystems, UR/11ES72 Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Road of Soukra Km 3.5, PB 1171, PC 3000, Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract: The coastal marine area of Sfax (Tunisia) is a well-known zone by its high productivity and fisheries. However, it is threatened by a variety of pollution sources contributing to a degradation of the water quality. In this paper, a study involving 20 stations and 23 physico-chemical and biogeochemical parameters is proposed. Due to the multicriteria nature of the problem, De Smet et al.'s method is used to assess the pollution level in this coastal area. The application of this approach leads to three groups of stations with different pollution levels. The results show that PO³⁻₄, BOD₅, COD, MN²⁺, Cl⁻ and SO²⁻₄ are the main factors of the pollution. In addition, they indicate that the SIAPE discharges and the phosphogypsum wastes are the main source of PO³⁻₄, Cl⁻ and SO²⁻₄ which explain the high COD. Thus, an urgent action leading to control the loading of these industrial wastes into the sea is a necessity in order to reduce the pollution and to avoid its propagation.

Keywords: southern coast of Sfax; anthropogenic inputs; pollution assessment; multicriteria clustering; De Smet et al.'s method.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2018.094379

International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making, 2018 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.217 - 235

Received: 12 Sep 2016
Accepted: 14 Sep 2017
Published online: 31 Aug 2018 *

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Title: A multicriteria analysis to assess the pollution in the southern coastal area of Sfax

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