BEIRUT, (Xinhua) — Sidon’s sea in South Lebanon is clean, safe and suitable for swimming, according to tests conducted by American University of Beirut, reported the National News Agency (NNA) on Wednesday. “The Environmental Core Laboratory at the university took three samples from different areas in Sidon’s sea to conduct the tests,” said the statement, quoting head of Sidon’s municipality Mohammad As Saudi. As Saudi said that Sidon’s municipality conducts tests every six months and the results always turn to be in conformity with international standards. Earlier this week, head of Tyre municipality Hassan Dbouk said that Tyre’s sea is also free of contamination, adding that “the rumors aimed at destroying tourism in this city.” The remarks came after a series of reports released about the coastal water pollution, the first being published by Al-Akhbar newspaper in June, saying that no region in Lebanon is free from pollution and advising people not to swim in the sea anymore. These reports were confirmed by head of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI), Michel Efram, who said earlier in June that Lebanon’s water is mostly contaminated in varying degrees. “The pollution is bacterial and chemical, with significant ratios of heavy metals, particularly mercury,” he said, pointing out that the institute has conducted a survey on the quality of water across Lebanon and reached an outcome: 100 percent pollution. Meanwhile, Mouin Hamze, Secretary General of the National Council for Scientific Research, launched a report on July 19, saying that 16 locations out of 25 on the Lebanese coast are clean and suitable for swimming. Water activities in four locations were classified as acceptable and five areas as very contaminated and cannot be used for swimming.