Editing Melilla (section)

=== Air and noise pollution ===
Vehicle traffic is the main cause of pollution in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melilla |date=2023-02-08 |title=The main source of pollution in Melilla is road traffic • Ecologistas en Acción |url=https://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/284316/la-principal-fuente-de-contaminacion-en-melilla-es-el-trafico-rodado/ |accessdate=2025-04-05 |website=Ecologistas en Acción |language=es}}</ref> The periodic droughts in Melilla cause increased levels of suspended particulate pollutants as well as other gases like [[carbon dioxide]] and [[nitrogen]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Atmospheric Pollution and Air Quality |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fdes_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=3703&nivel=1400&tipo=6&codResi=1&language=es&codMenu=200&codMenuPN=601&codMenuSN=8 |accessdate=2025-04-05 |website=www.melilla.es}}</ref> which in that year still did not exceed the allowed levels. Regarding noise pollution, it has been detected that Melilla exceeds 65.7 decibels, surpassing the levels established by the [[World Health Organization]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Noise Ordinance of the Autonomous City of Melilla |url=https://www.ruidos.org/Normas/Melilla_ordenanza.htm |accessdate=2025-04-05 |website=www.ruidos.org}}</ref>

The major sources of coastal pollution come from sewage (65.8%) and oils and petroleum (34.2%). The high population density leads to the production of large amounts of wastewater, which is discharged into the sea. There is a treatment plant in the city, but discharges from other areas affect Melilla, causing an increase in turbidity that hinders the penetration of sunlight necessary for the [[photosynthesis]] of aquatic plants, an imbalance in aquatic communities due to excessive organic matter, an increase in germs in the coastal environment, as well as the appearance of foam and scum on the sea surface.<ref>{{Cite web |last=20minutos |date=2024-06-12 |title=These are the two black flags of Melilla for pollution and poor management |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5492409/0/banderas-negras-melilla-contaminacion-mala-gestion/ |website=www.20minutos.es - Latest News |language=es}}</ref>