The risk of asbestos at the ruins of gas

Israel's devastating military campaign in Gaza launched a silent killer: Asbestos.

The mineral, once widely used in building materials, starts toxic fibers into the air when it is disturbed that it can cling to the lungs and – for decades – causes cancer.

Nowadays, its use is prohibited in much of the world, but is still present in much older buildings.

In Gaza, it is found mainly in an asbestos roof, used in the eight city refugee camps on the territory – which were created for Palestinians who escaped or were expelled from their homes during the Arab -Israeli War of 1948-49 – according to the organizers' environment (Junsep).

In October 2024, UNP estimated that up to 2.3 million tonnes of ruins in gas could be contaminated with asbestos.

“Gaza's understanding is a very, very toxic environment,” says Professor Bill Cookson, director of the National Mesoteliom Studies Center in London. “People will suffer sharply, but also in the long run the things that children can carry throughout their lives.”

“The lost life will not end here now. The inheritance will continue,” says Liz Darlison, CEO of Mesothelioma UK.

When the assets are disturbed by something like an air stroke, its fibers – too small to see with the human eye – can be inhaled from those nearby and can then make a way to the lungs of the lungs.

For many years – usually decades – they can cause scars, leading to a serious pulmonary condition known as asbestosis, or in some cases an aggressive form of pulmonary cancer named mesothelioma.

“Mesothelioma is a terrible, insoluble disease,” says Prof. Cookson.

“The really disturbing thing,” he adds, “is that it is not related to the dose. So even small breaths of asbestos fibers can cause subsequent mesothelioma.

“It grows in the pleural cavity. It is extremely painful. It is always diagnosed late. And is quite well resistant to all treatments.”

Usually, those who become mesothelioma infected do this from 20 to 60 years after the exposure – which means it will take decades before the possible impact on the territory is felt. It is believed that a higher level or longer exposure period accelerates the progression of the disease.

Dr. Ryan Hoi, whose study of dust inhalation is cited by UNEP, says it is extremely difficult to avoid breathing in asbestos fibers because they are “really tiny particles that sail in the air that can become very, very deep in the lungs.”

They are even more difficult to avoid, he says because Gaza is so “densely populated”. The territory houses approximately 2.1 million people and are 365 square km (141 square miles) – about a quarter of London.

Earth experts there say that humans are not able to manage the risks caused by asbestos or inhalation of dust due to the more unhappy dangers of Israel's military offensive.

“At this point (inhalation of dust) is not something that is perceived as an alarming thing about the population. They don't even have things to eat and they are afraid of being killed more by bombs,” says Kiara Lodi, a medical coordinator at Gaza for medical help for the Palestinians.

“The lack of awareness of the risks of asbestos, combined with the ongoing challenges (people in Gaza) in which they are trying to restore their lives, means that they are not able to take the necessary measures to protect,” said a spokesman based on Gaza for NGO Children's People.

Many “are not fully aware of the harmful effects of dust and debris,” they added.

Following a previous conflict in Gaza in 2009, a UN study on the territory found asbestos in debris from older buildings, sheds, temporary extensions of buildings, roofs and walls of livestock enclosures.

There are several types of asbestos ranging from the so-called “white asbestos”, which is the least dangerous, to the “blue” or crocidolite, which is the most. The high -carcinogenic crocidolithic asbestos was previously discovered in the UN gas.

Globally, about 68 countries have banned the use of asbestos, although some maintain exceptions to special use. It was banned in the UK in 1999 and Israel banned its use in buildings in 2011.

In addition to mesothelioma, assets can cause other forms of lung cancer, larynx and ovarian cancer.

In addition, the less known risk is that of silicosis, the pulmonary disease caused by breathing in silica, usually for many years. Concrete usually contains 20-60% silica.

Dr. Hoy says that the pure amount of dust in gas can lead to “increased risk of respiratory tract infections, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, exacerbation of existing lung disease such as” emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

For years, the September 11 attacks against the World Trade Center in New York have been used as a case by health experts to study the effects of large toxic dust on a civilian population.

“The twin towers were not in the middle of a war zone,” says G -ja Darlison, “so it was something we were able to measure and quantitatively determine easier.”

As of December 2023, 5.249 of those registered in the health program of the World Government of the United States Government were killed as a result of aerodigist diseases or cancer – far higher digit than 2296 people who were killed in the attack itself. A total of 34,113 people have been diagnosed with cancer for the same period.

Thehe USA and a group of Arab countries have proposed competitive plans for the reconstruction of Gaza. The UN warned that the process would need to be managed carefully to avoid disturbing the huge quantities of asbestos polluted ruins.

“Unfortunately,” says G -ja Darlison, “the very properties that made us use so many of it are the properties that make it difficult to get rid of.”

A UNEP spokesman told the BBC that the process of debris removal would “increase the likelihood of asbestos disturbance and the release of dangerous fibers in the air.”

UNEP's estimate has shown that clearing all debris can take 21 years and cost up to $ 1.2 billion ($ 929 million).

The Israeli military began their offensive for Gaza in response to Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, in which about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and saw 251 people take a hostage.

Israel's offensive killed over 53,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mainly women and children, according to the health ministry in the territory.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to the BBC's request for a comment.