The danger of asbestos in the ruins of Gaza

Israel’s destroyed military campaign in Gaza issued a silent killer: asbestos.

The minerals, which were widely used in building materials, are exported toxic fibers in the air when disturbed and that can cling to the lungs – for decades – cause cancer.

Nowadays, it is banned in most parts of the world, but it is still present in many old buildings.

In Gaza, it was primarily found in the Bishop of the asbestos used through the eight urban refugee camps in the region – which was created for the Palestinians who fled or were driven by their homes during the Arab War to Israel 1948-1949 – according to the United Nations Environment Program (United Table).

In October 2024, the United Nations estimated to reach 2.3 million tons of rubble in Gaza that could be contaminated with asbestos.

“Ruble Gaza is a very toxic environment,” says Professor Bill Coxon, director of the National Center for Medium Introduction Research in London. “People will suffer sharply, but also in the long term as well, the things that children may carry throughout their lives.”

“The missing spirits will not end here. The legacy will continue,” says Liz Dirleson, CEO of Mesothelioma UK.

When asbestos feel annoyed by something like an air strike, its fibers can breathe – very small so that it cannot be seen with the human eye – by those close, and then they can work in the lining of the lungs.

Over the course of many years – usually decades – it can cause scarring which leads to a serious condition in the lung known as asbestos, or in some cases, an aggressive form of lung cancer called medium epithelium tumor.

“A medium epithelium tumor is a terrible and excited disease,” says Professor Coxon.

“The really worrying thing,” he adds, is that it is not associated with the dose. So even the small inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause subsequent average epithelium.

“It grows inside the pleural cavity. It is very painful. It is always diagnosed late. It is completely resistant to all treatments.”

Usually, those who contract medium epithelium tumor after 20 to 60 years of exposure – which means that it will take decades before the potential effect across the region. It is believed that a higher level, or a longer period of exposure speeds up the development of the disease.

Dr. Ryan Hui, whose research was martyred in inhaling dust by the United Nations, says it is very difficult to avoid breathing in asbestos fibers because they are “small molecules floating in the air that can reach a large extent in the lungs.”

He says it is difficult to avoid, because Gaza is “populated.” The region includes about 2.1 million people and 365 square kilometers (141 square miles) – about a quarter of London.

Experts on the ground say that people are unable to manage the risks of asbestos or inhalation of dust due to the most urgent dangers of Israel’s military attack.

“At this time, (inhalation of dust) is not something that is worrying about the population. They even do not have things to eat, and they fear more than killing the bombs,” says Chara Lodi, the medical coordinator in Gaza for medical assistance to the Palestinians.

“The lack of awareness about the dangers of asbestos, in addition to the ongoing challenges (people in Gaza) face an attempt to rebuild their lives, means that they are unable to take the necessary measures to protect themselves.”

“They do not fully realize the harmful effects of dust and debris,” added.

After a previous struggle in Gaza in 2009, a survey of the United Nations for the region of asbestos in the wreckage of the oldest buildings, population, temporary accessories for construction, roofs and wall containers walls.

There are several types of asbestos ranging from the so -called “white asbestos”, which is the least dangerous, to “blue”, or crocidolite, which is the most. The highly speed as Sports Crossidelette was found in Gaza by the United Nations.

Globally, about 68 countries have banned the use of asbestos, although some maintain exemptions for special use. It was banned in the United Kingdom in 1999, and Israel banned its use in buildings in 2011.

In addition to medium epithelial tumor, asbestos can cause other forms of lung cancer, throat and ovarian cancer.

There is a less known risk that silications, a lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust, is usually for many years. Concrete generally contains 20-60 % of silica.

Dr. Hui says that the huge amount of dust in Gaza can lead to “an increased risk of respiratory infections, upper and lower air infections, pneumonia, and exacerbation of pre -existing lung disease such as the foundation”, as well as “pulmonary lung swelling.”

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

“The twinning towers were not in the midst of a war area, so it was something that we were able to measure and measure it easier,” says Ms. Dirleson.

As of December 2023, 5,249 of those who were registered in the United States Government’s World Trade Center Health Program as a result of airline or cancer – a number higher higher than 2,296 people killed in the same attack. A total of 34,113 people were diagnosed with cancer during the same period.

the we And a group of Arab countries Coming plans to rebuild Gaza were suggested. The United Nations has warned that the process should be carefully managed to avoid disturbing the huge amounts of spistos contaminated.

“Unfortunately, the characteristics that made us use many of them are the characteristics that make it difficult to get rid of,” says Ms. Dirleson.

A spokesman for the BBC’s main course told that the debris removal process “will increase the possibility of asbestos disorder and fiber dangerous fibers in the air.”

The United Nations Communication evaluation indicated that the cleansing of all debris may take 21 years and cost up to $ 1.2 billion (929 million pounds).

The Israeli army launched its attack on Gaza in response to Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and saw 251 people.

The Israeli attack killed more than 53,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health in the region.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to the BBC request for comment.