Mapping the environmental toll of the Middle East war
Summary
The ongoing war between the US, Israel, and Iran has caused serious environmental damage in the Middle East. Attacks on oil refineries, gas plants, and ships have released large amounts of pollution, risking harm to people and nature around the region.Key Facts
- The conflict has caused oil refineries and factories to catch fire, releasing at least five million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the first two weeks.
- Smoke from refinery fires contains harmful chemicals that can worsen health problems, especially for people with asthma or the elderly.
- An Iranian strike hit a Bahraini oil refinery on April 5, while Israeli attacks targeted multiple sites near Tehran, Iran’s capital.
- Pollution from damaged fuel depots has leaked into Tehran’s water system, causing explosions in nearby residential areas.
- Damaged liquefied natural gas plants in Qatar release methane, a gas much more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide.
- A US strike on an Iranian ship caused a 20-kilometer-long oil slick near the Strait of Hormuz, threatening coastal ecosystems like mangroves.
- The conflict’s environmental impact is complex because many different industrial sites, each with various risks, have been damaged.
- Mountains surrounding Tehran trap pollution, increasing health risks for the city’s nine million residents.
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