Israel’s relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip, Palestine, has created another deadly enemy for the Palestinian people. The enemy is a mineral that poses little risk to humans if left undisturbed but is highly carcinogenic if dispersed and released into the atmosphere, namely asbestos. Now asbestos is found in most buildings in Gaza.
Over the past year, Israeli bombs have caused large amounts of asbestos to disintegrate into tiny particles carried by the wind and potentially causing cancer in Gazans who inhale it. Leading experts say cancer cases will likely be reported over the next few decades in Palestine.
According to UN estimates, around 800,000 tonnes of bombed debris in Gaza may have been contaminated with asbestos. “This is a death sentence for Palestinians trapped in Gaza,” leading asbestos expert Roger Willey told Al Jazeera.
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Tragedy
According to Willey, exposure to asbestos in people trapped after Israeli bomb attacks could be comparable to exposure around the World Trade Center when it collapsed in New York City on September 11, 2001. Years later it became clear that toxic chemicals, including asbestos , found in dust clouds.
“I made a prediction at the time (in 2001) that more people would die from asbestos-related illnesses than the number of victims of the September 11 attacks,” Willey said.
According to the World Trade Center Health Program, 4,343 survivors and first responders have died of related illnesses since the attacks compared to 2,974 people who died on September 11. “The same thing will happen in Gaza,” Willey continued.
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“The concentration (of asbestos) in the air would be very high, and that would definitely be mesothelioma,” Willey said. The disease refers to cancer that usually forms in the lining around the lungs or stomach.
Asbestos exposure can also cause lung, larynx and ovarian cancer. Another impact is asbestosis, which the US National Cancer Institute describes as an inflammatory condition that affects the lungs, causing shortness of breath, coughing and permanent lung damage.
Marcy Borders is a resident who survived the WTC attack and is considered lucky to be alive. However, asbestos-related cancers take decades to develop. The woman died of stomach cancer in 2015.
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“Rescue crews on September 11 were exposed to asbestos particles for 10 to 12 hours before continuing the next day,” Willey said. “That’s the death penalty. The same thing applies to people in Gaza,” he said.
The CEO of the charity Mesothelioma UK, Liz Darlison, said the comparison with September 11 was important because it was the only incident where it was possible to study asbestos exposure after the blast. “It’s easy to become preoccupied with the immediate impact of the devastation,” said Liz Darlison.
The immediate danger posed by ground fighting and aerial bombardment was always more serious than the long-term danger. However, the long-term impacts of asbestos exposure will be a tragedy that occurs for years to come.
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In 2016, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said workplace asbestos exposure caused an estimated 209,481 deaths, more than 70% of all work-related cancer deaths.
Asbestos everywhere
Due to its insulating and fire-resistant qualities, asbestos was widely used in construction until the late 1980s. Likewise, countries around the world, including Israel, are starting to impose restrictions.
Israel completely banned the use of asbestos in buildings in 2011. Since the war against the besieged enclave began, Israel has routinely bombed Gaza refugee camps. Even though asbestos was found in old buildings and warehouses as well as refugee camps.
In December last year, 90 people were killed and more than 100 injured in an attack on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. In June, Israel killed more than 270 Palestinians and injured around 700 others in an attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp.
In 2009, UNEP said it found one of the most dangerous types of asbestos, namely blue asbestos or crocidolite, in damaged buildings and warehouses in Gaza refugee camps, waste pipes, processing stations and livestock facilities.
There is no safe exposure level
The best thing to do if asbestos is found and has become airborne is to get into the car and drive as far away from it as possible. This is an impossible solution for the more than two million Palestinians who live in an enclave of around 365 square kilometers, because according to the UN, only 11% is still considered a safe zone.
Additionally, an adequate cleaning process can take years and must be carried out by professionals. Willey added that currently in Gaza fragments of destroyed asbestos were found on the ground and in the air due to explosions. People walk past him and kick him all the time. “As a result, he will never return to a safe environment until everything is gone,” he said.
Darlison said after an explosion released asbestos, there would be no safe level of exposure. “All you need is a big sign with a skull and crossbones that says ‘Do not enter’ and only specialists wearing full decontamination equipment are allowed near the exposure site,” he said.
Aware of the damage caused by asbestos, Darlison said he could not bear to watch the smoke rising from the explosion in Gaza. “It is heartbreaking to know the legacy of this war will continue for many years,” he concluded. (Aljazeera/Z-2)
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