Iran War Raises Alarming Environmental and Health Concerns
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – As the conflict in Iran enters its fourth week, the escalating hostilities are triggering a growing crisis for both human health and the environment, experts warn. Recent strikes targeting oil infrastructure, particularly around the capital Tehran, are releasing a cocktail of pollutants with potentially long-lasting consequences for the region’s already vulnerable population.
Doug Weir, director of the Conflict and Environment Observatory, detailed the escalating risks in a recent interview with NPR. “Typically, these attacks on oil facilities and infrastructure are some of the most environmentally damaging incidents that we see,” Weir said. “We see pollution to the air, pollution to the soils and then pollution to water as well.”
The situation is particularly acute in Tehran, a megacity of around 9 million people nestled in mountains that trap atmospheric pollutants. Between March 7th and 8th, Israeli strikes hit four oil facilities in and around the city, releasing carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, soot, and trace metals into the air. The resulting pollution was pushed down into the city, exposing millions to acute respiratory risks, according to Weir.
“This was probably one of the most worrying incidents we have monitored in the conflict,” Weir stated.
Beyond the immediate health impacts, experts are concerned about the long-term contamination of soil and groundwater. Weir emphasized the need to assess the extent of pollution post-conflict, particularly in sensitive areas like aquifers.
The current conflict echoes the environmental devastation of past regional wars. Weir pointed to the Iran-Iraq War in the late 1980s, marked by widespread targeting of oil tankers and platforms leading to massive oil spills. The 1991 Gulf War saw approximately 700 oil wells set ablaze in Kuwait, burning for months and releasing immense pollution.
“We kind of know what the damage is and what the picture is, and we’ve seen this story before,” Weir said.
Adding to the environmental strain are reports of oil spills resulting from attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, including some oil tankers. Around 20 ships have been targeted, with a few resulting in spills following attacks near Basrah. Furthermore, the sinking of naval vessels introduces additional sources of pollution.
The shallow, enclosed nature of the Persian Gulf exacerbates the problem, limiting the dispersal of pollutants and threatening sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs and seagrass beds. The region’s heavy reliance on desalination plants – providing water for approximately 100 million people – also raises concerns, as these plants are vulnerable to contamination from oil spills. While no desalination plants have been directly targeted to date, Weir noted that targeting them could be “devastating for communities all around the Persian Gulf.”
Despite the immediate environmental costs, Weir suggested the conflict could ultimately accelerate a shift towards renewable energy sources. He noted that the war in Ukraine prompted similar re-evaluations of energy security in Europe, leading to increased investment in decarbonization. “I think what we’re seeing now in the Gulf is only going to escalate this and accelerate it,” he said.
