In the aftermath of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian oil deposits two weekends ago, black rain fell over parts of Iran. Iranians also reported having headaches and witnessing what some called “acid rain” falling on buildings and cars.
Inhaling particles from the smoke created from the oil field bombing could be extremely toxic, especially for people with pre-existing conditions. Many people in Tehran, the capital of Iran, reported difficulty breathing, headaches, and burning sensations.
Experts say that the explosion likely includes significant amounts of chemical compounds linked to cancer that can interact with DNA and cause irreparable damage. Drinking water supplies and soils that grow food could also be poisoned for years, and even generations.
Since the conflict began, UK-based nonprofit Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) has identified more than 300 incidents of potential environmental harm — from strikes on missile bases to attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
This war, alongside all previous wars, is compounding the effects of the climate crisis, which already causes poor air quality, toxic pollutants, and negative health impacts. The bombing also destroyed oil resources that had already been extracted, wasting energy and resources in a system that already produces so much excessive waste.
The health and environmental impacts of war for those who survive are devastating, but unfortunately nothing new. Bombs and gun shells leave behind chemicals and heavy metals for generations that have been linked to cancer and birth defects.
The U.S. and Israeli militaries have more than blood on their hands – they have poisoned and damaged the environment of the traumatized survivors this war will leave behind. We will not stand by another moment as these atrocities are committed. We must discuss the war with everyone we know and figure out how to put an end to it. The lives of ordinary people and the health of our environment depend on it.
For further information on the U.S. military’s destruction of the environment, watch the film Earth’s Greatest Enemy, directed by Abby Martin.
