**Silent Killer in Gaza: Asbestos Contamination Poses Long-Term Health Risks**

A recent report reveals the devastating effects of asbestos exposure due to rubble from ongoing conflicts in Gaza, projecting future health crises.

Israel's military actions in Gaza have unleashed a hidden menace: asbestos, a toxic mineral linked to severe and often fatal health conditions. Once a common building material, it releases harmful fibers when disturbed, posing significant health risks that can manifest decades later. A troubling report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) indicates that Gaza's urban refugee camps, established for Palestinians displaced since the 1948-49 Arab-Israeli war, contain significant amounts of asbestos, particularly in roofing materials.

As of October 2024, specialists estimate that approximately 2.3 million tons of rubble within Gaza may be contaminated with this notorious carcinogen. "The environment surrounding the rubble is incredibly toxic," warns Professor Bill Cookson, the director at the National Centre for Mesothelioma Research in London. He predicts that exposure to asbestos will result in long-lasting health issues, especially for children, creating a public health crisis that will endure well beyond the current conflict.

When disturbed, asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled, leading to severe lung conditions over time, such as asbestosis and the deadly cancer known as mesothelioma. Due to its insidious nature, even minimal exposure can instigate severe, chronic diseases that typically develop 20 to 60 years post-exposure. "This illness is not dose-related," notes Professor Cookson, emphasizing the danger of seemingly minor inhalation.

Dr. Ryan Hoy, whose dust inhalation research has been highlighted by UNEP, elaborates on the difficulty of avoiding asbestos in Gaza’s densely populated environment, where about 2.1 million people reside in just 365 square kilometers. Local health professionals warn that amidst dire immediate threats, such as ongoing airstrikes and food scarcity, communities are largely unaware of the risks associated with asbestos exposure.

Previous conflicts highlight the pervasive issue; a 2009 UN survey revealed asbestos contamination in debris from older buildings. Asbestos comes in various types, with crocidolite being highly carcinogenic. Despite a global ban on asbestos use in many countries, including the UK and Israel, its presence remains in older structures throughout Gaza.

The UN has expressed concern for the future, stressing the need for careful management during the reconstruction processes to prevent further contamination while clearing debris which could cost $1.2 billion and take over two decades. Both the U.S. and a coalition of Arab states are putting forth plans for Gaza's restoration amid warnings that more lives could be lost to diseases from dust exposure than from the violence itself.