In war-torn Iran, air pollution from burning oil depots & bombed buildings unleashes invisible health threats

PHOENIX (US): (Mar 17) The waves of US and Israeli bomb strikes in Tehran and Beirut, and Iran’s missile and drone attacks on neighbouring countries in response, are damaging more than buildings – they are sending toxic debris into the air in cities that are home to millions of people.

Military strikes have hit Iran’s missile stockpiles, nuclear facilities and oil refineries. When a strike set fire to an oil depot, it sent toxic black clouds billowing over Tehran and created oily rain that settled on buildings, cars and people. Residents described having headaches and difficulty breathing.

As a chemical and environmental engineer who studies the behaviour and effects of airborne particles, I have been following the damage reports to understand the health risks residents are facing as toxic materials get into the air