'Very, very toxic': The risk of asbestos in Gaza's rubble
The mineral, once widely-used, releases toxic fibres into the air when disturbed that can cling to the lungs and cause cancer.
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The mineral, once widely-used in building materials, releases toxic fibres into the air when disturbed that can cling to the lungs and - over decades - cause cancer.
Nowadays, its use is banned across much of the world, but it is still present in many older buildings.
In Gaza, it is found primarily in asbestos roofing used across the territory's eight urban refugee camps - which were set up for Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes during the 1948-49 Arab-Israeli war - according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In October 2024, UNEP estimated that up to 2.3 million tons of rubble across Gaza could be contaminated with asbestos.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8y4j91l83o
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