Asbestos Poisoning Adds to the Horror of Gaza

Global Construction Review reported Oct. 9 that destruction of the buildings in Gaza has created yet another threat of mass death—the spread of airborne asbestos particles. GCR reports that “the UN estimated that there were around 800,000 tonnes of asbestos and other contaminates mixed in among 37 million tonnes of debris, which will severely complicate the clean-up,” across Gaza. Although Israel had banned asbestos in 2011, GCR adds, “many older buildings in Gaza will have the material originally valued for its insulation and fire-resistant properties. When disturbed, asbestos particles can cause various forms of cancer that take years to develop.”