Lebanon Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment - UNEP

More documents

Recommendations

Info

LEBANONPOST-CONFLICT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTHigh-temperature oven bricks showing elevated radioactivity readingsapproximately 200 kg, which would generate5 - 25 per cent of its mass in DU dust, would bedetected at a distance even greater than 300 mwith the highest probability.The analysis results show no evidence of the useof DU-containing penetrators or metal products.In addition, no DU shrapnel or other radioactiveresidue was found at the sites investigated. Theanalysis of all smear samples taken did not detectDU, enriched uranium, or higher than naturaluranium content. After an extensive investigation,including of sites rumoured to have been hit byDU weapons, it can be stated that the ‘bunkerbuster’ ammunition used by the IDF in theconflict did not contain DU, natural uranium orany other uranium isotope.Radioactivity from other sourcesMilitary vehicle and helicopter impact sitesUNEP investigated two sites where IDF Merkawatanks had been destroyed (Wadi-El-Hujar andMaroun) and one site where an IDF military helicopterhad crashed (Yatar). On site measurements showed noevidence of the presence of DU: no DU penetrators,DU shrapnel or any other DU-related material couldbe found. However, a melted instrument containingradium was found at the helicopter crash site, causinga high radioactivity reading. Smear samples taken atthe sites confirmed the absence of DU, leading tothe conclusion that the two tanks and the militaryhelicopter were neither armoured with DU, norcarrying DU ammunition.The analysis of other heavy metals indicated thatthe helicopter crash site and surrounding area hadincreased levels of cadmium. This was not surprising,as helicopter navigation systems are well known tocontain nickel-cadmium batteries and cadmium isused in other aeronautic applications.Maliban glass factoryHigher radioactivity readings were registered ina corner of the Maliban glass factory (Zahleh)during the assessment of the facility. The zonewas accordingly investigated in detail. The surfacedose rate measured was 1 mSv/h. The on sitemeasurements to identify the radioisotope(s)indicated, with a probability of over 95 per cent,the presence of thorium-isotopes, but allowed a lowprobability of the presence of isotope Cs-137.The material causing the high readings wasfound to be a box of approximately 30 hightemperatureoven bricks containing large amountsof thorium. These bricks were intended to replace152 • United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme •
WEAPONSpart of a high-temperature glass-producing oven.Thorium is known to be occasionally used in hightemperature-related applications.The box was separated and marked by expertsfrom the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission(LAEC). The site manager was instructed onfurther steps to be taken, under the guidance ofthe LAEC. In addition, two bricks were taken tothe LAEC laboratories for detailed analysis.The smear sample collected was screened forother metals and showed an arsenic concentrationtypical for glass production industries.Further investigations should be carried out at thehelicopter crash site and the Maliban glass factoryto identify and remove all materials showing highradioactivity.White phosphorus (WP)UNEP investigated the use of white phosphorus(WP) during site visits south of the Litani River.Indications were found that WP-containingartillery shells were used as smoke screens or tomark targets. Some shells with WP signatures wereseen in very limited numbers on the open groundclose to villages or towns in the region of Bint Jbeiland Marjayoun. Shells containing active whitephosphorus were also seen during a visit to theLebanese Explosive Ordnance Destruction (EOD)site in the south, at the Marjayoun Army Base.UNEP, together with Lebanese Army experts,recovered one unexploded 8.1 cm light greenmortar shell in Deir Mimas, where local residentshad reported seeing white smoke plumes invarious attacks, as well as the ‘strange’ burning ofhouses and olive trees. UNEP destroyed the shellwith the assistance of Lebanese EOD experts andconfirmed that it contained WP. WP-containing8.1 cm mortar shells were used mainly in UN areanumber 6 (between the Litani and Awali Rivers).The IDF officially confirmed the use of WP on21 October 2006 3 .The environmental impact of the use of WP inLebanon was limited to the burning of olive treesand houses. However, given that the efficiency ofthe mortar shells was relatively low, the use of WPhas created an EOD problem. Residents of areaswhere this type of ammunition was used shouldbe made aware of its presence and EOD teamsshould take the necessary safety precautions whenconducting their work.A white phosphorus mortar shell was found by UNEP at Deir Mimas• United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme •153
Page 1:
LebanonPost-Conflict Environmental
Page 6 and 7:
LEBANONPOST-CONFLICT ENVIRONMENTAL
Page 8:
IntroductionFrench navy experts on
Page 11 and 12:
INTRODUCTIONUNEP expert assessing d
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24:
EnvironmentalAssessmentUNEP expert
Page 27 and 28:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTMap 4.Sites
Page 29 and 30:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT the Europe
Page 31 and 32:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTStage 2:Dam
Page 33 and 34:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTstructures
Page 35 and 36:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTSolid and h
Page 37 and 38:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTWeapons use
Page 39 and 40:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTOyster and
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98:
Solid and HazardousWasteA fleet of
Page 101 and 102: SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTEMap 7.Samp
Page 103 and 104: SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTEvectors, i
Page 105 and 106: SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTEThe Khiam
Page 107 and 108: SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTEThe primar
Page 109 and 110: SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTEThe dump s
Page 112 and 113: LEBANONPOST-CONFLICT ENVIRONMENTAL
Page 130: Coastal and MarineEnvironmentVolunt
Page 133 and 134: Wadi Abu ZebleCOASTAL AND MARINE EN
Page 135 and 136: COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTMap 1
Page 137 and 138: COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTThe c
Page 139 and 140: COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTTable
Page 141 and 142: COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTMarin
Page 143 and 144: COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTUNEP
Page 160: Main Findings andRecommendationsBad
Page 163 and 164: MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONSRe
Page 165 and 166: MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONSbe
Page 167: MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONSsp
Page 183 and 184: Further informationCopies of this r
show all

Lebanon Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment - UNEP

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?