Lebanon Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment - UNEP

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LEBANONPOST-CONFLICT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTAtmospheric pollutionThe military strike on the fuel tanks in Jiyeh resulted in massive oil fires and generated a plumeof smoke stretching for several kilometres. Anecdotal evidence indicates that the fire burnedcontinuously for up to 27 days. The smoke itself would have contained a potentially toxiccocktail of pollutants – including soot, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, methane and arange of hydrocarbons – the combination of which could be expected to cause a significantdegree of environmental pollution and respiratory problems for local residents.However, in the absence of primary data gathered during the conflict, determining the exactextent and impact of the atmospheric pollution caused by fires such as the one at Jiyeh, is anextremely complex scientific undertaking. Approaches based on modelling require extensiveinformation, such as that relating to prevailing atmospheric conditions. When reliable primarydata is not available, the end result of such modelling is, at best, dubious.Consequently, it was not possible for UNEP’s post-conflict assessment to examine theenvironmental impacts associated with air pollution, even though it is recognized that it wasprobably one of the most serious environmental impacts of the conflict. The assessment did,however, attempt to address the issue in a limited manner:First, a limited survey of soil quality around the Jiyeh power plant was undertaken to studythe fallout of soot from the fire;Second, smear samples were taken in the immediate vicinity of major bombing sites; andFinally, UNEP is working with the American University of Beirut to monitor the quality ofrain and snow in Lebanon, to determine whether some of the air pollutants that reachedthe upper atmosphere may return in the form of precipitation.Soil and plant samples were taken from a number of locations around the power plant, at amaximum distance of 4 km from the plant. The analysis of samples collected showed that,even at a distance of several kilometres from the power station, negative impacts on soil qualitycould be identified. The fact that all five soil samples taken from the vicinity of the power plant– covering some 5 km² – showed an average PAH concentration of 1 mg/kg, confirmed thata significant amount of PAH had been deposited in the area.It was not possible, though, to ascertain whether these elevated levels of PAH were the resultof the massive short-term impact of the fire, or whether they were the consequence of poorexhaust gas filtering during normal plant operations. Continuous soot fallout from the powerstation was observed throughout the site inspection. It is unclear whether this occurred as aresult of the conflict, or whether it represents the normal state of operations.Figure 1 demonstrates the similarity of the PAH spectrum in four of the soil samples. Thesample JPPV-CL/WM-03SO shows the lowest PAH concentration, with some of the othersubstances being below the detection limit.A longer-term investigation should be undertaken to determine the source of the elevatedPAH concentrations around the plant. To achieve this goal, soil analysis should be carriedout within a radius of several kilometres. The assessment should take into account both theconflict-related power plant fire and power plant emissions under normal operations.It is recommended that a national registry of people living in close proximity to the power plantbe established, and that their health be tracked henceforth for long-term impacts. Such aprogramme would allow early identification of unusual health trends, such as respiratory andcardiac problems and cancer, and assist in the provision of adequate measures and supportmechanisms.46 • United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme •
INDUSTRIAL AND URBAN CONTAMINATIONTable 3.Selected sample results from Jiyeh power plant and its vicinitySample Identity 1-CL-01 1 CL/WM-JPPV-01 2 02 3 03SO 4JPPV- JPPV-CL/WM- CL/WM-JPPV- JPPV- JPPV-04/3 5 04/4 6 03L 7CL/WM- CL/WM- CL/WM-JPPV-CL/WM-03ST 8Dutch ListJPPV-04-1 9 ValueCL/WM- InterventionPAH by GCMSUnitsNaphthalene μg/kg 648 107 327 21 531 652 15
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