Lebanon Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment - UNEP

INDUSTRIAL AND URBAN CONTAMINATIONZabqineThe village of Zabqine is located 5 km southwest ofQana, and is approximately 400 m above sea level.The geological setting is within Cretaceous limestoneand marls. The surrounding land is mainly used forresidential and commercial purposes.The village sustained considerable damage in theconflict, and a significant amount of debris andrubble was in the process of being cleared at thetime of UNEP’s visit.Contaminated landThe primary issue of concern at this site was anelectricity transformer that had been destroyed,presumably by rubble falling from a neighbouringbuilding. The electricity pole on which it wasmounted seemed undamaged. By the time of thesite inspection, however, the damaged transformerhad already been replaced with a new one, andhad been removed from the site.Only a small (1 x 1 m) patch of oil-stained soilremained. A soil sample was taken directly fromthe patch of oil for laboratory analysis, in order todetermine if the transformer oil was contaminatedwith polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). It consisted ofbrownish soil mixed with concrete residue and rubblefrom the impact on the neighbouring building.As expected, the sample analysis confirmed thepresence of PCBs in a limited area. As the quantityof oil that leaked from the old transformer wasrelatively small, the disposal of the contaminatedsoil (approximately 0.5 to 1 m³) is a matter ofwaste management.Given that this spill was relatively insignificant,risks for people living in the neighbourhood or forthe groundwater resources are not expected.Surface and groundwaterA rainwater sub-surface storage tank was identifiednear the site of the old transformer, and a watersample was taken to determine if any pollutionfrom the transformer oil spillage had occurred.Laboratory analysis indicated that none of theparameters measured, including hydrocarbons,exceeded their environmental screening values.Slight faecal coliform contamination, however,was reported (