Environmental harms and health risks from Iran war could persist for decades

Key Points:

• The ongoing Iran war has caused severe environmental damage, including oil depots burning, debris sinking in the Persian Gulf, and missile strikes on military sites, releasing toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and pollutants that threaten agriculture, drinking water, and public health.
• Satellite monitoring has identified over 400 environmentally concerning incidents related to the conflict, with significant risks from attacks on oil and gas infrastructure leading to air, soil, and water pollution, as well as potential contamination from bombed military and industrial sites.
• Air pollution from burning oil fields has caused hazardous black rain near Tehran, raising health concerns such as respiratory problems, cancer risks, and heavy metal contamination, while damage to desalination plants threatens clean water access in the arid Persian Gulf region.
• The conflict has also led to a massive spike in greenhouse gas emissions, with the U.S. military alone releasing nearly 2 billion metric tons in the first six days, exacerbating climate change and prompting some countries to increase coal use amid global oil shortages.
• Environmental recovery efforts may be delayed or insufficient post-war due to prioritization of rebuilding critical infrastructure, with long-term risks persisting from pollution in urban areas, water systems, and sensitive ecosystems, while nuclear site damage remains an uncertain but serious concern.