Asbestos Problem in Iraq

Although you may not have heard, the issue of asbestos exposure in Iraq is a very serious concern for United States military personnel. Compared to the other occupational dangers faced by U.S. troops, asbestos exposure has received little attention, and although it may not seem as dangerous as enemy attack, for example, the long-term health consequences of asbestos exposure are just as deadly.

Asbestos Regulations in the Middle East

At the 1986 Asbestos Convention, the International Labour Organization (ILO) drafted asbestos guidelines in an effort to protect those who may be exposed to the substance from eventual health problems. Unfortunately, not a single Middle Eastern nation has adopted the ILO Number 162, and the citizens of these countries remain unprotected from asbestos exposure. Only Egypt and Saudi Arabia have placed a ban on asbestos (Egypt in 2005; Saudi Arabia in 1998), and in Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries, there are essentially no guidelines or rules for asbestos usage.

According to documents made public in 2003, roughly $194,000 U.S. dollars worth of chrysotile asbestos arrived in Iraq. No current figures are available, but because there is no ban on asbestos, and there are no guidelines related to importing the substance, asbestos is most likely still imported to Iraq.

Health Consequences for U.S. Military Personnel

The lack of regulations and laws related to asbestos leaves individuals in Iraq unprotected. Those at risk of asbestos exposure include all members of the U.S. military currently serving in Iraq. Like World War II veterans before them, current U.S. troops may be exposed to asbestos in a number of ways. Older buildings may be laden with asbestos, and because many of these structures have been abandoned and left in decrepit condition, asbestos products (such as insulation, drywall, stucco, and plaster) may become friable, releasing asbestos fibers and dust into the air. In addition, buildings in Iraq often come under gunfire or are exploded, which may also result in asbestos becoming airborne.

If asbestos fibers are released in to the air, U.S. military forces may be at risk of inhalation. If inhaled, asbestos fibers can lodge in the lining of the lungs and remain there for decades, eventually forming a malignancy. Those exposed may not experience symptoms of asbestos disease for as many as fifty years.

Limiting Asbestos Exposure in Iraq

The asbestos regulations in Iraq are unlikely to change in the near future, and so the responsibility of protecting U.S. troops from asbestos exposure falls on the military. Ideally, all troops would be given appropriate safety equipment, including masks to cover the nose and throat, and would be required to wear said equipment at all times when in areas where asbestos may be present. Respiratory health screenings should also be conducted in an effort to closely monitor the health of all current troops, as well as veterans.

Last modified: January 12 2010.