Asbestos Exposure in Iraq

The brave men and women serving their country in Iraq are presented with a number of occupational hazards: the threat of enemy attack, uncomfortable living conditions, extreme heat and weather circumstances, and more.

Few people, however, are aware of another occupational danger faced by United States troops the threat of exposure to asbestos. Because this issue is not necessarily made public, it is safe to assume that no immediate action has been taken to limit exposure to this potentially harmful substance.

Asbestos in the Middle East

According to documents dating back to 2003, approximately $194,000 (USD) worth of chrysotile asbestos (also known as "white asbestos") was imported to Iraq. Unlike Egypt and Saudi Arabia, its Middle Eastern neighbors, Iraq has not placed any sort of ban on asbestos use, and not one Middle Eastern country has ratified International Labour Organization Law Number 162, which was instituted at the 1986 Asbestos Convention. The ILO No. 162 outlines health and safety procedures related to asbestos, including regulations for employers put forth in an effort to protect the safety of all workers. Because ILO No. 162 is not in effect in Iraq, there are essentially no laws protecting workers and other individuals including U.S. military personnel from the adverse effects of asbestos exposure. It is known that exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, as well as other cancers.

U.S. Military Personnel and Asbestos Exposure

Our nation's troops certainly have ample concerns, and worrying about potential asbestos exposure should not be one of them. Asbestos materials may be present in a number of locations in Iraq, including military housing and other structures used by military personnel, and if U.S. troops are unaware that these buildings contain asbestos, they cannot take the appropriate measures to protect themselves from exposure.

Asbestos in older buildings is only harmful if inhaled or ingested. If asbestos-laden structures are damaged, asbestos fibers can become airborne, putting individuals present at risk of inhalation. Those exposed may not experience symptoms of asbestos disease for decades, which often makes it difficult to pinpoint when and where the individual was actually exposed.

In a place of war, asbestos-laden buildings are often destroyed using explosives, which puts U.S. troops and other individuals at risk of inhaling airborne asbestos fibers and dust. In addition, troops may be exposed to asbestos brake pads in older vehicles, or even while searching or conducting missions in Iraqi homes and commercial buildings, many of which have been abandoned and are now crumbling and in need of serious repair.

Protecting U.S. Troops from Asbestos Exposure

In an effort to maintain the health and safety of U.S. military personnel in Iraq, appropriate safety gear goggles and masks, for example should be distributed to troops and worn whenever they are in areas where asbestos exposure may occur. In addition, troops should be screened for respiratory disease upon returning to the United States, and close monitoring of their respiratory health should continue every few years.

Sources

International Ban Asbestos Secretariat
International Labour Organization
Occupational Cancer Convention