Carcinogenic, asbestos-contaminated waste from the 2020 Beirut port explosion remains piled up in the Karantina district with no treatment plan in place, Addiyar newspaper reported, posing what experts describe as a silent but escalating environmental and health disaster.

The August 4, 2020 blast devastated large parts of the capital, killing more than 200 people, injuring thousands and destroying entire neighborhoods. It also left behind vast quantities of toxic debris and hazardous chemicals, including asbestos, which health authorities worldwide have long linked to deadly illnesses such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Situated in a densely populated area that also serves as a commercial and industrial hub, the asbestos-contaminated debris is vulnerable to wind and weather, raising the risk that fibers are being dispersed into the air. The danger extends beyond local residents to workers, passersby and visitors.

Asbestos, once commonly used in construction and insulation, is now globally recognized for its extreme danger to human health. When the waste breaks down, it releases microscopic fibers that lodge in the lungs and cause deadly illnesses such as asbestosis, chronic pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

MP Melhem Khalaf has pressed the government to act, sending a formal letter to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urging authorities to meet their constitutional obligations to safeguard public health and the environment. He has also submitted an official query demanding a written response within the legal timeframe.

So far, no clear plan has been announced.

Long-Term Consequences

The accumulation of asbestos-contaminated waste has led to intense spread of dust and fine airborne particles in surrounding neighborhoods. Once inhaled, these cause both acute and chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, and lung ailments. Prolonged exposure raises the risk of cancer and chronic illness, with premature mortality rates climbing in affected communities.

The dust also settles on homes, farmland, and roads, transmitting toxins into food and water supplies and amplifying the scale and persistence of the health and environmental threat. Experts warn this silent danger demands urgent and immediate government intervention.

Beyond immediate health risks, experts warn the asbestos piles are undermining Lebanon’s fragile environment. Contaminants degrade soil fertility, jeopardize local food security, and seep into water sources, threatening both drinking supplies and irrigation.

The blast debris has also destroyed habitats, contributing to a loss of biodiversity in urban ecosystems that play a critical role in air purification, climate regulation and flood prevention.

“These effects are cumulative and will make recovery even harder the longer action is delayed,” one environmental specialist told Reuters.

Calls for Action

Environmental groups are urging the government to launch an urgent cleanup operation, beginning with the safe removal of asbestos waste under strict international standards.

They also recommend soil and water decontamination, continuous health monitoring of nearby residents for early detection of asbestos-related diseases, and an independent oversight mechanism to ensure transparency.

Finally, enforcement of national and international environmental laws is needed to hold negligent parties responsible and to prevent future disasters.