'Black Rain' In Iran: Causes And Health Impacts
The World Health Organisation has warned that the black rain can pose a health risk in Iran after Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil facilities. Iranian authorities have also issued advisories to the residents to stay indoors as fires and thick smoke worsen the air quality.
Residents of Tehran have reported black rain, with high levels of atmospheric pollutants in it, likely from the burning of heavy fuel, a low-quality byproduct of oil refining. The dark rain likely contains hazardous cancer-causing benzene, acetone, and methylene chloride.
The UN health agency, which has an office in Iran, has said to recevied multiple reports of oil-laden rain last week.
The burning of the oil depots would have been less complete, causing the release of unburnt particles into the air. These particles can cause health conditions in people, including cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and even diabetes.
“The black rain and acid rain coming with it is indeed a danger for the population, respiratory mainly”, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a press briefing in Geneva.
The oil in depots also contains sulphur and nitrogen, which, after burning, form oxides that can react with moisture to trigger acidic precipitation. This rain can irritate the eyes and throat. And if it seeps into waterways, it can alter the chemistry and impact aquatic animals and plants.
