Environnement - Fire at Bourj Hammoud

Fire at the Bourj Hammoud Landfill: A Multifaceted Problem

The massive fire that broke out on Thursday afternoon at the Jdeideh-Bourj Hammoud landfill released toxic pollutants into the air, raising serious concerns about the health risks associated with this pollution. Even though the fire has been contained, without being completely under control, experts are urging caution and recommending that people stay indoors, while firefighters battle a complex blaze that highlights the failings of waste management in Lebanon.

Shortly after 6pm on Thursday, a fire broke out at the Jdeideh - Bourj Hammoud landfill, highlighting the chronic failings of waste management in Lebanon. The initial concerns naturally turned to the smoke that choked the surrounding area for hours and which, on Friday morning, continued to cover the skies of the Metn-North coast and part of Beirut.

"The most worrying pollutants are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins and furans, both in particulate and gaseous form," explains Charbel Afif, an air pollution expert and director of the chemistry department at the Faculty of Science of Saint Joseph University in Beirut.

These pollutants, whether in particulate or gaseous form, are particularly dangerous because they are persistent in the environment, accumulate in living organisms and can cause serious health problems, including cancer, developmental disorders and damage to the immune system.

According to the scientist, "to protect yourself, you should close all doors and windows, turn on the air conditioning (to avoid the heat) and thoroughly clean surfaces exposed to smoke", especially outdoors. It is therefore recommended to stay at home, but if you have to go out, it is necessary to wear a KN95 (FFP2) mask and keep your car windows closed.

Pollution in the areas most exposed to these gases varies, depending on the speed and direction of the wind, but it is likely that the most affected are: Bourj Hammoud, Jdeideh, Dora, Saifi, Medawar, Ashrafieh, Zalka, Jal el Dib and even Hazmieh.

As for a possible biohazard involving the spread of pathogenic bacteria or filamentous fungal spores, toxicology experts contacted by 961 Scientia remain very optimistic. "The probability is very low, if not non-existent, because the very high temperatures generated by the flames degrade these particles," they reassure.

A major problem

Nevertheless, the consequences of the disaster remain serious. "The fire that ravaged part of the 40-metre high mountain of waste has given rise to a complex and worrying phenomenon," explains environmental engineer Ziad Abi Chaker. "The massive accumulation of waste (most of which is organic, editor's note), combined with the summer heat, has created pockets of highly flammable methane, fuelling an underground fire that could smoulder for weeks, even after the visible flames have been extinguished."

As the use of water is ineffective and even dangerous, the fire is being extinguished with sand, a delicate and lengthy operation. "This disaster highlights the dangers of uncontrolled methanisation in landfills, which transforms these sites into veritable underground volcanoes, with potentially disastrous environmental and health consequences," the expert adds.

A tough nut to crack

Contacted by 961 Scientia, the Director General of Civil Defence, Raymond Khattar, said that "the process of completely extinguishing the fire would take a long time" and that "current efforts are aimed at controlling the flames as quickly as possible because the area is extremely dangerous given the proximity of the flames to large stocks of hydrocarbons", referring to the fuel tanks located in Dora.

The caretaker Environment Minister, Nasser Yassine, visited the site on Thursday evening to monitor the firefighting operations. He announced that he would call for an investigation "to identify the causes of the disaster", which, according to Mr Yassine, was due to mismanagement of the site.

Fake news and misinformation

Advice is also circulating on social networks that people should consume 1200mg of N-ACETYL CYSTEINE (NAC) 30 minutes before each lunch, 1000mg of liposomal vitamin C and continuously drink a decoction of tea, cinnamon, star anise and cloves to protect themselves from the pollutants in the air. "Although the consumption of these additives is not harmful, the effects claimed are not true, to say the least," explains Wassim Salamé, a surgeon. "It is important to always seek the advice of a doctor before consuming any medication or food supplement."