A fire broke out at the disused asbestos-cement plant of Eternit in Chekka, releasing hazardous asbestos fibres into the air. The incident highlights the persistent risks to public health and the environment posed by asbestos pollution.

The Chekka asbestos-cement plant, known as “Eternit”, had not experienced a fire since August 2018. On Saturday evening, a blaze erupted within the grounds of this ticking time bomb, which has been closed for several years. The incident poses a significant threat to both the local population and surrounding vegetation. Trees and neglected plant debris first caught fire before the flames reached abandoned asbestos-cement structures (pipes and panels) near the site, releasing a thick black cloud of smoke laden with asbestos fibres. “This heated air mass will increase the time it takes for asbestos fibres to settle on the ground, allowing them to travel further through the air,” explains Charbel Afif, an air pollution expert and Head of the Chemistry Department at the Faculty of Science of Saint Joseph University of Beirut, in an interview with 961 Scientia. “Moreover, even after deposition, asbestos fibres can be re-suspended by the wind and carried to new locations.”

Although the fire was brought under control, a source close to the case told 961 Scientia that it may have been deliberately started and that the damage appears to be limited. The Minister of Environment, Nasser Yassine, along with the Ministers of Health, Firas Abiad, and Justice, Henri Khoury, have issued an urgent letter calling for the issue of the plant to be placed on the agenda of the next Council of Ministers meeting.

A serious hazard

Asbestos is a dangerous and carcinogenic material that can cause severe, even fatal, diseases. The microscopic, needle-like fibres that make up asbestos can be inhaled into the lungs, where they cause cellular damage. Macrophages—immune cells in the lungs—are unable to fully eliminate these fibres, leading to lesions and chronic inflammation.

Asbestos fibres can also trigger the production of free radicals (unstable molecules), which damage cellular DNA and cause genetic mutations. These mutations may lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and contribute to tumour formation. Asbestos can further disrupt gene expression by altering epigenetic mechanisms—that is, how environmental factors influence gene activity. By interfering with normal cell division, it can promote abnormal cell growth and tumour development.

However, the effects of asbestos exposure often do not appear until many years after the initial exposure, making diagnosis and treatment particularly challenging. Asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma (a cancer specifically caused by asbestos), and peritoneal cancer.

It is therefore essential to take measures to prevent exposure. When handling materials containing asbestos, strict safety protocols must be followed to minimise risk. Buildings containing asbestos should be regularly inspected, and any asbestos-containing materials properly labelled and safely removed. Preventive action is key to reducing the risk of disease and protecting both workers and residents.

More than 80 years of disaster

Built in 1938 and operated for over 50 years by the Swiss company Eternit, the Chekka asbestos-cement plant represents a major environmental and public health disaster. Over decades, the plant released substantial quantities of asbestos dust into the air and surrounding waters, resulting in widespread environmental contamination and dangerous exposure for both workers and nearby residents. In 1978, a study conducted by the Lebanese Ministry of Environment found that asbestos dust concentrations in the air near the plant were 20 times higher than the maximum limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite these findings, the plant continued to operate without adequate measures to protect workers or local communities.

As a result, factory workers were heavily exposed to high concentrations of airborne asbestos, leading to elevated rates of occupational illness and mortality. Local residents were also exposed to significant levels of asbestos dust carried by the wind. In 1991, following a prolonged struggle led by workers, trade unions, and environmental groups demanding urgent action, the plant was finally shut down.

Since then, efforts have been made to assess the extent of environmental contamination and its impact on human health. In 2003, a WHO public health study revealed high mortality rates linked to asbestos-related diseases among former workers and residents of the area. However, persistent asbestos pollution in the surrounding air and water has remained a major concern for local communities, environmental groups, and human rights organisations. The site itself has remained largely unchanged, still containing dangerous quantities of asbestos within and around it.

A 2019 study by researchers at the University of Balamand showed that several homes in Chekka still use asbestos-cement materials in construction (such as piping and roofing), posing a significant risk to neighbourhoods across the town. “Asbestos structures, like any concrete construction, are subject to erosion. As they degrade, they release fibres that contaminate the air,” the expert adds.

In April 2023, the Ministers of Justice (Henri Khoury), Public Health (Firas Abiad), and Environment (Nasser Yassine), along with the Chair of the Parliamentary Environment Committee, Ghayath Yazbeck, met with key stakeholders—including the President of the Chekka Environmental Protection Authority, Pierre Abi Chahine, university professor George Khoury, and Chekka municipal councillor Tony El-Beik—as well as judges Elie El-Helou, Samar Jaber, and Lea Khoury, to address environmental pollution and associated health risks.

The ministers and experts discussed measures to ensure full decontamination of the Chekka area and to prevent the long-term health and environmental effects of asbestos exposure. They reviewed technological solutions for effective clean-up and explored funding options to support these efforts.

They also acknowledged the need to compensate workers and local residents affected by asbestos exposure. Discussions included the potential establishment of a compensation fund to ensure fair redress for harm to health and quality of life. Furthermore, the ministers emphasised the importance of raising public awareness about the dangers of asbestos and promoting safe disposal practices. They called for stronger international cooperation to address environmental pollution and its associated health risks.

Overall, the meeting marked an important step towards the decontamination and restoration of the Chekka area, as well as towards justice for victims of asbestos exposure. The ministers pledged to work together to ensure that environmental safety standards are upheld and that workers and residents are protected from the ongoing dangers of asbestos.