The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that so‑called “black rain” falling in parts of Iran after recent strikes on oil facilities poses serious health risks, particularly to people’s respiratory systems, the U.N. health body said on Tuesday.
The phenomenon, reported this week in areas including Tehran, follows a series of fires and smoke from oil depots and refineries that were hit in strikes linked to the wider conflict in the Middle East. The WHO said it has received multiple reports of rain tainted with oil and toxic particles.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a press briefing in Geneva that the “black rain and the acidic rain coming with it is indeed a danger for the population, respiratory mainly,” and backed Iran’s advisory urging people to remain indoors to reduce exposure.
The agency said the strikes caused the release of toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides and nitrogen compounds into the air, and scientists warn that inhaling or touching the smoke and particles can cause headaches, skin and eye irritation, and difficulty breathing. Extended exposure to some compounds may increase the risk of cancer, they added.
A video sent to Reuters by a WHO employee showed black liquid being cleaned up at the entrance of the organization’s Tehran office, though Reuters could not independently verify the footage.
Experts said a weather pattern combined with air pollutants led to the coloured rain. They cautioned that while forecasts expect dry conditions that could improve air quality, fresh strikes could worsen health risks. In the meantime, WHO and scientists urged people to stay indoors, wear masks and minimise direct contact with contaminated surfaces.
The warning adds to concerns over environmental and public health fallout from the ongoing conflict, which has disrupted oil infrastructure and contributed to air quality challenges across parts of the region.
Originally Published By: Times Live
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