An Iraqi minister tells the BBC that air pollution from oil fields is a major health problem.
Iraqi Environment Minister Jassem al-Falahi has acknowledged that pollution from oil production is the main reason for increases in local cancer rates.that communities living close to oil fields near Basra are at elevated risk of leukaemia.Flaring produces cancer-linked pollutants like benzene.
They also directly contradict previous comments made to BBC Arabic, by the Minister of Oil, Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail, in which he denied all links between the cancer rates and air pollution from oil. Flared gases from these sites are dangerous because they emit a potent mix of carbon dioxide, methane and black soot which is highly polluting.As part of the original investigation, the BBC undertook the first pollution monitoring testing amongst the exposed communities. The results indicated high levels of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.
But Al-Falahi added that the situation has improved, and there is now greater cooperation between the ministries.
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