Oil Spills and Cancer: A Dangerous Connection Threatening the Lives of Yemenis

Ahmed Bajoaim – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

Almost fourteen years after the last oil exploration in Al-Dhali’a District, west of Hadhramaut Governorate, negligence in managing the toxic waste from oil exploration and pollution from these wastes, which are buried near the surface haphazardly, has led to a rise in cancer cases, especially leukemia and lung cancer. More than 30 cancer cases and 10 deaths have been recorded, and cases continue to rise due to water, air, and soil contamination.

Oil is an economic blessing, but it turns into a curse for those living near oil fields. This is evident in the concession area (areas within the oil fields) belonging to Petromsila, which includes the districts of Sah and Ghail Bin Yamin in Hadhramaut, where cancer has spread significantly due to oil spills and a lack of adherence to environmental standards. This ongoing pollution exacerbates the problem in the absence of effective government oversight and appropriate action from the relevant authorities.

Environmental Pollution and its Relationship to the Spread of Cancer

Environmental pollution is one of the most prominent health challenges facing Yemen. It contributes to the spread of numerous diseases, primarily cancer. These challenges are exacerbated by several factors, including oil spills, industrial waste, poor management of toxic waste, and emissions from vehicles and factories. While oil wealth is important to the economy, mismanagement of these resources is a primary cause of pollution, making areas near oil fields more susceptible to chronic diseases.

Environmental pollution is a major cause of the spread of cancer in Yemen, resulting from oil spills, toxic waste, a lack of government oversight, and non-compliance with environmental standards by some oil companies. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has also contributed, causing widespread destruction of infrastructure, including power plants and factories, resulting in harmful emissions and the spread of toxic substances in the environment, increasing the risk of cancer, along with industrial and agricultural waste.

Types of cancer associated with pollution in Yemen include lung cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, and digestive system cancers.

Oil pollution from oil waste spills in some Yemeni areas, such as Harib District in Marib Governorate and Radhoom District in Shabwa Governorate, is one of the most dangerous environmental problems threatening public health and the environment. According to a report by Al-Jazeera Net published on September 9, 2021, titled “Oil Spills and Corporate Neglect Kill Yemenis…Centers of Tumors, Deformities, and Intractable Diseases in Marib and Shabwa,” oil pollution has led to an increase in cancer cases. Many farmers have lost their farms due to spills and oil waste. The problem does not end there; it also caused air pollution.

The report mentioned that in Harib District, with a population of approximately 35,000, more than 11 cases of lung, skin, prostate, and eye cancer were reported. Dozens more suffered from kidney failure and respiratory diseases, all attributed to oil pollution from oil exploration activities in Harib and nearby areas. The situation is similar in Radhoom District in Shabwa, or any Yemeni area near oil fields.

Scientific studies have shown that crude oil spills onto the soil in Yemen lead to the emission of dangerous toxic gases, including carbon dioxide, sulfur, methane, ethane, benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds, which are among the most toxic gases affecting living organisms. According to Al-Jazeera Net reports, these gases cause serious health problems, most notably respiratory cancer. Hydrogen sulfide is highly toxic; inhalation can lead to serious illnesses that may cause cancer.

In addition, water associated with oil releases large amounts of dissolved salts and heavy metals onto the soil, leading to long-term pollution causing diseases such as cancer, kidney disease, and liver damage. These leaked substances pose a significant threat to public health; these toxins can accumulate in the body over the long term, leading to serious health effects on local communities.

Lutfi Al-Somani, the technical director of the National Cancer Treatment Center in Hadhramaut, explained that several risk factors contribute to the rising cancer rates in Yemen. Environmental pollution, including contaminated water, food, air, and oil waste, is a primary factor. Furthermore, prevalent negative habits like qat chewing, smoking, and tobacco use increase cancer risks.

Al-Somani also noted that lifestyle plays a crucial role. Personal hygiene and healthy habits can reduce risks, while obesity significantly increases the likelihood of cancer due to its association with chronic diseases. Repeated exposure to chemical or physical agents, whether radioactive or not, also increases cancer risk. Some of these materials are used in construction, demolition, or other industries without safety measures, exposing individuals to cancer risks.

He emphasized that high industrial and environmental pollution, including oil pollution, directly contributes to increased cancer rates. The cancer center in Mukalla sees a growing influx of patients due to these impacts on water and agriculture.

Al-Somani also pointed out that certain foods, especially expired or poorly stored foods exposed to heat or sunlight, increase cancer risk. Yemen’s difficult economic situation has led to the proliferation of low-quality or unfit food, threatening public health and potentially causing cancer or other serious illnesses like heart disease and kidney failure. He urged relevant authorities to take action to curb the spread of these harmful goods.

The Medical Waste

A specialist at Ibn Sina Hospital in Al-Mukalla, one of the largest hospitals in eastern governorates, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that medical waste is not a cause of cancer. They emphasized that medical waste disposal is regular, collected by sanitation and improvement teams, and incinerated in a designated landfill away from settlements.

They added that there is currently no scientific evidence linking environmental, oil, or medical waste pollution to cancer in Yemen, despite the noticeable increase in cases near oil fields. While a theoretical link is plausible, it remains scientifically unproven.

They also noted that some cases could result from unintentional medical errors or mistreatment in public and private hospitals, sometimes leading to serious complications.

Lack of studies (Al-Dhali’a as an example)

In Al-Dhali’a District, west of Hadhramaut, cancer rates have significantly increased. Residents rely on unsafe water sources like rainwater harvesting pits. This has led to contaminated water sources via the runoff from exploration companies’ waste. In mid-2023, four cancer cases (three deaths, one recovery) were reported among young people and one woman within twenty days. Kidney failure cases have also increased, with over twelve additional cancer cases under treatment.

The area lacks advanced equipment, laboratories, and research centers to understand the sudden increase in these diseases. Evidence suggests that exposed oil waste, coupled with floods and climate change, contributes to soil and water contamination, leading to higher cancer rates near oil fields. Residents attribute the spread to a lack of effective waste management, posing a real threat to those living near these fields.