Since late February 2024, Tehran has been experiencing significant environmental and health challenges following a series of strikes on oil depots and refineries in and around the city. Satellite images captured on March 9 reveal thick smoke plumes drifting across the Iranian capital, a city of nearly 10 million residents, as fires continue to rage at multiple oil facilities damaged by recent air attacks. These developments have raised serious concerns from health experts and international organizations about the potential short- and long-term impact on public health.
The attacks began on February 28, attributed to US-Israeli military operations targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure. At least four major oil facilities near Tehran have been confirmed as struck, including the Shahran oil depot in the northwest and the Tehran oil refinery in the southeast. Satellite photos reviewed by BBC Verify show ongoing fires at these locations as of March 9, with large smoke clouds contributing to hazardous air quality in the surrounding urban areas. Verified video footage from the night of March 8 highlights dramatic fireballs illuminating the night sky above the Tehran refinery, underscoring the extent of the damage.
The immediate consequences have been stark for residents. People in Tehran report dense smog and pollution so thick that the sun is obscured, accompanied by a persistent, acrid smell of burning oil. One woman in her twenties described to BBC Persian how the smoke has left her feeling tired and unable to see sunlight. On the ground, emergency workers were observed inspecting burned-out oil tankers, blackened buildings, and active flames at the Shahran site the day after the strikes. However, the full extent of the damage remains difficult to assess due to the combination of ongoing fires, smoke, cloud cover, and the lack of comprehensive ground-based monitoring.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) publicly claimed responsibility for striking “fuel depots” near Tehran on March 7, sharing images purportedly showing damage to the Tehran oil refinery. When BBC Verify provided coordinates of the affected sites to the IDF and the US Pentagon for comment, the Pentagon did not respond, and the IDF denied conducting strikes at those specific locations, creating some ambiguity about the details of the attacks. The situation remains under investigation.
Beyond the immediate destruction, experts warn that the environmental and health risks posed by these fires are profound and complex. Oil refineries and depots contain a wide array of hazardous chemicals, and when oil burns incompletely—as happens when oxygen is limited during such fires—it can release dangerous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, soot particles, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, toxic hydrocarbons, metallic compounds, and droplets of oil. These substances can have severe effects on air quality and human health.
Scientists emphasize that the chemical “cocktail” released in these attacks is unusual and potentially unprecedented. Dr. Akshay Deoras, a research scientist at the University of Reading, noted that while many conflicts produce dust and particle pollution, the mixture of chemicals from missile strikes on oil refineries is highly atypical. Professor Eloise Marais, an atmospheric chemistry expert at University College London, compared the pollution to what might be expected from a catastrophic industrial accident, such as a refinery explosion, highlighting its severity.
Adding to the concern, Tehran residents reported experiencing “black rain” following the strikes. This phenomenon—rainfall contaminated with soot and other pollutants—occurs when rain droplets capture airborne particles as they fall, turning the rain visibly dark. Dr. Deoras explained that such rain acts like a sponge, collecting harmful substances from the atmosphere before reaching the ground. While some pollutants can also settle out of the air without rain, the occurrence of black rain is a strong indication of exceptionally high levels of atmospheric contamination.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed “great concerns” about the impact of these attacks on public health. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, warned that damage to oil facilities risks contaminating not only the air but also food and water supplies, posing severe health hazards especially to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. Professor Anna Hansell, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Leicester, highlighted that exposure to intense particulate pollution can cause immediate respiratory distress and long-term health issues, including increased risks of cancer.
Doug Weir, director of the Conflict and Environment Observatory, pointed out that what makes the situation particularly alarming is the location of these attacks in a densely populated urban area. Unlike many oil facility strikes that