TEMA Foundation Shares Striking Findings on Earthquake

Following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş that deeply affected the country, TEMA Foundation, which operates in Hatay, shared striking findings with the public on the first anniversary of the disaster. According to the results, in Hatay where debris removal operations were conducted after the earthquake, samples taken from soil and water sources revealed asbestos, heavy metals and microbiological contamination that pose risk of causing serious public health problems such as epidemic diseases and cancer. TEMA Foundation launched operations in Hatay, one of the provinces most severely damaged by the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on 6 February that caused destruction in 11 provinces and thousands of fatalities, to identify the pollution created by earthquake debris waste on soil and water. Within the scope of the study, soil and water samples were collected during visits to Hatay in June, September and December 2023, and asbestos, heavy metal and microbiological analyses were conducted.

Asbestos, heavy metals and microbiological contamination detected

Deniz Ataç, Chairman of the Board of TEMA Foundation, providing information about the study, said: "Of the 7 soil samples we took from debris waste dumped at various unplanned locations in Hatay and from fields and gardens near these sites, asbestos was detected in 5 of them. In addition, asbestos was found in 2 of the 3 samples taken from the Mileyha Bird Sanctuary Wetland Area located on the seacoast in Samandağ and from well water in Antakya Serinyol. In 3 water samples we collected from Güneysöğüt, Samandağ and Serinyol, microbiological growth was detected. These results indicate the possibility that sewage water has mixed with the water being used in Hatay. This situation can lead to poisonings and epidemic diseases. In water samples we took near Defne and Samandağ Mileyha Bird Sanctuary, certain heavy metal concentrations were found to be significantly above the limit values established by the Regulation on Waters for Human Consumption. For this reason, we are concerned about public health."

Asbestos and heavy metals can cause serious diseases

Reminding that asbestos is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) among the most important causes of cancer, Deniz Ataç said: "High levels of asbestos fibers dispersed into the environment through the destruction of buildings during and after the earthquake create serious danger to public health. Unfortunately, asbestos above limit values in the air was found as a result of asbestos measurements conducted previously by some civil society organizations. It is known that asbestos, particularly when inhaled into the human body, causes serious diseases such as lung fibrosis, lung and throat cancer. While there is no conclusive result on whether asbestos causes cancer when ingested through the digestive tract, there are studies indicating it may cause cancer," he stated. Stating that asbestos is not the only factor threatening public health in Hatay, Ataç said: "There are toxic gases emitted into the air from rubble piles, inorganic and chemical waste found in dust, and microbiological waste mixed into water. Among these, the most dangerous are heavy metals. When certain heavy metals accumulate in water and soil, they can cause health problems such as neurological damage, kidney failure and cancer," drawing attention to other factors.

Agricultural productivity in Hatay may decline by 30 percent

Drawing attention to the threat to agricultural productivity, Ataç said: "Apart from debris waste being dumped near agricultural land and various types of pollutants within it mixing into the soil, asbestos and dust in the air accumulating on plants and preventing them from photosynthesizing will negatively affect the soil and agricultural productivity. Besides asbestos and dust, various chemicals within the debris waste pose a risk of negatively affecting soil organisms, soil quality and productivity. For this reason, scientists expect agricultural productivity to decline by approximately 30 percent," he said. Ataç also stressed that there is a possibility these chemicals could reach drinking water and dining tables through the food chain.

Amik Plain, olive groves and Mileyha Bird Sanctuary must be protected

Emphasizing that pollution in Hatay threatens not only human health, Ataç said: "The Amik Plain, which has highly fertile soils thanks to the alluvium transported by the Asi River and extends over approximately 105 thousand hectares, is affected by soil and water pollution resulting from irregular waste disposal after the earthquake. The valleys of Hatay with rich vegetation and diverse wildlife, as well as stream beds and olive groves in areas fed by their systems are among areas affected by pollution. A region near the Mileyha Bird Sanctuary, which hosts 283 of the 500 different bird species found in Turkey, 231 plant species, 24 butterfly, 3 frog and 12 reptile species as well as 6 mammal species, has been turned into a debris dumping area. Hundreds of birds come here throughout the year to rest, feed and breed in summer. This area, which also gained official status in 2021, must be urgently protected from disappearing. These areas of significant importance for the region's natural life and biological diversity need to be protected," he said.

Let earthquakes not cause secondary disasters!

Recalling the fact that Turkey is an earthquake country, Deniz Ataç stated that post-disaster management is also crucial to prevent earthquakes from causing secondary disasters, and therefore provincial disaster waste plans need to be prepared urgently. Ataç said: "Of course, the greatest measure that can be taken against earthquakes is the construction of buildings suitable for the ground and resistant to earthquakes and strengthening the existing building stock. In this way, it will be possible to reduce the number of tragic losses we have experienced to date. What needs to be done to prevent the damage to the environment and human health caused by millions of tons of earthquake debris waste is: alongside provincial disaster management plans, preparing provincial disaster waste plans, sharing them with the public and implementing them after disasters. In these plans, strict rules must be established regarding where debris waste should not be dumped in order to protect important natural resources such as forested areas, wetlands, agricultural land and pastures," he said. On the anniversary of the 6 February earthquakes, Ataç once again reiterated his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, to everyone affected by the earthquake and to the entire country, wishing them peace and recovery.