The United Nations, working with
Iraq to clean up contaminated sites throughout the country, has released
the findings of a study of environmental hot spots.
The United Nations Environmental Program identified five top areas of
concern.
The most seriously contaminated site found to date is an industrial
metal plating facility south of Baghdad that is contaminated with
numerous types of hazardous waste, including several tons of cyanide
compounds.
U.N. environmental officials have secured $900,000 for the cleanup
and hope to use some of the funds for at least one of the other top
priority spots.
U.N. officials warn that the five locales identified in their report
released Nov. 10 are likely "the tip of the iceberg in terms of
environmental hot spots."
The country "has a significant legacy of contaminated and derelict
industrial and military sites," the report says.
The report also states that destruction of the Iraqi military arsenal
is creating new contamination and hazardous waste problems at scrap
yards and munitions dumps that could be better managed through improved
working practices.
The U.N. estimates that $40 million would be necessary to address all
the issues contained in its report.