Agriculture at war in the South of Lebanon

To the more immediate losses follow the long-term agricultural damages. The presence of hazardous residues—unexploded ordnance, contamination risks from the use of white phosphorus and other incendiary materials, and heavy metals—can hinder efforts to return to normal production levels. Phosphorus has a peculiar status in international law. It is not directly and explicitly banned as a chemical weapon, but as an incendiary weapon, the use of which in accordance with international legislation depends on the way and the context in which it is used. In particular, it is necessary to assess whether its use would result in foreseeable harm to the civilian population or the environment.
 
The fires by white phosphorus “can destroy the organic material and organism in the soil”, explains Hisham Younes. Nonetheless “phosphorus is not the concern”, says Rami Zurayk, professor of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management Department and founding member of the Arab Food Sovereignty Network. “Phosphorus is a nutrient for plants, which is absorbed by the soil. The problem is that it burns, but it is not as dangerous as it is being portrayed”, he elaborates. Professor Abiad confirms this view: “Phosphorus burns and its smoke causes suffocation and respiratory problems among the local population. But in the long term, that’s not the main concern. Phosphorus remains in the soil for between 0 and 5 years.”
 
On the contrary, heavy metals, which can remain in the soil for over 50 years, are worrisome. “From the more than 500 soil samples collected from the south we have been able to confirm the presence of numerous heavy metals including lead and barium, both cancerogenous”, Professor Abiad says. He further explains that as these elements can be absorbed by plants, they can end up in the human food chain. Professor Zurayk believes, however, that Lebanon is a more favourable situation than commonly thought: “lead’s ability to dissolve in water is dependent on the soil’s pH. At pH ranging from neutral to high, as is the case for Lebanon, it has a harder time doing so”.
 
Professor Zurayk portrays a more optimistic picture because “the Israeli have mainly destroyed and damaged towns and cities. In the open areas, the situation is relatively good”.
 
In the same samples, professor Abiad detected the presence of toxic and explosive compounds such as tritolo (TNT), ciclonite (RDX), and ottogene (HMX). “Because of their toxicity, worms and microbes, who contribute to the soil’s fertility and its ventilation, do not reproduce anymore”. In their case, Professor Abiad estimates that they will remain in the soil for at least 100 years.
 
In this already complex context, Professor Abiad identifies another paradox, almost ironic. “Many had transitioned to an electric solar system. For this reason, in some areas, we find lead and lithium coming from the batteries of these mechanisms. These due elements were meant to represent one of the most environmentally-friendly solutions. Now, they have become one of the problems.”
 
Another important point related to soil’s composition. Its structure is composed of different layers, placed in a set order, each with its set role. “First you find the surface layer, then the subsoil, and beneath that, the original material,” explains Professor Abiad. Plants draw fertilizers and nutrients from the topsoil, but “the bombing have altered the physical structure of the soil and the organic matter is no longer found on the surface. It has been moved elsewhere and mixed with the various substrates,” he continues.
 
Conducting research in this context becomes even more complicated. On the one side, the deeper into the ground a heavy metal sets, the harder it is to detect its presence and take action, the higher the probability that underground water basins will be contaminated, Al Salman explains. From these bodies of water, heavy metals can then contaminate other plants and the food derived from them that ends up on people’s tables.
 
Al Salman has started to study the results of bioremediation strategies, actions to remediate the soil based on relying on natural elements, such as fungi and bacterias. “Depending on the type of contamination detected, we have to evaluate which the best combination of natural elements is to efficiently absorb hazardous substances”. he clarifies. Here is the other side of the issue: figuring out which ingredients should be included in this recipe taking into account all the different heavy metals which have been mixed into all the various layers of the soil “is a big mess”, he affirms. Scientific literature often focuses on one single plant contaminated by one single heavy metal, “but if, instead, you are faced with ten different heavy metals, varying levels of humidity and different temperatures - what do you do?”, he asks.
 
The combination of all these effects deplete the soil, as Hisham Younes defines it, or contribute to its depletion: “we are talking about fields that have been exposed to fires, white phosphorus, different heavy metals and glyphosate for a long time”. Which, in turn, complicates the soil’s positive response as well as its recovery.