War Pollution Can Last for Generations

War pollution is an on-going menace to millions of people.

There's no doubt that war can leave a terrible legacy of pollution behind, a legacy which
may affect future generations long after the conflict has ceased. This page outlines some of
the main causes and effects of war pollution as it occurs today.

War and the aftermath of war

There are still numerous wars and conflicts taking place across the globe. Some of these are
long-running conflicts which are not classed as wars but involve frequent small scale
incidents and attacks. Others are active conflict zones where military hardware - such as
bombs, missiles and tanks - is in frequent use.

Then there are recently finished wars where attacks still occur, such as in Iraq. Many of the
now peaceful areas have suffered pollution from arms used during the conflict.

In March 2010 it was revealed that the people of Fallujah in Iraq were suffering a huge
increase in children born with severe deformities; the likely culprit is the weapons which US
troops used in their pursuit of military objectives. War aftermath is an enduring problem
which does not always reach the news headlines.