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Public health impacts of an imminent Red Sea oil spill

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin Q. Huynh

    (Stanford University School of Medicine)

  • Laura H. Kwong

    (University of California)

  • Mathew V. Kiang

    (Stanford University School of Medicine
    Harvard University)

  • Elizabeth T. Chin

    (Stanford University School of Medicine)

  • Amir M. Mohareb

    (Massachusetts General Hospital
    Harvard Medical School)

  • Aisha O. Jumaan

    (Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation)

  • Sanjay Basu

    (Harvard Medical School
    Imperial College
    University of Toronto)

  • Pascal Geldsetzer

    (Stanford University School of Medicine
    Heidelberg University)

  • Fatima M. Karaki

    (University of California San Francisco)

  • David H. Rehkopf

    (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Abstract

The possibility of a massive oil spill in the Red Sea is increasingly likely. The Safer, a deteriorating oil tanker containing 1.1 million barrels of oil, has been deserted near the coast of Yemen since 2015 and threatens environmental catastrophe to a country presently in a humanitarian crisis. Here, we model the immediate public health impacts of a simulated spill. We estimate that all of Yemen’s imported fuel through its key Red Sea ports would be disrupted and that the anticipated spill could disrupt clean-water supply equivalent to the daily use of 9.0–9.9 million people, food supply for 5.7–8.4 million people and 93–100% of Yemen’s Red Sea fisheries. We also estimate an increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalization from pollution ranging from 5.8 to 42.0% over the duration of the spill. The spill and its potentially disastrous impacts remain entirely preventable through offloading the oil. Our results stress the need for urgent action to avert this looming disaster.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Q. Huynh & Laura H. Kwong & Mathew V. Kiang & Elizabeth T. Chin & Amir M. Mohareb & Aisha O. Jumaan & Sanjay Basu & Pascal Geldsetzer & Fatima M. Karaki & David H. Rehkopf, 2021. "Public health impacts of an imminent Red Sea oil spill," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(12), pages 1084-1091, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:4:y:2021:i:12:d:10.1038_s41893-021-00774-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00774-8
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