A BBC Arabic investigation reveals the deadly impact of toxic air pollution on children and the planet from oil fields in southern Iraq. Around the city of Basra flames and smoke from gas flares are visible right across the horizon. Despite laws that say flaring – the burning off of excess gas from oil production – should not happen within 10km of people’s homes, many local residents live much closer than that. The BBC has found that the rates of cancer, particularly leukaemia, in children living in the area are significantly elevated. Working with a local scientist, air and urine samples are taken to see if the gas flares might be responsible. The investigation also finds that the major oil companies often do not include the flaring from these Iraqi fields in their greenhouse gas emissions.
Winner of seven awards including an RTS award, an FPA award, an AIB award, a DIG award, and a British Journalism award. The film was directed by Jess Kelly (winner of the Rory Peck Trust 2023) and produced by Owen Pinnell. 'Under Poisoned Skies' provided the legal basis for the first ever lawsuit against the oil giant BP brought by an individual over the company's toxic flaring practices in Iraq.
BREATHLESS
'Breathless' is the second part of 'Under Poisoned Skies'. Produced and directed by Owen Pinnell, it was cut a year after 'Under Poisoned Skies' was released. This BBC Arabic investigation has found that harmful air pollution from big companies including BP and ADNOC is spreading far from their oil fields in the Gulf.
