Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., October 10, 2008 Tishrei 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:42 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

The unbearable closeness of toxins By Zafrir Rinat Tags: Israel news, toxic materials  Two accidents involving toxic materials in recent weeks serve as a reminder of the dangers involved when such substances are stored close to populated areas or commercial centers. In one incident, a factory burned down this week in the Segula area of Petah Tikva, and one person lost his life. Two weeks previously, dangerous fumes were emitted from a factory that manufactures insulating materials in the Kiryat Gat region, lightly injuring four people. The Environmental Protection Ministry is being forced to deal with a growing number of incidents involving toxic materials, despite its limited budget and manpower. Advertisement According to ministry figures, at the end of 2007 more than 4,000 bodies held permits to store toxins that enable them to produce dangerous substances. This represents a 42 percent increase over the year 2000, and ministry officials admit they must take steps to lower this number. A large percentage of the permits go to warehouses where pesticides are stored and to swimming pools that use chloride. But there are also factories and 106 refrigeration plants that store ammonia, which is especially dangerous when released into the air. In addition, Israel currently has 23 facilities for storing cooking gas, which is both combustible and explosive. Another danger is posed by toxic waste produced in factories and sent to various sites, amounting to more than 300,000 tons annually. "The substances that worry us most are chlorine and ammonia," says the director of the ministry's Tel Aviv region, Baruch Weber, who has been appointed head of a committee looking into this week's incident in Petah Tikva. The ministry is making efforts to curb the use of these substances, he says, including by promoting the use of substitutes. The number of swimming pools that use chlorine to disinfect the water, for example, has been radically reduced, he says. The ministry has the authority to supervise the use of all dangerous substances and set conditions for their use. It is assisted by environmental units of the local authorities and municipal environmental unions. "Another important body is the Home Front Command, which is entitled to set such stringent conditions for storing chlorine or ammonia that it wouldn't be worthwhile storing them," Weber says. "We also utilize the earthquake deployment in order to establish criteria for the safety of dangerous substances." The ministry categorizes facilities that work with dangerous substances according to three levels of risk. Weber says that the aim is to transfer oversight of the lower risk levels to local authorities or private companies. "As for facilities that are in the high risk category, we ensure that they are constantly inspected by us," he says. Weber notes that there are still a number of ammonia plants in the Dan region. Regarding the Israel Military Industries plants in Ramat Hasharon that the ministry supervises, he says that there is no longer a danger to residents living close to the compound's fences. The ministry has recently emphasized preventing risk to the population due to proximity to dangerous substances, and opposes a plan to build a commercial center in the northern town of Kiryat Shmona close to a food factory's refrigeration facility where tens of tons of ammonia are stored. A recent study published by the Shmuel Ne'eman Institute at the Technion found that the ministry currently has only partial information about the way in which toxic waste matter is treated. The Union for Environmental Defense NGO (Adam, Teva V'Din) claimed after this week's incident that insufficient information is being provided to the public, making it impossible to express views before decisions are made about the location of facilities containing dangerous substances. There is also no information provided about substances emitted during a mishap or accident, and the public does not know what it is being exposed to, the group said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A man of peace Vatican defends wartime pope Pius XII against charge he turned blind eye to Holocaust. Feminine features An Iranian motor company unveils plans to design cars specifically tailored to women.

Read & React Bradley Burston: For the journalist, on Yom Kippur Responses: 123 Edgar Bronfman: Judaism must recognize mixed marriages for Israel's sake Responses: 136 Arab lawyer detained after refusing to remove pants during airport check Responses: 185 Nadav Shragai: Settlers have become punching bag of the media and the left Responses: 65 Acre sees worst violence in years as Jews and Arabs resume clashes Responses: 171 More Headlines 00:10 Acre sees worst violence in years as Jews and Arabs resume clashes 22:25 Israeli Arab lawmaker: Acre violence is Jewish pogrom against Arabs 00:02 Russia hints it won't sell advanced missiles to Iran 18:03 Fatah says Hamas stalling on Palestinian unity plan 01:14 Israel on standby as global financial rescue takes shape 22:51 Syria releases two U.S. journalists who entered state illegally 23:46 New Nazi parody aims to smash German Third Reich comedy taboo 01:42 Can Israel be sure that its banks won't go under? 22:36 N.Y. rabbi: Animal rights backers threatened me over Yom Kippur chicken slaughter ritual 14:22 Germany launches nationwide crackdown on neo-Nazi youth group 23:57 Lebanese union to sue Israel for 'claiming ownership' of falafel 18:30 Nasrallah: We have not abandoned plan to avenge Mughniyeh 20:15 Vatican defends wartime pope against charge he turned blind eye to Holocaust 16:06 Delegation of Israeli doctors to Gaza denied entry 17:01 Left-wing terrorist turned neo-Nazi tried for Holocaust denial Previous Editions Select Day 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct 06 oct 05 oct 03 oct 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep 29 sep 28 sep 26 sep

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved