Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 08, 2008 Kislev 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:02 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Report: Air pollution levels are twice the legal limit By Zafrir Rinat Air pollution in Israel poses a serious threat to the health of the Israeli public, even though in recent years the power stations have started using cleaner natural gas and local gas stations have begun to provide cleaner fuels than in the past. This finding emerges from the report on air quality in Israel in 2007, published by the Environmental Protection Ministry. According to the report, all the ministry's measuring stations last year registered an exceptional rise in the concentration of tiny pollutant particles that cause heart and lung diseases and are the source of hundreds of deaths each year. The deviations that were measured ranged between 120-187 percent from the legal limit. Even graver were the measurements near main traffic arteries, which exceed the legal limit by 200 percent. Especially high concentrations of ozone were registered in both Haifa and Carmiel, but also in Afula, Modi'in and Carmei Yosef. Advertisement Ozone is the result of a combination of pollutants emitted from vehicles, industrial plants and gas stations. At the higher levels of the stratosphere, ozone protects the planet from the infiltration of radiation, but at the lower stratospheric levels, exposure to ozone constitutes a health hazard. That is where the name "bad ozone" comes from. Apart from its being carcinogenic, it also causes a rise in mortality among the elderly and exacerbates the condition of asthma patients. But, aside from these disturbing figures, there are also a few trends pointing toward an improvement over previous years - the result of the increased use of cleaner fuels. The Tel Aviv area, for example, has registered a downward trend in the number of deviations from air quality standards as compared to previous years. In response to these findings, Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra said: "Reducing air pollution is one of our main goals for the coming years. We are working on implementing a clean air law. At the same time, I have instructed our professionals to increase the random spot checks of industrial plants and to formulate long-term plans to reduce air pollution." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Not the old settlers Some settler factions have adopted the tactics of factions in Gaza. Carrot and stick Obama says U.S. must talk to Iran but threats against Israel unacceptable.

Read & React Hebron settlers accuse IDF of collective punishment Responses: 106 Livni wants to rethink Gaza truce in wake of Qassam barrages Responses: 24 Olmert: I am shamed by Hebron settlers' pogrom Responses: 60 Amos Harel: Nothing justifies striking a photographer armed only with a camera Responses: 52 Fania Oz-Salzberger / Hebron pogromists brought catastrophe unto Israel Responses: 36 More Headlines 00:42 Obama: We must talk to Iran, but threats against Israel unacceptable 21:27 Israel offers to ease West Bank restrictions over upcoming holidays 01:04 IAF bombs Gaza militants preparing to fire Qassams 00:05 Olmert: I am shamed by Hebron settlers' pogrom 00:53 JEWISH WORLD / To be or not to be Jewish, that is the question 23:31 Reputed mobster Nissim Alperon nabbed in raid 21:16 Israel pulls 20 Palestinians from list of 250 prisoners set for release 21:19 Anarchists Against the Wall awarded German human rights prize 18:02 Settler who shot Palestinians in Hebron remanded 4 more days 19:48 IDF soldier suspected of assaulting Haaretz photographer says she struck him first 19:08 Parents of soldiers at Tel Arad base: Don't let our sons become cancer victims 22:19 Tel Aviv police seize Israeli-Arab boat set to deliver aid to Gaza 18:01 Thousands of Muslims denounce Israel as pilgrims gather for final day of hajj Previous Editions Select Day 07 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 01 dec 30 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov

Special Offers Advertisement Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. 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 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