A study published Monday by the Environmental Protection Ministry reveals that the amount of pollution reaching Israel's beaches has decreased dramatically in recent years.

The study includes data collected by the Marine and Coastal Environment Division of the Ministry of Environmental Protection between 1998 and 2004. The data demonstrates a drastic decrease in pollution flowing into the Mediterranean Sea, but also indicates that there are still some trouble spots, like the sewage line from Gaza that flows into the sea and eventually reaches Ashkelon.

The Ministry's findings were presented Monday at a press conference attended by Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra. The report indicates a radical reduction in some types of pollutants, and even the complete disappearance of other types. The amount of heavy and toxic metals being poured into the sea by factories and wastewater treatment plants has shown a particularly significant decline, as did the amount of fertilizers, which are considered particularly harmful to marine life.

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The director of the Ministry's Marine and Coastal Environment Quality Division, Mr. Rani Amir, has stated that the main conclusion of the study is that by means of professional and consistent requirements for the installation of sewage treatment facilities, reduction at source, recycling and recovery, it is possible to significantly minimize the quantities of pollutants discharged to the Mediterranean Sea.

Amir added there is not a single incident of illegal dumping that is not legally prosecuted. However the law sanctions some cases of dumping. The study shows that the main source of pollution is the sludge of the Dan Region Wastewater Treatment Plant (Shafdan), with the other major sources being Agan Chemicals, Ashdod Oil Refineries, Acre Municipality sewage and effluents of Herzliya.

Until recently, sewage discharged by the Nahariya municipality was a major source of pollution, but following the establishment of a wastewater treatment plant in the city the problem has been solved.

The Environmental Protection Ministry expects a further reduction in pollution over the course of the next four years.