Air pollution and its consequences is not something to be taken lightly. According to Environmental Affairs Ministry Director-General David Lefler, 2,500 Israelis die annually as a result of complications stemming from air pollution.

Just two weeks ago the ministry was thinking of declaring Haifa Bay an environmental disaster area. Interestingly, Lefler points out there are luxury homes near major roadways around the country that have air pollution levels that mimic Haifa’s, seeking to explain the problem it not exclusively that of Haifa.

This is also because of recent data that documents the alarming increase in the number of Haifa area residents diagnosed with cancer as compared to the rest of the country. Alarming statistics have also been released in the past by the Israel Cancer Association regarding incidents of breast cancer in Haifa. Residents blame this on careless chemical dumping from the many chemical plants operating in the port city.

This week, experts from around the world gathered in Haifa for the Mid-Term Review of the European Environment & Health Process Conference. Many concerned mothers were on hand with posters in the hope of bringing their concerns to the forum. They insist too many children have taken ill due to the chemical plants and air pollution levels in the city.

Health Ministry Director-General Dr. Arnon Afek insists the data regarding Haifa pollution levels has been given to a number of experts and they all concur this is not the cause of their illness. Moms are calling his statements a whitewash.

The ministry’s Professor Itamar Gruto, who heads the Public Health Unit, was a bit more cautious with his words, stating it is too premature to determine if there is a connection and if so, to what extent, and that the issue demands additional study. He does concur that at present, there is no scientific data connecting increased cancer rates in Haifa with the pollution and chemical plants.

Dr. Suzanne Jacob, who heads the European Unit of the World Health Organization explained “We are in the process now of continuing the work and looking at specific age groups, like the children and we still do not have convincing data on this”.

For the concerned mothers, they are convinced data is being hidden and the pollution caused by the chemical plants is the cause. They are also confident that when the real facts are released, people will be out in the streets in large numbers to express the level of their outrage.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)