According to a report released by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, about 50% of Israeli factories exceed permitted levels of contaminant emissions. The information was compiled during the course of inspections of factories around the country, including 466 surprise inspections of 42 chimneys and 72 installations in 2008. Illegal emissions include toxic substances and other carcinogens. The majority of the violations are in the Haifa area, which is a hub for chemical plants in Israel.

One Haifa area plant, a pharmaceutical company is polluting the air, 15,780% above the permitted levels set by the government. In the Tel Aviv area, the Office Textile Company exceeds permitted pollution levels by 350%. In this case ministry officials report, the matter has been corrected.

According to Environmental Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan, new environmental laws permit his ministry to take action, laws that place the responsibility on a company’s directorate, permitting significant fines and jail sentences as well.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)