Request to prevent the expansion of the industrial area of
Haifa bay and to increase monitoring of pollutants.
Nature of the problem:
With the release of the National Cancer Registry (after many years of
litigation), it became apparent that the Haifa bay area population had a 15%
higher rate than other cities in Israel.
Although 15% in a single year is not a clear indication of exposure to
carcinogenic substances, this 15% increase was observed consistently over a 30-year
period, which is a clear indication of exposure to carcinogenic compounds. In addition, there have been reports of small
for size infants over the last decades as well as a high level of respiratory
disease and cryptorchism.
In response to the report, the Government increased
compliance and is reported to have reduced pollution in the Haifa Bay area by
60%, although non-Governmental testing has disputed this. In addition, long term plans have been
initiated to reduce pollution. In the
year 2017, the Government increased the number of compounds to be measured (1,3,
butadiene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, mercury) and reduced the
permissible levels for benzene and cadmium.
It will not be known for some time if these measures will affect the
cancer registry, respiratory disease or congenital malformations (These data
are currently being collected by the Epidemiological Monitoring of the Haifa Bay
Area which will be completed in 2020).
Epidemiological Monitoring of the Haifa Bay Area –
Cryptorchism -
Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis of Congenital Malformations (CM)
in Israel, 2000–2006
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2013, 2, 237-255; doi:10.3390/ijgi2010237
Keren Agay-Shay , Yona Amitai, Chava Peretz, Shai Linn, Michael
Friger, Ammatzia Peled
New standards for 2017 –
http://www.sviva.gov.il/infoservices/reservoirinfo/doclib2/publications/p0801-p0900/p0822/p0822.pdf (In Hebrew)
Plaintiff’s
objections: 1. The Government has
approved a plan to increase the industrial activity in the Haifa Bay area. Since the area is already severely affected
by the pollution, adding addition pollutants to the area would seem absurd. No
additional permits should be given until the Epidemiological Monitoring is
completed in 2020. 2. It is not known what are the carcinogenic compounds which
are causing the effects. The compounds
selected by the Government are known carcinogens. However, the list does not include dioxin
which is classified as a carcinogen by the IARC. However, dioxin’s main effect
at environmental concentrations is causing birth defects and a variety of
respiratory and hormone diseases.
Some facilities required more monitoring than others. These are called specified facilities.
From the Japanese law for controlling of dioxin pollution
Law Concerning Special Measures against Dioxins (Law No. 105 of 1999. Promulgated on July 16, 1999)
Chapter 1 General Provisions
(Purpose) Article 1 In consideration of serious effects on human life and health which may be caused by dioxins, the purpose of this Law is to protect the health of citizens, by establishing standards necessary to form the basis of policies on dioxins, to establish the necessary regulations, and to establish measures, etc., relating to soil contamination, in order to carry out the prevention and removal, etc., of environmental pollution caused by dioxins.
(Definitions) Article 2 For the purpose of this Law, "dioxins" shall mean chemical substances enumerated below: (1) polychlorinated dibenzofurans; (2) polychlorodibenzo-para-dioxins; and (3) co-planar polychlorinated biphenyls. 2. For the purpose of this Law, as designated by Cabinet Order, "specified facility" shall mean an electric furnace used for steelmaking, a waste incinerator, or other facility, installed in a factory or a business establishment, which generates and emits dioxins into the air or releases waste water or fluid discharge containing dioxins. 3. For the purpose of this Law, "emission gas" shall mean exhaust released into the air by a specified facility. 4. For the purpose of this Law, "effluent" shall mean water discharged into public water areas (meaning public water areas provided for in Paragraph 1 of Article 2 of the Water Pollution Control Law (Law No. 138 of 1970). The same shall apply hereinafter.) by a factory or a business establishment where a specified facility is installed (hereinafter referred to as "specified business establishment").
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Oil Refineries Ltd. (ORL or BAZAN(
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1.
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Dor Chemicals
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producing
and marketing of intermediate products in the chemical, gasoline,
pharmaceuticals, agriculture, plastics and wood industries; solvents
recycling mainly in the pharmaceutical industry. http://www.bloomberg.com/Research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=6058909
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2.
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Paz Lubricants and Chemicals
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produces, imports, and markets
automotive lubricants
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http://www.sviva.gov.il/English/env_topics/IndustryAndBusinessLicensing/Industry-in-the-Environment-Competition/2015-competition/Pages/Paz-Lubricants-and-Chemicals.aspx
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3.
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Elcon
Eco
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treats aqueous industrial wastes
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thermal oxidation technology http://elconrecycling.com/home-page/
http://eco-oil.co.il/english
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4.
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Oil refineries
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Petrochemicals
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5.
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Gadiv Petrochemical Industries
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Petrochemicals
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http://www.gadiv.com/HTMLs/Home.aspx
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6.
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Carmel Olefins Ltd.
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Petrochemicals manufactures standard
and special grades of Polypropylene (PP) as well as a broad range of Low
Density Polyethylene (LDPE) grades.
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26.10.16 closed by Haifa city for repeated violations
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7.
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Haifa Basic Oils Ltd.
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base oils, paraffin waxes, and
specialty lubes for the automotive and industrial machinery, tires, rubber,
candle, and other industries
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http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=2862954
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8.
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Haifa Group
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Fertilizers supplier of potassium
nitrate for agriculture and industry, specialty plant nutrients and food
phosphates
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9.
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Industrial oils
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Food
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10.
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Taro Phamaceutical Industries
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Pharmaceuticals http://www.taro.com/
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11.
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Power station Haifa
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Electricity production
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12.
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Storage and distribution of chemicals
(Delkim)
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13.
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Gadot north – storage and production of
chemicals
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Gadot Biochemical Industries Ltd. Delek
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14.
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Gadot south – storage and production of
chemicals
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http://www.delek-group.com/holdings/otherinvestments/gadotbiochemical.aspx
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15.
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Gadot chroshet east - storage and
production of chemicals
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16.
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Tashan – storage and distribution of
tankers for roads and boats
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Petroleum & Energy Infrastructures
(Tashan)
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17.
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Tashan Elroi storage and distribution
of fuels
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imports, stores and conveys crude oil
and refined oil
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18.
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Tashan – port. Storage of distribution
of fuels (20 acres)
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19.
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Delek storage and distribution of fuels
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20
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Pas petrochemicals storage and
distribution of fuels
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21
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Sonol storage and distribution of fuels
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Additional sources
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22.
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Matash Haifa sewage treatment plant
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23.
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Frutarom food and chemicals
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http://www.frutarom.com/FrutaromNew/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=84&FID=523
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