Air pollution and health risks

 

In January 2003, IUED published a report summarizing a bi-national collaborative effort between the United States and Israel to evaluate public health risks associated with air pollution in two Israeli metropolitan areas, Tel Aviv and Ashdod.

 

During two and a half years of intensive research and analysis, a joint Israeli- United States team (from Israel's Ministry of Environment, IUED and the US Environmental Protection Agency) applied risk assessment methodology to air pollution hazards in Greater Tel Aviv and Ashdod-Yavne, comparing them with health data from Israel and other parts of the world.

 

The study focused on primary air pollutants, including particulate matter, ozone and sulfur dioxide. Among the findings regarding illnesses and death resulting from exposure to air pollution in the two regions, it arose that more people die in Israel from air pollution than from traffic accidents. 

 

The following data pertains to average annual risks resulting from man-made sources of pollution only; natural sources of particulate pollution and ozone are additional causes of death and illness.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, data applies to the 1995-1997 period.

 

Air Pollution Risk Estimates	Greater Tel Aviv		Greater Ashdod
	# of incidents	% total incidents	# of incidents	% total incidents
Particulate pollution
Deaths (age 30+)	620*	8	90**	8
Hospitalization – cardiovascular (age 65+)	1,110	3	Data not available
Hospitalization – respiratory diseases (age 65+)	690	5
Ozone
Deaths (all ages)	80	1	10	1
Hospitalization – respiratory diseases (age 65+)	930	7	140	10
Sulfur dioxide
Hospitalization – respiratory diseases(all ages)	970	6	120	4

 *1995-99   **1998-99

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