Israeli Study Finds Contaminating Chemicals in Potatoes from the Gaza Envelope

Chemicals from the PFAS group, known as "forever chemicals" because of their high persistence, have been identified for the first time in Israel in potatoes sampled from agricultural fields in the Gaza envelope, Ynet reported.

According to the study, conducted by researchers from the Hebrew University, the Health Ministry, the Volcani Institute and South R&D, the contaminants were found in all potato leaves sampled in the area and in most of the potato tubers, although at lower concentrations. The researchers estimate that the source of contamination in the leaves may be direct uptake from the air, after substances released from explosives during the fighting are carried by the wind and settle on the plants. They said the concentrations found in the leaves were significantly higher than in the soil, a finding that strengthens the possibility that this is atmospheric contamination and not only through the root system.

The samples were collected from 34 fields in the Gaza envelope and from three fields in the Ra'anana area. According to the findings, potato leaves in the envelope contained PFAS concentrations of volatile, short-chain substances that were 10 times higher, mainly PFBA, compared with the leaves tested in the Ra'anana area. Different PFAS compounds were also found in all of the agricultural soils tested at distances of up to 19 kilometers from the border. The total concentration in the soil was low, but it also included substances known to be carcinogenic, including PFOS and PFOA. According to the researchers' assessment, some of these substances come from treated wastewater and compost used in the fields.

PFAS are a broad family of particularly persistent compounds that accumulate in the environment and in the human body. Some of the compounds have been linked to cancer and other health problems. They are found, among other things, in packaging, water-repellent products, coated cookware, cosmetics, plastic products and fire-fighting foam.

In Israel, like in many countries, there are currently no threshold values for exposure to PFAS contaminants in fruits and vegetables, and there are no routine tests for these contaminants in agricultural produce. The Health Ministry said it carried out an initial survey to examine the presence of PFAS in vegetables, which included samples from fields, markets, treated wastewater and reservoirs, and that a final report on the matter will be published on the ministry's website.