Unusual Pollution Near Refineries Leads to School Closures in Kiryat Ata

The Ministry of Health issued a dramatic announcement on Tuesday, ordering the closure of two schools in Kiryat Ata for 24 hours due to unusually high benzene levels detected near the Bazan oil refineries. Classes at the Social High School and Erezim Elementary School, both located in an industrial zone near the refineries, were canceled, and students were to be transferred to alternative sites. The Ministry of Health, in consultation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Kiryat Ata Municipality, also advised residents within a kilometer of the refineries, particularly children and pregnant women, to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity and to keep windows closed and air conditioners on. This decision followed reports that despite pollution levels three times the permitted limit at one of the schools, classes had initially continued as normal. The affected schools are situated in a residential area that was evacuated decades ago, approximately two kilometers from the nearest current residential neighborhood. The high benzene concentrations were measured over the weekend near the "Deshenim" industrial area in Kiryat Ata, specifically at the environmental monitoring station "Nayad 4." Other monitoring stations around the complex reported normal levels. On October 11, elevated benzene levels were also recorded at the "Haifa - Old Licensing Office" monitoring station and "Nayad 4." Ministry of Health officials stated that the decision was made after reviewing these readings and the schools' proximity to the industrial zone. While levels at "Nayad 4" showed a decrease during morning school hours, they began to rise again by the afternoon. In response to the high readings, the Ministry of Environmental Protection ordered a halt to ongoing maintenance work at the refineries and demanded a detailed plan for future maintenance and pollution prevention measures before work can resume. The Ministry of Health indicated that a reassessment would be conducted on Wednesday based on new monitoring data.