Air Pollution Near Haifa Refineries Prompts School Closures and Health Advisories

On Monday, October 12, Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection canceled classes at two schools in Kiryat Atta due to abnormal air pollution in the vicinity of the Bazan oil refineries. Residents in areas adjacent to the industrial zone were advised to close windows and turn on air conditioners. Reports indicate that an anomalous concentration of benzene, three times the permissible limit, was detected. This pollution is reportedly linked to repair work aimed at restoring facilities damaged during the recent conflict. Classes had continued on October 11, despite initial readings showing deviations. Following consultations involving the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the Kiryat Atta municipality, the decision was made to suspend school activities in institutions closest to the industrial zone. Residents living within a 1-kilometer radius of the refinery, particularly children and pregnant women, were advised to limit outdoor activities. The Ministry of Environmental Protection will conduct further measurements throughout the day to determine recommendations for the following day. The ministry emphasized that the elevated benzene levels were recorded by an environmental monitoring station located near the Kiryat Atta industrial zone (mobile station No. 4), while other stations registered normal values during the same period.