Israel Shuts Schools in Kiryat Ata Over Critical Air Pollution

Israel's Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environmental Protection have imposed emergency restrictions on residents of Kiryat Ata due to a critical rise in benzene levels in the air. The concentration of the carcinogenic substance near the Tichon Hevrati school reached 12.9 micrograms per cubic meter, 3.3 times the permissible limit of 3.9 micrograms. Residents, pregnant women, and children within a one-kilometer radius of the Bazan oil refinery complex have been advised to stay indoors unless necessary. Workers at nearby facilities were instructed to close windows and use air conditioning. Classes at two educational institutions were urgently relocated. The pollution is attributed to repair work at Bazan group facilities and the shutdown of the Gadiv chemical plant. The ministries have demanded an immediate halt to all repairs at the complex, a thorough investigation, and a plan to prevent future emissions. The resumption of operations at the facilities is contingent upon meeting these demands. Kiryat Ata Mayor Yaakov Peretz has called for the complex not to be allowed to reopen until air safety is fully guaranteed. He previously urged party leaders to include a commitment in coalition agreements to close Bazan and cease petrochemical production in the Haifa Bay area by 2029. The environmental organization Menakim et Miftz Haifa noted sharp fluctuations in readings, with short-term peak benzene concentrations significantly exceeding daily norms. Benzene is a dangerous carcinogen, and prolonged exposure increases the risk of blood diseases and leukemia.