PFAS Contamination Spreads to Previously Unsuspected Areas at Tel Aviv's Sde Dov Site

Harmful PFAS chemicals have been detected in areas of Tel Aviv's Sde Dov site that were not initially considered at risk for contamination, according to soil surveys published by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. While these areas had fewer sampling points due to the initial assumption of no contamination, some have shown deviations of tens of percent above regulatory thresholds. The Ministry confirmed these findings and has ordered expanded testing, but significant questions remain regarding construction on land saturated with chemicals that global regulators are still struggling to address.

Sde Dov, a former civilian and military airport in northern Tel Aviv, was closed after decades of operation. Firefighting foams containing PFAS, known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment and body, were used during its operations. In February 2026, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Israel Land Authority announced initial findings of PFAS contamination in soil and groundwater, initiating extensive surveys. Despite earlier indications of contamination from the Water Authority in 2022, the Ministry had permitted land sales as clean until it began its own investigations in 2025. In July 2026, the Ministry halted infrastructure work by the Tel Aviv municipality due to concerns about the uncontrolled transfer of potentially contaminated soil.

The Sde Dov site is slated for a new Tel Aviv neighborhood, planned to include approximately 16,000 housing units, commercial spaces, offices, and hotel rooms. Around 7,000 of the planned 18,000 housing units have already been sold through tenders, with excavation and filling work commencing on some plots. Developers are now required to conduct extensive soil investigations. Recent tests have revealed widespread contamination, even in areas not previously suspected.

Environmental engineer and real estate appraiser Roni Brill analyzed the data, noting that deviations in areas with limited sampling, initially deemed non-suspect, exceed regulatory thresholds by tens of percent. For instance, in area 301, 96% of 23 boreholes showed PFOS levels up to 100 times the threshold. Area 303 had 100% of sampled boreholes, both suspect and non-suspect, exceeding thresholds by up to 600 times for PFOS. Other areas also showed significant PFOS and PFHxS contamination in non-suspect zones.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection stated that the survey results indicate widespread PFAS contamination at Sde Dov, including in areas not initially considered suspect. Consequently, they are directing further soil investigation across all program plots and expanding tests to delineate contamination hotspots. The Ministry clarified that the map of suspect areas was based on initial assessments of potential contamination sources. They added that even areas with a lower probability of contamination are being comprehensively investigated, with contamination delineation required if necessary. Questions persist about the future of these lands, as global consensus on building in areas with significant PFAS contamination is still lacking. Treatment methods are limited and often involve relocating contamination due to the difficulty of disposal. The Ministry stated each area will be assessed individually based on contaminant concentrations and land use, with specific guidelines for risks to residents, workers, and the environment in areas where soil will remain. They have also requested the Tel Aviv municipality submit a comprehensive risk management plan for soil remaining on site.

Brill urges the Ministry to declare the entire area contaminated and proceed with extreme caution. She argues that given the widespread contamination found in surveys, the entire site should be declared "suspect," with extensive testing to determine contamination boundaries. She also called for a national-level systemic solution, as current methods for treating large volumes of PFAS-contaminated soil are not economically viable or readily available. Placing responsibility on private developers, she warned, could lead to prolonged treatment processes, construction delays, and potential failures with experimental methods.