Rehovot Scientists Say Israel Water is Contaminated

Israeli Water May be Tainted with Pharmaceuticals

By Amihai Zippor

According to a Haaretz report, researchers from Jerusalem’s Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University who are studying irrigation water in Israel found traces of pharmaceuticals in it.

“I found a variety of drugs and I am sure that further testing will reveal more types of pharmaceuticals,” said Dr. Benny Chefetz of Hebrew University's Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot

“We have not tested groundwater, but we have found that some of these medications are not held back by soil but move through it rapidly. I have almost no doubt that some could get into the drinking water,” Chefetz said.

A recent study in the US found dozens of American cities have pharmaceuticals in their drinking water.

If such a situation is found in Israel, it could be extremely problematic since the country is so small and already suffering a water crisis.

A week and a half ago, officials from Israel Water Authority warned the low amount of rain over the past ten years may cause Lake Kinneret, Israel's main water source, to go below the red line.

If that occurs, the salt content will rise to levels unsafe for drinking; and tapping into other already depleted resources could do harm to the underground aquifers.

Source: Amihai Zippor. IHC News Analysis (30 March 2008) [FullText]

Air quality improved in Rehovot, Governmental Environmental Office Says

"Air quality improved in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, Afula, Beit Shemesh, Rehovot, Haifa and the Krayot, deteriorated in Jerusalem and Modi'in and remained the same in Beersheba and Karmiel.

The report data on "Air quality in Israel's medium-size cities" particularly says that in 2007 there were "10 high air pollution days in Rehovot, compared to 15 days in 2006."

Improvements in air quality in ... Rehovot [and other cities] are due to decreases in the number of diurnal exceedances of respirable particles (less dust storms) and significant reductions in ozone exceedances. On the other hand, air quality deterioration has occurred in Jerusalem, largely in the city center, as a result of infrastructure work related to the construction of a light rail system for Israel's capital city. Degraded air quality in Modi'in is attributed to the continuation of accelerated building in the area. No changes in air quality were recorded in Beersheba and Karmiel during 2007..."

Source: Israel's Air Quality in 2007 (Updated 02/19/2008) Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection web site [FullText]