Dangerous air pollution in settlements surrounded by polluting industry in Haifa Bay: A 69% excess in benzene concentration was measured in early October 2026

(Haipo) – The Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection reported that in the first week of October, two increases in benzene concentrations were recorded at mobile monitoring station 4, located in the courtyard of the Social High School in Kiryat Ata, near the BN complex. According to the wind direction, the source of the pollution was in the BN complex.

Significant deviation from the circadian environmental value

On October 5, a daily concentration of 6.6 mcg/m3 of benzene was measured at the station, which is an excess of about 69% of the daily ambient value, which is 3.9 mcg/m3 in accordance with the Clean Air Law regulations. The day before, on October 4, a concentration of about 3.8 mcg/m3 was measured, which is about 97% of the daily ambient value – that is, very close to exceeding the permitted standard. Depending on the wind direction during the hours when the high concentrations were measured, the source of the pollution was in the benzene complex.

Three exceptions since the beginning of the year – out of seven permitted

Since the beginning of 2026, three deviations from the daily environmental standard for benzene have been recorded at the mobile monitoring station 4: two in August and one in October. According to the regulations, up to seven deviations from the daily environmental standard for benzene are permitted per year. This means that within about three months, three of the seven permitted deviations have already been used, a fact that raises concerns about the continued trend of pollution in a residential area adjacent to the industrial complex.