What We Know

Traffic near Tel Aviv beach

The information in the following chapters presents a snapshot of what we know about issues of Environmental Health in Israel. The information is based on the "Environmental Health in Israel 2020" report, the result of a productive collaboration between the Environment and Health Fund, the Ministry of Health, professionals and scientists in the field.

Image of tractor spraying pesticides in field
Pesticides

Pesticides are substances or mixtures of substances that are meant to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate...

More details
a box filled with children's jewelry
Chemicals in Consumer Products

Consumer products are potential sources of exposure to heavy metals, endocrine disrupting chemicals...

More details
Severe Ambient air pollution in Tel aviv coast
Ambient Air Quality

Ambient air pollution is the major environmental health risk factor in Israel. Ambient air quality in Israel...

More details
image showing blood test tubes
Biomonitoring

Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a tool for assessing exposure to environmental chemicals by...

More details
image of roof tiles containing asbestos
Asbestos

Asbestos is a fibrous material that is a human carcinogen (Group 1). Exposure to asbestos affects...

More details
Iced soda cans
Chemical Food Contaminants

Chemical food contaminants are substances that are not intentionally added to food but may be present...

More details
image of rusty water pipes
Chemical Parameters in Drinking Water
Exposure to chemical contaminants in drinking water is associated with adverse health effects in human... More details
Elderly citizens being rescued by police in a boat from a flooded street in Israel
Climate Change
Climate change poses a great challenge to humanity and significantly affects public health. The World Health...
More details
image of stethoscope and magnifying glass
Environmental Health Indicators and Trends
Exposure to environmental pollutants can adversely affect quality of life and can cause morbidity and mortality...
More details
Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), also referred to as secondhand smoke or passive...

More details
Illustration of house interiors
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to air quality inside closed environments, such as buildings... More details
Mother using the computer while child  next to her on the floor using an ipad
Non-Ionizing Radiation

Non-ionizing radiation refers to electromagnetic fields that range from low frequencies to ultraviolet...

More details
Cyclers children and pets inhabiting a paved square in Tel aviv
Planning

Urban and transportation planning are closely linked to human health. Planning plays an important role in...

More details
a grandmother and her granddaughter
Vulnerable Populations
In the context of environmental health, vulnerable populations include various groups that are more likely... More details
Water pouring out of a sewage pipe
Wastewater
Most raw wastewater (sewage) in Israel is treated in treatment plants. The treatment process... More details